Middle-aged pulsars (about 100-500 kyr) provide the opportunity to study thethermal radiation from neutron stars (NSs). X-ray observations of these objects,combined with the NS cooling models, can constrain the nature of the superfluidNS interior, the composition of the stellar core, the processes responsible forthe NS cooling, and the NS mass and radius. However, thermal radiation has beendefinitively detected from only few middle-aged pulsars so far. We propose toobserve three nearby middle-aged pulsars discovered recently in the ParkesSurvey. These observations will allow us to measure the spectral parameters andstudy the thermal component of the pulsars. radiation to constrain the NSthermal evolution models.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2007-11-09T22:16:34Z/2007-11-10T09:45:10Z
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 Vyacheslav Zavlin, 2009, 'Thermal emission from three middle-aged pulsars', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-i91lcwc
