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Swift, XMM-Newton, and NuSTAR observations of PSR J2032+4127/MT91 213

Li, K. L. and Kong, A. K. H. and Tam, P. H. T. and Hou, X. and Takata, J. and Hui, C. Y. (2017) Swift, XMM-Newton, and NuSTAR observations of PSR J2032+4127/MT91 213. Astrophysical Journal, 843 (2). Art. No. 85. ISSN 0004-637X. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aa784e. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170531-104412423

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Abstract

We report our recent Swift, NuSTAR, and XMM-Newton X-ray and Lijiang optical observations on PSR J2032+4127/MT91 213, the γ-ray binary candidate with a period of 45–50 years. The coming periastron of the system was predicted to be in 2017 November, around which high-energy flares from keV to TeV are expected. Recent studies with Chandra and Swift X-ray observations taken in 2015/2016 showed that its X-ray emission has been brighter by a factors of ~10 than that before 2013, probably revealing some ongoing activities between the pulsar wind and the stellar wind. Our new Swift/XRT lightcurve shows no strong evidence of a single vigorous brightening trend, but rather several strong X-ray flares on weekly to monthly timescales with a slowly brightening baseline, namely the low state. The NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observations taken during the flaring and the low states, respectively, show a denser environment and a softer power-law index during the flaring state, implying that the pulsar wind interacted with the stronger stellar winds of the companion to produce the flares. These precursors would be crucial in studying the predicted giant outburst from this extreme γ-ray binary during the periastron passage in late 2017.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa784eDOIArticle
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aa784e/metaPublisherArticle
http://arxiv.org/abs/1705.09653arXivDiscussion Paper
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Li, K. L.0000-0001-8229-2024
Kong, A. K. H.0000-0002-5105-344X
Tam, P. H. T.0000-0002-1262-7375
Hou, X.0000-0003-0933-6101
Takata, J.0000-0002-8731-0129
Hui, C. Y.0000-0003-1753-1660
Additional Information:© 2017 The American Astronomical Society. Received 2017 April 24; accepted 2017 June 8; published 2017 July 6. We thank (i) Neil Gehrels and Brad Cenko for approving our Swift monitoring campaign, (ii) Fiona Harrison for approving the NuSTAR DDT request and Kristin Madsen for the technical support, and (iii) Norbert Schartel for approving the XMM-Newton DDT request and Rosario Gonzalez-Riestra for scheduling the observation. We acknowledge the support of the staff of the Lijiang 2.4 m telescope. Funding for the telescope has been provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Peoples Government of Yunnan Province. The scientific results reported in this article are based in part on data obtained from the Chandra Data Archive. A.K.H.K. is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan through grants 105-2112-M-007-033-MY2, 105-2119-M-007-028-MY3, and 106-2918-I-007-005. X.H. is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China through grant 11503078. P.H.T. is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) through grants 11633007 and 11661161010. J.T. is supported by NSFC grants of Chinese Government under 11573010 and U1631103. C.Y.H. is supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea through grants 2014R1A1A2058590 and 2016R1A5A1013277. Facilities: Swift, NuSTAR, XMM, YAO:2.4m, and CXO.
Group:NuSTAR
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Chinese Academy of SciencesUNSPECIFIED
Peoples Government of Yunnan ProvinceUNSPECIFIED
Ministry of Science and Technology (Taipei)105-2112-M-007-033-MY2
Ministry of Science and Technology (Taipei)105-2119-M-007-028-MY3
Ministry of Science and Technology (Taipei)106-2918-I-007-005
National Natural Science Foundation of China11503078
National Natural Science Foundation of China11633007
National Natural Science Foundation of China11661161010
National Natural Science Foundation of China11573010
National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaU1631103
National Research Foundation of Korea2014R1A1A2058590
National Research Foundation of Korea2016R1A5A1013277
Subject Keywords:pulsars: individual (PSR J2032+4127) – stars: individual (MT91 213) – stars: winds, outflows – X-rays: binaries
Issue or Number:2
DOI:10.3847/1538-4357/aa784e
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20170531-104412423
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170531-104412423
Official Citation:K. L. Li et al 2017 ApJ 843 85
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:77853
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Joy Painter
Deposited On:31 May 2017 18:03
Last Modified:15 Nov 2021 17:34

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