Constraining the mass-radius relation of neutron stars through superbursts
Abstract
Superbursts are thermonuclear X-ray flashes on neutron stars that last up to 14~hr. We propose to carry out 2 quick 25 ks XMM-Newton triggered observations on superbursts from any of 30 (candidate) superbursters that persistently radiate at 30% of Eddington or slower, with the purpose to carry out X-ray spectroscopy of the neutron star surface and constrain the mass-radius relation and equation of state of neutron stars. We will make use of superburst alerts from INTEGRAL/IBIS, Swift/BAT and ISS-MAXI. The potential of this program is at least as good as that of the program on EXO 0748-676, but at much reduced exposure requirements (50 ks in total).
- Publication:
-
XMM-Newton Proposal
- Pub Date:
- October 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011xmm..prop..147I
- Keywords:
-
- White Dwarf Binaries;
- Neutron Star Binaries;
- Cataclysmic Variables;
- ULXs;
- Black Holes;
- 4U 1254-690;
- 4U 1636-536;
- 1A 1246-588;
- 4U 1735-444;
- GX 3+1;
- 4U 1820-303;
- Ser X-1;
- SLX 1735-269;
- 4U 1608-522;
- 4U 1702-429;
- 4U 1705-44;
- GX 354-0;
- 1A 1742-294;
- SLX 1744-300;
- GS 1826-24;
- 4U 1915-05;
- 4U 0513-40;
- 1E 1724-307;
- 4U 1812-12;
- 2S 0918-549;
- 4U 1708-40;
- 4U 1850-087;
- 4U 0614+091;
- RX J1832-33;
- M15 X-2;
- 4U 1746-31;
- 4U 1708-40;
- SAX J1747.0-285;
- SAX J1712.6-373;
- 4U 1730-33;
- GRS 1747-312