The Fermi Large Area Telescope has been very successful at discovering gamma-raypulsars. As we extend the search to dimmer sources, the larger positionuncertainty makes discovery more challenging. We propose to observe a set of 6LAT-detected high Galactic latitude gamma-ray sources that have pulsar-likegamma-ray spectra but no as-yet identified counterparts in any other waveband.These sources have been detected by LAT with high significance and are likelynearby gamma-ray pulsars. The proposed observations are for 20 ks per source,covering the LAT error region in a single pointing. We will determine the X-rayposition, flux, and spectral properties for any sources detected by XMM-Newtonwithin this region. This proposal follows successful XMM programs we proposed in Cycles 8 and 9.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2012-02-08T04:10:17Z/2012-04-15T15:59:29Z
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 J. Eric Grove, 2013, 'Search for X-ray Counterparts in Pulsar-like High-b Unassociated Fermi Sources', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-c48rc9n
