The First X-ray Observations of Four Exotic New Millisecond Pulsars
Abstract
We have discovered four nearby, exotic millisecond pulsars: one is a unique triple system; another orbits a very low-mass companion every 96 min; the others are part of Pulsar Timing Arrays. As such all of these pulsars will be the targets of considerable multi-wavelength observations over the next few years. Soft X-ray observations of millisecond pulsars are vital to understanding their thermal emission, neutron star heating, particle emission, and fundamental parameters such as mass and radius. We request 60 ks of XMM observations to detect the X-ray counterparts of these pulsars. By measuring their luminosities and temperatures we will help determine the efficiency of polar cap heating, and can plan for detailed phase-resolved observations.
- Publication:
-
XMM-Newton Proposal
- Pub Date:
- October 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012xmm..prop..102K
- Keywords:
-
- White Dwarf Binaries;
- Neutron Star Binaries;
- Cataclysmic Variables;
- ULXs;
- Black Holes;
- PSR J0337+1715;
- PSR J0636+51;
- PSR J0645+51;
- PSR J1124+7822