A deep search for pulsations from the nearby isolated neutron star RX J1856.5-3754

被引：33

作者：

Ransom, SM

Gaensler, BM

Slane, PO

机构：

[1] McGill Univ, Dept Phys, Montreal, PQ H3A 2T8, Canada

[2] MIT, Ctr Space Res, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA

[3] Harvard Smithsonian Ctr Astrophys, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA

来源：

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL | 2002年 / 570卷 / 02期

关键词：

stars : individual (RX J1856.5-3754); stars : neutron; X-rays : stars;

D O I：

10.1086/340973

中图分类号：

P1 [天文学];

学科分类号：

0704 ;

摘要：

We present the results of a deep search for pulsations from the nearby isolated neutron star RX J1856.5-3754 using the 450 ks director's discretionary time Chandra observation completed on 2001 October 15. No pulsations were detected. We find a 99% confidence upper limit on the pulsed fraction of similar to4.5% for worst-case sinusoidal pulsations with frequency less than or similar to50 Hz and frequency derivatives -5 x 10(-10) Hz s(-1) less than or equal to f less than or equal to 0 Hz s(-1). The nondetection of pulsations is most likely due to an unfavorable viewing angle or emitting geometry. Such emitting geometries are much more likely to occur for more "compact" neutron stars, which show increased gravitational light-bending effects. In this case, the nondetection implies a radius-to-mass ratio for RX J1856.5-3754 of R/M less than or similar to 10 km M-.(-1).

引用

页码：L75 / L78

页数：4

共 28 条

[1] First light measurements of Capella with the low-energy transmission grating spectrometer aboard the Chandra X-Ray Observatory [J].