Soft X-ray emission from the radio pulsar PSR 0656 + 14

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167918· OSTI ID:5021890

Cordova, F A; Middleditch, J; Hjellming, R M; Mason, K O ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA) National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, NM (USA) London Univ. College, Dorking (England)

A radio source with a flux density of a few mJy was found in the error region of the soft X-ray source E0656 + 14, and identified as the radio pulsar PSR 0656 + 14. The radio source has a steep, nonthermal spectrum and a high degree of linear (62%) and circular (19%) polarization. The X-ray spectrum of the pulsar is among the softest sources observed with the Einstein Observatory. The X-ray data taken with the Einstein imaging proportional counter (IPC) permit a range of blackbody temperatures of 3-6 x 10 to the 5th K, and an equivalent column density of hydrogen smaller than 4 x 10 to the 20th/sq cm. If the assumption is made that the X-ray flux is thermal radiation from surface of the neutron star, then the pulsar must be at a distance smaller than 550 pc, consistent with the low dispersion measure of PSR 0656 + 14. The X-ray timing data suggest that the X-ray emission is modulated at the pulsar's 0.385-s spin period with an amplitude of 18% + or - 6%, and that there is a 0.0002 probability that this is spurious. It was noted that PSR 0656 + 14 is close to the geometric center of a 20-deg diameter soft X-ray emitting ring called the Gemini-Monoceros enhancement. The close distance of the pulsar, together with its relatively young age of 1.1 x 10 to the 5th yr, makes it possible that the ring is a supernova remnant from the explosion of the pulsar's progenitor. A radio source extending over a region 1.2 to 3.3 arcmin south of the pulsar is a candidate for association with the pulsar. 46 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5021890
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 345; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
PULSARS
SOFT X RADIATION
BRIGHTNESS
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
EMISSION SPECTRA
FLUX DENSITY
NEUTRON STARS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
STAR EVOLUTION
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
STARS
X RADIATION
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources