Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters were the first class of X-ray sources believed to hostmagnetars, i.e. isolated neutron stars with surface magnetic fields of10^14-10^15 G. SGR 1627-41 is the only known SGR with a transient X-raycounterpart. After a single bursting episode, its persistent X-ray luminositymonotonically decreased from 1998 to 2004 with an overall variation of a factorgreater than 20, the largest ever observed in a SGR. We propose to observe againSGR 1627-41 with XMM-Newton EPIC to establish whether the flux has reached astable level and to obtain the best quality spectrum for a SGR in an unique lowluminosity state.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2008-02-12T15:41:12Z/2008-02-13T19:09:44Z
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, 2009, 'SGR 1627-41: a transient Soft Gamma-ray Repeater', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-sxsqhwz
