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A Possible X-Ray Detection of the Binary Millisecond Pulsar J1012+5307A possible X-ray detection of the newly discovered binary millisecond radio pulsar PSR J1012+5307 was obtained from an archival ROSAT observation. The 80 +/- 24 photons detected correspond to a 0.1 - 2.4 keV luminosity of approx. = 2.5 x 10(exp 30) erg/s at the nominal dispersion-measure distance of 520 pc. This luminosity is a factor of 2 less than that of PSR J0437-4715, a near twin of PSR J1012+5307 in its spin parameters and energetics, and the only millisecond pulsar from which pulsed X-rays have definitely been detected. PSR J1012+5307 is also within 6 deg of the "HI hole" in Ursa Major, providing a new estimate of the electron column density through this region which confirms that the ionized column density is also low. The small neutral column density to PSR J1012+5307, N(sub H) less than 7.5 x 10(exp 19)/sq cm, will facilitate future soft X-ray study, which will help to discriminate between thermal and nonthermal origins of the X-ray emission in millisecond pulsars.
Document ID
20010055652
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Halpern, Jules P.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY United States)
Oliversen, Ronald
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: The New X-Ray/Gamma-Ray Pulsars
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-3229
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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