Multi-Wavelength Observations Of The Radio Magnetar Psr J1622–4950 And Discovery Of Its Possibly Associated Supernova Remnant

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Abstract

We present multi-wavelength observations of the radio magnetar PSR J1622-4950 and its environment. Observations of PSR J1622-4950 with Chandra (in 2007 and 2009) and XMM (in 2011) show that the X-ray flux of PSR J1622-4950 has decreased by a factor of {approx}50 over 3.7 years, decaying exponentially with a characteristic time of {tau} = 360 {+-} 11 days. This behavior identifies PSR J1622-4950 as a possible addition to the small class of transient magnetars. The X-ray decay likely indicates that PSR J1622-4950 is recovering from an X-ray outburst that occurred earlier in 2007, before the 2007 Chandra observations. Observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array show strong radio variability, including a possible radio flaring event at least one and a half years after the 2007 X-ray outburst that may be a direct result of this X-ray event. Radio observations with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope reveal that PSR J1622-4950 is 8' southeast of a diffuse radio arc, G333.9+0.0, which appears non-thermal in nature and which could possibly be a previously undiscovered supernova remnant (SNR). If G333.9+0.0 is an SNR then the estimates of its size and age, combined with the close proximity and reasonable implied velocity of PSR J1622-4950, suggestmore » that these two objects could be physically associated.« less

Source Citation

Anderson, Gemma E., Gaensler, B. M., Slane, Patrick O., Bates, Samuel. (2012). Multi-Wavelength Observations Of The Radio Magnetar Psr J1622–4950 And Discovery Of Its Possibly Associated Supernova Remnant. The Astrophysical Journal, 751(1), 53. http://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/751/1/53

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS