An extended X-ray object ejected from the PSR B1259–63/LS2883 binary

Journal Article · Sat Jun 20 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/806/2/192· OSTI ID:22883018

Pavlov, George G. ^[1]; Hare, Jeremy; Kargaltsev, Oleg; Rangelov, Blagoy ^[2]; Durant, Martin ^[3]

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1. Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802 (United States)
2. George Washington University, 105 Corcoran Hall, Washington, DC 20052 (United States)
3. Toronto, ON (Canada)

We present the analysis of Chandra X-ray Observatory observations of the eccentric γ-ray binary PSR B1259–63/LS 2883. The analysis shows that the extended X-ray feature seen in previous observations is still moving away from the binary with an average projected velocity of ≈0.07c and shows a hint of acceleration. The spectrum of the feature appears to be hard (photon index Γ ≈ 0.8) with no sign of softening compared to previously measured values. We interpret it as a clump of plasma ejected from the binary through the interaction of the pulsar with the decretion disk of the O-star around periastron passage. We suggest that the clump is moving in the unshocked relativistic pulsar wind (PW), which can accelerate the clump. Its X-ray emission can be interpreted as synchrotron radiation of the PW shocked by the collision with the clump.

• OSTI ID: 22883018
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 806; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ACCELERATION
COLLISIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EMISSION
INTERACTIONS
NEUTRON STARS
PLASMA
PULSARS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SPECTRA
STELLAR WINDS
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
VELOCITY
X RADIATION