A dataset provided by the European Space Agency

Proposal ID 015080
Title Multiwavelength XMM study of RXJ0806.3+1527, a unique X-ray/optical pulsator
Download Data Associated to the proposal

https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0150800101

DOI https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-9b6bl36
Principal Investigator, PI Dr GianLuca Israel
Abstract We propose a multiwavelength study of the unique X-ray source RXJ0806.3+1527. A strong X-ray modulation at a period of 321s was recently detected from ROSAT HRI data. We also detected highly significant optical pulsations at the X-ray period during an observation of the V=21 optical counterpart from the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. The absence of any additional optical modulation up to periods of about 7hr as well as the stability of the modulation itself leave us with few possible scenarios for explaining the nature of this object. Among these, RXJ0806.3+1527 might be an isolated neutron star, an X-ray pulsar in a low mass X-ray binary, or an X-ray emitting double degenerate system with the shortest known orbital period.
Publications
Instrument EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage 2002-11-02T08:59:42Z/2002-11-02T16:58:51Z
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.
Creator Contact https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk
Date Published 2003-11-21T00:00:00Z
Keywords "optical counterpart", "additional optical modulation", "xray pulsar", "xray period", "XMM", "optical pulsator", "xray modulation", "isolated neutron star", "rosat hri data", "telescopio nazionale galileo", "multiwavelength xmm", "xray source rxj0806", "ROSAT", "orbital period", "optical pulsations"
Publisher And Registrant European Space Agency
Credit Guidelines European Space Agency, Dr GianLuca Israel, 2003, 'Multiwavelength XMM study of RXJ0806.3+1527 comma a unique X-ray/optical pulsator', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-9b6bl36