On October 3 (one week before this proposal was due!), AXP 1E 1547-5408 wentinto outburst, as detected by Swift and Fermi, and subsequently RXTE and CXO.Such AXP outbursts are rare yet are crucial to study as they have the potentialto greatly constrain the physics of magnetars, and possibly neutron starstructure. Here we propose XMM observations of 1E 1547-5408 as it fades back toquiescence, in order to test models of magnetar post-outburst relaxation.Specifically, we request 2 EPIC observations roughly 6 months apart in Cycle 8,to determine the functional form of the flux decay, as well as the spectralevolution.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2010-02-10T04:14:37Z/2010-02-10T16:44:59Z
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, Prof Victoria Kaspi, 2011, 'A Major Outburst from AXP 1E 1547-5407', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-jabn65u
