A search for the optical/infrared counterpart of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E 1841-045

We have carried out a search for the optical and infrared counterpart of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E 1841-045, which is located at the centre of the supernova remnant Kes 73. We present the first deep optical and infrared images of the field of 1E 1841-045, as well as optical spectroscopy results that exclude the brightest objects in the error circle as possible counterparts. A few of the more reddened objects in this region can be considered as particularly interesting candidates, in consideration of the distance and absorption expected from the association with Kes 73. The strong interstellar absorption in the direction of the source does not allow us to exclude completely the presence of main-sequence massive companions.