We have made a program to study the X-ray emission properties of old and close by pulsars in order to probe and identify the origin of their X radiation. These pulsars, being intermediate from its age between the young cooling neutron stars and the old millisecond pulsars, are of special interest in order to understand the X-ray emission properties of rotation-powered pulsars in its whole. For all proposed objects we will obtain spectral and temporal information in a moderate amount of observing time allowing to discriminate between thermal and non-thermal emission processes. This task can only be investigated by a combined spectral and
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2002-11-21T23:20:55Z/2002-11-22T04:03:28Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Werner Becker, 2004, 'Pulsars old and close in space: Hot polar-caps or magnetospheric emission', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-dt9o1d1
