In the largest ever systematic search in soft X-rays for coherent periodicitiesabout 400,000 light curves of sources serendipitously detected by the SwiftX-Ray Telescope (XRT) and the Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS)we have discovered so far (the project is still on-going) 35 new X-raypulsators. In this proposal we ask for XMM-Newton follow-up observations forfive of them, which either show unusual characteristics or their properties aresuggesting the presence of an accreting neutron star. The requested observationswill allow us to unveil their nature and test magnetic gating accretionscenarios, a regime which has remained unexplored so far.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2014-02-28T07:33:51Z/2014-08-31T14:45:51Z
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, Prof GianLuca Israel, 2015, 'Unveiling the nature of newly discovered X-ray pulsators', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-5j94yy7
