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A Faint Near-Infrared Counterpart to the AXP 1E 2259+58.6We present near-infrared and optical observations of the field of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 1E 2259+58.6 taken with the Keck telescope. We derive a subarcsecond Chandra position and tie it to our optical reference frame using other stars in the field. We find a very faint source, K(s) = 21.7 +/- 0.2 mag, with a position coincident with the Chandra position. We argue that this is the counterpart. In the J, I, and R bands, we derive (two sigma) limits of 23.8, 25.6 and 26.4mag, respectively. As with 4U 0142+61, for which a similarly faint counterpart was found, our results are inconsistent with models in which the source is powered by accretion from a disk. The only model that is not inconsistent, appears to be that in which 1E 2259+58.6 is a magnetar.
Document ID
20020022678
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Hulleman, F.
Tennant, Allyn F., Jr.
vanKerkwijk, M. H.
Kulkarni, S. R.
Kouveliotou, C.
Patel, S. K.
Whitaker, Ann F.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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