Several methods exist to measure the masses and the radii of neutron stars andthus constrain the equation of state, but almost 50 years after their discoverythe nature of neutron star matter is still unknown. One way to constrain themass and the radius is to model the X-ray pulse profile of low magnetic fieldmillisecond pulsars (MSPs), showing predominantly thermal emission and with veryprecise mass measurements. However, only four thermally emitting MSPs are knownand just one has a precisely known mass. We request observations of two moreMSPs with precisely known masses, to determine if their spectra are thermal.These MSPs can then be used to constrain the nature of neutron star matter,providing complementary information to laboratory data.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2016-09-20T15:08:00Z/2016-09-21T05:28:00Z
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 Natalie Webb, 2017, 'Thermal emission from pulsars to constrain the neutron star equation of state', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-x6xilep
