The 2006 Outburst of the Magnetar CXOU J164710.2 – 455216

Abstract

We report on data obtained with the Chandra, XMM-Newton, Suzaku, and Swift X-ray observatories, following the 2006 outburst of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar CXOU J164710.2–455216. Using a more complete and higher signal-to-noise data set, we find no evidence for the very large glitch and rapid exponential decay as was reported previously for this source. We set a 3σ upper limit on any fractional frequency increase at the time of the outburst of Δν/ν < 1.5 × 10^(–5). Our timing analysis, based on the longest time baseline yet, yields a spin-down rate for the pulsar that implies a surface dipolar magnetic field of ~9 × 10^(13) G, although this could be biased high by possible recovery from an undetected glitch. We also present an analysis of the source flux and spectral evolution, and find no evidence for long-term spectral relaxation post-outburst as was previously reported.