The reawakening of the sleeping X-ray pulsar XTE J1946+274

Müller S, Kühnel M, Caballero I, Pottschmidt K, Fürst F, Kreykenbohm I, Sagredo M, Obst M, Wilms J, Ferrigno C, Rothschild RE, Staubert R (2012)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences

Publisher: EDP SCIENCES S A

Book Volume: 546

Article Number: ARTN A125

DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201219580

Abstract

We report on a series of outbursts of the high-mass X-ray binary XTE J1946+274 in 2010/2011 observed with INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Swift. We discuss possible mechanisms resulting in the extraordinary outburst behavior of this source. The X-ray spectra can be described by standard phenomenological models, enhanced by an absorption feature of unknown origin at about 10 keV and a narrow iron K alpha fluorescence line at 6.4 keV, which are variable in flux and pulse phase. We find possible evidence for a cyclotron resonance scattering feature at about 25 keV at the 93% level. The presence of a strong cyclotron line at 35 keV seen in data from the source's 1998 outburst that was confirmed by a reanalysis of these data can be excluded. This result indicates that the cyclotron line feature in XTE J1946+274 is variable between individual outbursts.

Authors with CRIS profile

Sebastian Müller Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Matthias Bissinger Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Felix Fürst Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Ingo Kreykenbohm Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Macarena Sagredo Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Jörn Wilms Professur für Astronomie und Astrophysik

Involved external institutions

University of Geneva / Université de Genève (UNIGE) CH Switzerland (CH) University of California, San Diego US United States (USA) (US) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) US United States (USA) (US) Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen DE Germany (DE) University of Paris 7 - Denis Diderot / Université Paris VII Denis Diderot FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Müller, S., Kühnel, M., Caballero, I., Pottschmidt, K., Fürst, F., Kreykenbohm, I.,... Staubert, R. (2012). The reawakening of the sleeping X-ray pulsar XTE J1946+274. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 546. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201219580

MLA:

Müller, Sebastian, et al. "The reawakening of the sleeping X-ray pulsar XTE J1946+274." Astronomy & Astrophysics 546 (2012).

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