Evidence for a substantial spectral variability over a time scale of virgulmonths inthe X-ray emission of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4-3125 has beendiscovered last year by members of our team. It is the first ever detection ofsuch a behavior in one of the seven radio-quiet dim isolated neutron starsdiscovered by ROSAT. We propose to systematically monitor this source, in orderto perform an accurate study of the evolution of the pulse profile andpersistent emission.In addition, we propose to search for narrow spectralfeatures with variability timescale shorter, or comparable to, the spin periodof this neutron star.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-04-28T08:41:05Z/2005-09-23T16:03:08Z
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 Cor de Vries, 2006, 'Spectral variability and monitoring of RX J0720.4-3125', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-2eor0ju
