| Proposal ID | 078457 |
| Title | Probing the Warped Inner Accretion Flow in SMC X-1 with XMM and NuSTAR |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0784570201 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-xho7zkj |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Prof Ryan Hickox |
| Abstract | We propose for a series of four 20 ks observations with XMM and NuSTAR of thebinary X-ray pulsar SMC X-1. This source shows a long-period (40 60 d)superorbital cycle due to a warped, precessing accretion disk. This disk isheated by the pulsed hard X-ray beam from the neutron star, and observations ofthis thermal emission can provide a unique probe of the inner accretion flownear the magnetosphere. However this requires sensitivity and timing resolutionacross the full X-ray band (from below 1 keV to above 20 keV), and sampling of afull superorbital cycle. We will take advantage of XMMs excellent sensitivityand time resolution along with NuSTARs exquisite high-energy coverage to yieldthe clearest picture to date of the inner accretion flow. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2016-09-08T21:24:04Z/2016-10-25T03:03:14Z |
| Version | 19.17_20220121_1250 |
| 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 | 2017-11-14T23:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2025-01-27 |
| Keywords | "time resolution", "thermal emission", "XMM", "precessing accretion disk", "inner accretion flow", "superorbital cycle", "smc x", "NuSTAR", "energy coverage", "xray band", "neutron star", "clearest picture" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Prof Ryan Hickox, 2017, 'Probing the Warped Inner Accretion Flow in SMC X-1 with XMM and NuSTAR', 19.17_20220121_1250, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-xho7zkj |