The discovery of pulsations (Pspin=5500s) has solved the controversy on thenature of the compact object in the HMXB 4U2206+54 but has prompted newquestions. According to spin evolutionary models such slow pulsations requirethe system to harbor a magnetar (Bvirgul1e14 G). However, the significant detectionof a cyclotron resonant scattering feature at 30 keV implies a magnetic fieldBvirgul3x1e12 G. Another unsolved question is whether the presence of a soft thermalcomponent, representing emission from the polar caps, is present in allaccreting pulsars. This proposal seeks to estimate the magnetic field strengththrough the neutron star spin evolution and investigate with unprecedenteddetail the soft energy spectrum of 4U2206+54 to check whether the polar cap scenario is applicable.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-02-06T03:39:49Z/2011-02-07T02:40:52Z
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 PABLO REIG, 2012, 'Slow pulsating accreting neutron stars: the enigmatic case of 4U 2206+54', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-n40j0hw
