The mass transfer and accretion mechanisms in SFXTs are key questions to placethem in the wider context of HMXB systems. Current theories centre on masstransfer via isotropic but inhomogeneous (.clumpy.) winds, but some systems alsoshow evidence of disk-like structures around the supergiant, analogous to thoseseen in Be/X-ray binaries. We propose a campaign of periastron observations of 2SFXTs with known ephemerides. Simultaneous INTEGRAL/XMM observations willmeasure the instantaneous accretion rate, emission spectrum and time variabilitygenerated on and around the neutron star. Continuous broad-band observationsaround periastron yield the best opportunity to use the neutron star as a directprobe of the circumstellar wind environment.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2014-10-13T23:29:03Z/2014-10-15T21:50:00Z
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 Sebastian Drave, 2015, 'Probing the nature of the circumstellar environment around periastron', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-bjkuzeb
