The spectrum of many binary pulsars shows a data excess over the main power lawcomponent, which has been described with different models. In the case of thepersistent, low-luminosity (about 10**34 erg/s) and long-period (above 100 s) Bepulsars X Persei and RX J0146.9+6121, the observed excess can be modeled with arather hot (kT above 1 keV) black-body component of small area (R below 0.5 km),which has been attributed to the emission from the NS polar caps. We propose totest the validity of this picture also in the other two persistent Galactic Bepulsars RX J0440.9+4431 and RX J1037.5-5647. Moreover, we also propose toobserve the transient long-period Be pulsar 3A 0535+262 when in quiescence,since in this status its luminosity is comparable to that of the two previous sources.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-01-09T18:58:32Z/2009-01-10T03:39:00Z
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 Nicola La Palombara, 2010, 'Search for a thermal emission component in low luminosity Be binary pulsars', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-b0bn6t7
