The iron K line provides hints about accretion flows in accreting pulsars viathe line shape, strength and variability behavior. In Cen X-3 line pulsationshave been detected, and the fluorescent line must originate close to the pulsar.But the picture is incomplete owing to the absence of observations which combinesufficient collecting area and spectral resolution. We propose a single 70 ksecobservation at a favorable range of orbital phase in order to confirm the likelysite of the fluorescent line, to better understand the geometry of thereprocessing gas, to better study the gas responsible for absorption at energiesabove the iron line, and to study the average properties of the stellar wind.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2006-06-12T22:07:40Z/2006-06-13T22:21:24Z
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 Timothy Kallman, 2009, 'Search for Iron Line Pulsations in Cen X-3', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ha2aegq
