Soft gamma repeaters (SGRs) are part of a rapidly increasing group of x-raysources exhibiting sporadic and powerful emission of short bursts and outbursts,believed to be magnetars, i.e. neutron stars powered by extreme magnetic fields(Bvirgul10^14-15 Gauss). We have recently discovered an SGR with a low magneticfield, SGR 0418+57, during outburst and after it emitted bursts similar to thoseof magnetars. X-ray observations show that its dipolar magnetic field cannot begreater than 7.5x10^12 Gauss, well in the range of ordinary radio pulsars. Weask here for a joint XMM/Chandra monitoring of the first low-B magnetar SGR0418+57 in order to have a final measure of its period derivative, hence of itsurface dipolar B field.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-03-10T03:15:53Z/2011-09-12T11:15:28Z
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, 'Testing the magnetar model with the first low-B soft gamma repeater', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-z8t7ty8
