The high throughput of XMM, the good time resolution over the full field ofview and the extended energy range of the EPIC pn detector are idealy suited forpulsar searches of the faint candidates in the Magellanic Clouds. We propose tosearch for new pulsars using long continuous observations of SMC fieldscontaining several binary candidates selected from our ROSAT catalogues. Wewill investigate the energy dependence of pulse profiles and characterizepulsars by their spectrum. We will optically identify pulsars using OM data andfollow up observations. The observations will help to further investigate thedifference in the populations of LMC and SMC X-ray binary pulsars.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-10-17T10:01:18Z/2002-03-30T19:46:37Z
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 Wolfgang Pietsch, 2003, 'Detection of X-ray binary pulsars in the SMC', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-o847qz8
