Calvera: A Low-mass Strangeon Star Torqued by Debris Disk?
Abstract
Calvera is a unique 59 {ms} isolated pulsar, because it cannot be detected by radio, optical, and gamma-rays; however, it is detectable through the purely thermal emission in soft X-rays. It is suggested that Calvera could be an ordinary middle-aged pulsar with significant magnetospheric activity at a large distance. Alternatively, it is proposed in this paper that Calvera is a low-mass strangeon star with an inactive magnetosphere (dead). In this scenario, we jointly fit the spectra obtained by the XMM-Newton Observatory and the Chandra X-ray Observatory with the strangeon star atmosphere model. The spectral model is successful in explaining the radiation properties of Calvera and X-ray dim isolated neutron stars, both of which show similar observation features. Within the dead pulsar picture, Calvera might have a high temperature at 0.67 {keV}, possess a small stellar radius, R≲ 4 {km}, presumably have a small magnetic field, B≲ {10}11 {{G}}, and is probably braked by the fallback disk accretion. Future advanced facilities may provide unique opportunities to understand the real nature of Calvera.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 2018
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/aaa671
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1709.07679
- Bibcode:
- 2018ApJ...854..165L
- Keywords:
-
- accretion;
- accretion disks;
- pulsars: individual: Calvera1RXS J141256.0+792204;
- stars: neutron;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aaa671