Chandra observations of black widow pulsars

P. Gentile; M. McLaughlin; M. Roberts; F. Camilo; J. Hessels; M. Kerr; S. Ransom; P. Ray; I. Stairs

doi:10.1017/S1743921312024234

Chandra observations of black widow pulsars

P. Gentile, M. McLaughlin, M. Roberts, F. Camilo, J. Hessels, M. Kerr, S. Ransom, P. Ray, I. Stairs

Physics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

We describe the first X-ray observations of binary millisecond pulsars PSR J0023+0923, J1810+1744, J2215+5135, and J2256-1024. All are Fermi gamma-ray sources and three are 'black-widow' pulsars, with companions of mass < 0.1 M âŠ™. Data were taken using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and covered a full binary orbit for each pulsar. PSRs J2215+5135 and J2256-1024, show significant orbital variability and X-ray flux minima coinciding with eclipses seen at radio wavelengths. This is consistent with intrabinary shock emission characteristic of black-widow pulsars. The other two pulsars, PSRs J0023+0923 and J1810+1744, do not demonstrate significant variability, but are fainter than the other two sources. Spectral fits yield power-law indices that range from 1.4 to 2.3 and blackbody temperatures in the hundreds of eV. The spectrum for PSR J2215+5135 shows a significant hard X-ray component (41% of counts are above 2 keV), which is additional evidence for the presence of intrabinary shock emission.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Neutron Stars and Pulsars
Subtitle of host publication	Challenges and Opportunities after 80 years
Editors	Joeri Van Leeuwen
Pages	389-391
Number of pages	3
Edition	S291
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921312024234
State	Published - Aug 2012

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Number	S291
Volume	8
ISSN (Print)	1743-9213
ISSN (Electronic)	1743-9221

Keywords

X-rays: binaries
pulsars: general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Nutrition and Dietetics
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1017/S1743921312024234

Cite this

Gentile, P., McLaughlin, M., Roberts, M., Camilo, F., Hessels, J., Kerr, M., Ransom, S., Ray, P., & Stairs, I. (2012). Chandra observations of black widow pulsars. In J. Van Leeuwen (Ed.), Neutron Stars and Pulsars: Challenges and Opportunities after 80 years (S291 ed., pp. 389-391). (Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union; Vol. 8, No. S291). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921312024234

Chandra observations of black widow pulsars. / Gentile, P.; McLaughlin, M.; Roberts, M. et al.

Neutron Stars and Pulsars: Challenges and Opportunities after 80 years. ed. / Joeri Van Leeuwen. S291. ed. 2012. p. 389-391 (Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union; Vol. 8, No. S291).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Gentile, P, McLaughlin, M, Roberts, M, Camilo, F, Hessels, J, Kerr, M, Ransom, S, Ray, P & Stairs, I 2012, Chandra observations of black widow pulsars. in J Van Leeuwen (ed.), Neutron Stars and Pulsars: Challenges and Opportunities after 80 years. S291 edn, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, no. S291, vol. 8, pp. 389-391. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921312024234

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AB - We describe the first X-ray observations of binary millisecond pulsars PSR J0023+0923, J1810+1744, J2215+5135, and J2256-1024. All are Fermi gamma-ray sources and three are 'black-widow' pulsars, with companions of mass < 0.1 M âŠ™. Data were taken using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and covered a full binary orbit for each pulsar. PSRs J2215+5135 and J2256-1024, show significant orbital variability and X-ray flux minima coinciding with eclipses seen at radio wavelengths. This is consistent with intrabinary shock emission characteristic of black-widow pulsars. The other two pulsars, PSRs J0023+0923 and J1810+1744, do not demonstrate significant variability, but are fainter than the other two sources. Spectral fits yield power-law indices that range from 1.4 to 2.3 and blackbody temperatures in the hundreds of eV. The spectrum for PSR J2215+5135 shows a significant hard X-ray component (41% of counts are above 2 keV), which is additional evidence for the presence of intrabinary shock emission.

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Chandra observations of black widow pulsars

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