Discovery of pulsations from the Be/X-ray binary RX j0101.3-7211 in the SMC by XMM-Newton
Sasaki M, Haberl F, Keller S, Pietsch W (2001)
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2001
Journal
Publisher: EDP SCIENCES S A
Book Volume: 369
Pages Range: L29-L32
Journal Issue: 2
Abstract
We report pulsations in the X-ray flux of RX J0101.3-7211 in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC)! with a period of (455 +/- 2) s in XMM-Newton EPIC-PN data. The X-ray spectrum can be described by a power-law with a photon index of 0.6 +/- 0.1. Timing analysis of ROSAT PSPC and HRI archival data confirms the pulsations and indicates a period increase of similar to5 s since 1993. RX J0101.3-7211 varied in brightness during the ROSAT observations with timescales of years with a maximum unabsorbed flux of 6 10(-13) erg cm(-2) s(-1) (0.1-2.4 keV). The flux during the XMM-Newton observation in the ROSAT band was lower than during the faintest ROSAT detection. The unabsorbed luminosity derived from the EPIC-PN spectrum is 2 10(35) erg s(-1) (0.2-10.0 keV) assuming a distance of 60 kpc. Optical spectra of the proposed counterpart taken at the 2.3 rn telescope of MSSSO in Australia in August 2000 show strong H alpha emission and indicate a Be star. The X-ray and optical data confirm RX J0101.3-7211 as a Be/X-ray binary pulsar in the SMC.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) / Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Germany (DE)
Mount Stromlo Observatory
Australia (AU)
Germany (DE)
Mount Stromlo Observatory
Australia (AU)
How to cite
APA:
Sasaki, M., Haberl, F., Keller, S., & Pietsch, W. (2001). Discovery of pulsations from the Be/X-ray binary RX j0101.3-7211 in the SMC by XMM-Newton. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 369(2), L29-L32.
MLA:
Sasaki, Manami, et al. "Discovery of pulsations from the Be/X-ray binary RX j0101.3-7211 in the SMC by XMM-Newton." Astronomy and Astrophysics 369.2 (2001): L29-L32.
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