Name | 069121 |
Title | A Massive Companion to an Extremely Low-Mass White Dwarf |
URL | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0691210101 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ouen8dt |
Author | Dr Mukremin Kilic |
Description | We have recently discovered a remarkable binary system containing a 0.17 Msun tidally distorted white dwarf and an unseen massive companion. LMWD 439 shows peak-to-peak radial velocity variations of 1020 km/s with an orbital period of 88 minutes. The optical photometry rules out main-sequence companions. Based on the mass function alone, there is 62% chance that the companion is more massive than 1.4 Msun. To distinguish between a neutron star and a massive white dwarf companion, we propose a search for X-ray emission from LMWD 439. New milli-second pulsars with companions amenable to spectroscopy are of great interest, as they allow for a measurement of neutron star mass. If the companion is not a neutron star, this system would be a strong candidate for a Type Ia supernova progenitor. |
Publication | No observations found associated with the current proposal |
Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
Temporal Coverage | 2012-10-25T17:34:28Z/2012-12-14T19:27:30Z |
Version | 17.56_20190403_1200 |
Mission Description | The European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESA's 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 Earth's 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. |
Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
Date Published | 2014-01-16T00:00:00Z |
Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Mukremin Kilic, 2014, 069121, 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ouen8dt |