Proposal ID | 076385 |
Title | X-rays and mode changes in PSR J2021+4026, the first variable gamma-ray pulsar |
Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0763850101 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-dx15whq |
Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Massimiliano Razzano |
Abstract | Among the radio-quiet pulsars discovered by Fermi, an unique source is PSRJ2021+4026 in the Gamma Cygni supernova remnant. This pulsar has shocked thehigh-energy astrophysics community by featuring a simultaneous change in fluxand frequency derivative, breaking the long-standing paradigm of pulsars asstable gamma-ray sources. Monitoring the gamma-ray mode changes at differentenergies is key to understand if such events are due to global or local changesin the magnetosphere geometry and/or configurations. We propose a ToO with XMMto study the X-ray spectral and timing behaviour of PSR J2021+4026 following amode change. This will provide the first contemporary X and gamma-ray study ofpulsar mode changes, key to decrypt this intriguing, but still obscure, aspect of pulsar physics. |
Publications |
|
Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
Temporal Coverage | 2015-12-20T10:15:58Z/2015-12-22T01:24:17Z |
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. |
Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
Date Published | 2017-01-11T23:00:00Z |
Keywords | "pulsar mode", "magnetosphere geometry", "contemporary x", "XMM", "psr j2021", "frequency derivative", "xray spectral", "gamma ray mode", "radio quiet pulsars", "energy astrophysics community", "pulsar physics", "gamma ray", "x rays", "standing paradigm" |
Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Massimiliano Razzano, 2017, 'X-rays and mode changes in PSR J2021+4026 comma the first variable gamma-ray pulsar', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-dx15whq |