Proposal ID | 020535 |
Title | SEARCHING FOR PROTON CYCLOTRON FEATURES IN THE MAGNETAR CANDIDATE SGR 1806-20 |
Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0205350101 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ry3i5fx |
Principal Investigator, PI | Dr SANDRO MEREGHETTI |
Abstract | 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. |
Publications |
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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. |
Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
Date Published | 2005-10-07T00:00:00Z |
Keywords | "magnetic fields strengths", "proton cyclotron", "neutron stars", "quiescent xray spectrum", "EPIC", "magnetic fields", "useful exposure", "xray band", "energy radiation", "magnetic energy", "sgr 1806", "bursting sources" |
Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
Credit Guidelines | 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 |