| Name | 040486 |
| Title | XMM Monitoring of the Evolving AXP 4U 0142+61 |
| URL | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0404860301 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-q30d7hi |
| Author | Prof Victoria Kaspi |
| Description | 4U 0142+61 is a 8.7-s anomalous X-ray pulsar which, in data from our RXTE monitoring program, shows pulsations that are slowly but steadily getting brighter. Since 2000, the pulses have brightened by approximately 50%. In concert with the brightening, the pulse profile is clearly evolving on a comparable time scale. This behavior is unprecedented for an AXP and challenges the current magnetar model. We request two XMM observations of the source in Cycle 5 in order to monitor its phase-averaged flux and its spectrum, to try to shed light on the physical origin of this behavior. |
| Publication | No observations found associated with the current proposal |
| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2006-07-28T17:45:03Z/2007-01-13T21:46:00Z |
| Version | 17.56_20190403_1200 |
| Mission Description | The European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESA's 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 Earth's 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 | 2008-02-29T00:00:00Z |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Prof Victoria Kaspi, 2008, 040486, 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-q30d7hi |