HD 15137 is an intriguing runaway O-type binary that offers a rare opportunityto explore the mechanism by which it was ejected from the open cluster of itsbirth. All of the evidence from optical spectra points to a compact companion inthis system - except for the lack of hard X-ray emission detected from thesystem. HD 15137 is therefore a quiet HMXB candidate, too widely separated forthe neutron star to accrete a significant mass of stellar winds and be detectedas an X-ray binary. Therefore we propose observations with XMM-Newton, to occurat the time of periastron, that will detect the hard power law spectrum from aweakly accreting neutron star and reveal the evolutionary history of HD 15137.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-01-23T14:53:12Z/2011-01-24T03:19:30Z
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 M. Virginia McSwain, 2012, 'The Quiet HMXB Candidate HD 15137', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-gieljsn
