A new magnetar candidate, PSR J1622-4950, has been discovered in the radio bandby the Parkes High Time Resolution Universe (HiTRUn) Survey, presenting thetypical erratic radio flux behaviour shown only by the two transient radiomagnetars known thus far, and a magnetic field of virgul2x10^{14}G. Pulsed radioemission from magnetars have been so far always connected to transient X-rayoutbursts. A prompt Chandra observation pinpointed positionally the X-raycounterpart to this new radio magnetar, which, however, did not show any fluxincrease with respect to archival X-ray observations. We aks for a 70ks XMM,observation of the recently discovered X-ray counterpart to PSR J1622-4950 inorder to study its spectrum and search for X-ray pulsations.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-02-22T01:29:15Z/2011-02-23T01:12:12Z
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 Nanda Rea, 2012, 'Characterizing the X-ray emission of the new radio magnetar PSR J1622-4950', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-2mwxcek
