Soft gamma-ray repeaters are believed to contain magnetars: young neutron starswith extremely high magnetic fields (10^14-10^15 G), which shine as persistentand, occasionally, bursting sources of high-energy radiation by virtue of therelease of magnetic energy. For these magnetic fields strengths, protoncyclotron features are expected to lie in the X-ray band. Recently, anabsorption feature at 5 keV has been seen in several bursts from SGR 1806-20with RXTE. We propose here to search for proton cyclotron features in itsquiescent X-ray spectrum, by exploiting the unique characteristics of EPIC.Thisprogram was granted 50 ks in AO2. The observation was performed during a periodof very high background, resulting in a useful exposure of only 5 ks, which is not sufficient for our purpose.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-09-06T09:02:50Z/2004-09-06T23:28:02Z
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 SANDRO MEREGHETTI, 2005, 'SEARCHING FOR PROTON CYCLOTRON FEATURES IN THE MAGNETAR CANDIDATE SGR 1806-20', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ry3i5fx
