In the past two years, three pulsar binaries have shown surprisingback-and-forth transitions between an accreting low mass X-ray binary (LMXB)state and a non-accreting radio millisecond pulsar (MSP) state. These transitional MSPs (tMSPs)overturned the idea that accretion in an LMXB switches off permanently in asingle occurence during pulsar .recycling., but it is unclear how/why thetransitions happen. PSR J2339-0533 is a likely tMSP with spin and orbitparameters very similar to the known tMSPs and shows signs of intermittentaccretion, orbital period and lightcurve variations. These signs suggest thatPSR J2339-0533 may imminently transition into an LMXB. With 150ks NuSTAR and 100ks XMM observations, we propose to establish the pre-transition properties, critical for future work.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2016-12-23T08:27:44Z/2016-12-24T17:14:24Z
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.
European Space Agency, Dr SHRIHARSH P. TENDULKAR, 2018, 'INTRA-BINARY SHOCK & ENERGETICS OF TRANSITIONAL BINARY CANDIDATE PSR J2339-0533', 19.17_20220121_1250, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-1h3zvg8
