The 1999 outburst of the transient pulsar SAX J2103.5+4545 was monitored withRXTE until the pulsar faded below 1 mCrab. The 358 s pulsar was spun up for 150days. Then the flux dropped quickly, the frequency saturated and as the fluxcontinued to decline a weak spin-down began, with pulses remaining strong. XMM-Newton EPIC observations in quiescence would determine the quiescent level andthe nature of the flux, pulsations, and spectra after outburst decay.Observations finding the source in outburst would measure spectral correlationswith the transient.s evolution and with the phase of the 12.68 day eccentricorbit. These measurements would be diagnostic of the nature of the mass loss ofthe companion and the interaction of a strong field pulsar with the wind.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2003-01-06T20:10:45Z/2003-01-06T22:56:39Z
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 Jean Swank, 2004, 'The Low Luminosity Transient Pulsar SAX J2103.5+4545', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-gu3aba1
