PSR J1731-1847 is a recently discovered eclipsing millisecond pulsar in acircularized orbit with a very low mass companion still pouring matter in thebinary. It represents only the fourth known case of a black widow pulsar in thegalactic field. X-ray emission from intra-binary shock is expected in thissystem due to the interaction between pulsar wind and matter released from thecompanion star. In the framework of a multi-wavelength campaign, we ask for a 28ks exposure (one orbit of the MSP) to: i) detect the X-ray counterpart to thebinary; ii) investigate the occurrence of variability in the X-ray emissionalong the orbit (signature of intra-binary shock); iii) constrain thedistribution of plasma in the system and the geometry of the X-ray emission.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2012-08-31T23:49:34Z/2012-09-01T10:53:14Z
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 Andrea Possenti, 2013, 'Exploring the X-ray properties of a new black widow system', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ptmfrau
