Journal ArticleDOI
Precision Timing of Two Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars.
TLDR
The frequency derivative for 1E 2259+586 is inconsistent with that inferred from incoherent frequency observations made over the last 20 yr, consistent with the magnetar hypothesis and make binary accretion scenarios appear unlikely.Abstract:
We report on long-term X-ray timing of two anomalous X-ray pulsars, 1RXS J170849.0-400910 and 1E 2259+586, using the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. In monthly observations made over 1.4 and 2.6 yr for the two pulsars, respectively, we have obtained phase-coherent timing solutions which imply that these objects have been rotating with great stability throughout the course of our observations. For 1RXS J170849.0-400910, we find a rotation frequency of 0.0909169331(5) Hz and frequency derivative -15.687(4) × 10-14 Hz s-1 for epoch MJD 51215.931. For 1E 2259+586, we find a rotation frequency of 0.1432880613(2) Hz and frequency derivative -1.0026(7) × 10-14 Hz s-1 for epoch MJD 51195.583. The rms phase residuals from these simple models are only ~0.01 cycles for both sources. We show that the frequency derivative for 1E 2259+586 is inconsistent with that inferred from incoherent frequency observations made over the last 20 yr. Our observations are consistent with the magnetar hypothesis and make binary accretion scenarios appear unlikely.read more
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Journal ArticleDOI
The strongest cosmic magnets: soft gamma-ray repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars
Abstract: Two classes of X-ray pulsars, the anomalous X-ray pulsars and the soft gamma-ray repeaters, have been recognized in the last decade as the most promising candidates for being magnetars: isolated neutron stars powered by magnetic energy. I review the observational properties of these objects, focussing on the most recent results, and their interpretation in the magnetar model. Alternative explanations, in particular those based on accretion from residual disks, are also considered. The possible relations between these sources and other classes of neutron stars and astrophysical objects are also discussed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Electrodynamics of Magnetars: Implications for the Persistent X-ray Emission and Spindown of the Soft Gamma Repeaters and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors considered the structure of neutron star magnetospheres threaded by large-scale electrical currents and the effect of resonant Compton scattering by the charge carriers (both electrons and ions) on the emergent X-ray spectra and pulse profiles.
Journal ArticleDOI
Electrodynamics of Magnetars: Implications for the Persistent X-Ray Emission and Spin-down of the Soft Gamma Repeaters and Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars
TL;DR: In this article, the authors consider the structure of neutron star magnetospheres threaded by large-scale electrical currents and the effect of resonant Compton scattering by the charge carriers (both electrons and ions) on the emergent X-ray spectra and pulse profiles.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Giant Flare of 1998 August 27 from SGR 1900+14. II. Radiative Mechanism and Physical Constraints on the Source
TL;DR: In this article, the authors make detailed comparisons of the published data with the magnetar model, which identifies the soft gamma repeaters as neutron stars endowed with ~1015 G magnetic fields.
Journal ArticleDOI
A Major Soft Gamma Repeater-like Outburst and Rotation Glitch in the No-longer-so-anomalous X-Ray Pulsar 1E 2259+586
Victoria M. Kaspi,Victoria M. Kaspi,Fotis P. Gavriil,P. M. Woods,Joseph B. Jensen,Mallory S. E. Roberts,Mallory S. E. Roberts,Deepto Chakrabarty +7 more
TL;DR: A major outburst from the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E 2259+586 was reported in this article, in which over 80 Xray bursts were detected in 4 hours using the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
The Soft Gamma Repeaters as Very Strongly Magnetized Neutron Stars. II. Quiescent Neutrino, X-Ray, and Alfvén Wave Emission
TL;DR: In this article, the decay rate of the core field is a very strong function of temperature and therefore of the magnetic flux density, which is not present in the decay of the weaker fields associated with ordinary radio pulsars.
Journal ArticleDOI
An X-ray pulsar with a superstrong magnetic field in the soft γ-ray repeater SGR1806 − 20
Chryssa Kouveliotou,Chryssa Kouveliotou,S. Dieters,S. Dieters,Tod E. Strohmayer,Tod E. Strohmayer,J. van Paradijs,Gerald J. Fishman,Charles A. Meegan,Kevin Hurley,Jefferson M. Kommers,Ian Smith,Dale A. Frail,Toshio Murakami +13 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reported the discovery of pulsations in the persistent X-ray flux of SGR1806-20, with a period of 7.47 s and a spindown rate of 2.6 x 10(exp -3) s/yr.
Journal ArticleDOI
Observations of Accreting Pulsars
Lars Bildsten,Deepto Chakrabarty,John Chiu,Mark H. Finger,Mark H. Finger,Danny T. Koh,Robert W. Nelson,Thomas A. Prince,B. C. Rubin,D. Matthew Scott,D. Matthew Scott,Mark Stollberg,Mark Stollberg,Brian A. Vaughan,Colleen A. Wilson,Robert B. Wilson +15 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss recent observations of accreting binary pulsars with the all-sky BATSE instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, which has detected and studied nearly half of the known pulsar systems, as well as new insights into long-term accretion torque histories.
Proceedings ArticleDOI
In-orbit performance and calibration of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) Proportional Counter Array (PCA)
Keith Jahoda,Jean H. Swank,A. B. Giles,Mike Stark,Tod E. Strohmayer,William W. Zhang,Edward H. Morgan +6 more
TL;DR: The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) satellite was launched into a circular orbit of altitude 580 km and 23 degrees inclination on December 30, 1995.