In a recent radio survey of unidentified EGRET sources, we discovered two veryunusual binary pulsars: PSRs J1614-2230 and J1744-3922. The first source, a3.15ms binary pulsar with a companion too massive for standard binary evolutionscenarios, may become the second known gamma-ray pulsar. The second source, a172 ms pulsar in a tight 4.6 hr orbit around a low-mass companion, is likelyunrelated to the coincident EGRET source. However, it displays bizarre radioemission behavior that may indicate transient accretion. This could be thelong-sought missing link between accretion-powered and rotation-poweredneutron stars. Here we propose to test both hypotheses using brief XMM-Newtonsnapshots. X-ray detection of either source would be very exciting.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-08-17T06:30:12Z/2006-02-28T23:09:47Z
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 Mallory Roberts, 2007, 'XMM-Newton Observations of Two Unusual Binary Pulsars', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-br0s47s
