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Outburst of the 2 s Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 1E 1547.0-5408Following our discovery of radio pulsations from the newly recognized anomalous X-ray pulsar (AXP) 1E 1547.0-5408, we initiated X-ray monitoring with the Swift X-ray telescope and obtained a single target-of-opportunity observation with the Newton X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton). In comparison with its historic minimum flux of 3 x 10(exp -l3)ergs/sq cm/s, the source was found to be in a record high state, f(sub x)(1-8 keV) = 5 x 10(exp -12)ergs/sq cm/s, or L(sub x) = 1.7 x 10(exp 35)(d/9 kpc )(sup 2)ergs/s, and declining by 25% in 1 month. Extrapolating the decay, we bound the total energy in this outburst to 1042 ergs < E < ergs. The spectra (fitted with a Comptonized blackbody) show that an increase in the temperature and area of a hot region, to 0.5 keV and -16% of the surface area of the neutron star, respectively, are primarily responsible for its increase in luminosity. The energy, spectrum, and timescale of decay are consistent with a deep crustal heating event, similar to an interpretation of the X-ray turn-on of the transient AXP XTE J18 10- 197. Simultaneous with the 4.6 hr ATdA4-Newton observation, we observed at 6.4 GHz with the Parkes telescope, measuring the phase relationship of the radio and X-ray pulse. The X-ray pulsed fraction of 1E 1547.0-5408 is only approx. 7 %, while its radio pulse is relatively broad for such a slow pulsar, which may indicate a nearly aligned rotator. As also inferred from the transient behavior of XTE J18 10-197, the only other AXP known to emit in the radio, the magnetic field rearrangement responsible for this X-ray outburst of 1E 1547.0-5408 is probably the cause of its radio turn-on.
Document ID
20080031671
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Halpern, J. P.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY, United States)
Gotthelf, E. V.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY, United States)
Camilo, F.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY, United States)
Reynolds, J.
(Australia Telescope National Facility Parkes, Australia)
Ransom, S. M.
(National Radio Astronomy Observatory Charlottesville, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Volume: 676
Subject Category
Astronomy
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG05GC43G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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