A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The X-ray properties of Be/X-ray pulsars in quiescence
Authors: Tsygankov SS, Wijnands R, Lutovinov AA, Degenaar N, Poutanen J
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS
Publication year: 2017
Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Journal name in source: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Journal acronym: MON NOT R ASTRON SOC
Volume: 470
Issue: 1
First page : 126
Last page: 141
Number of pages: 16
ISSN: 0035-8711
eISSN: 1365-2966
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx1255
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/25345137
Observations of accreting neutron stars (NSs) with strong magnetic fields can be used not only for studying the accretion flow interaction with the NS magnetospheres, but also for understanding the physical processes inside NSs and for estimating their fundamental parameters. Of particular interest are (i) the interaction of a rotating NS (magnetosphere) with the infalling matter at different accretion rates, and (ii) the theory of deep crustal heating and the influence of a strong magnetic field on this process. Here, we present results of the first systematic investigation of 16 X-ray pulsars with Be optical companions during their quiescent states, based on data from the Chandra, XMM-Newton and Swift observatories. The whole sample of sources can be roughly divided into two distinct groups: (i) relatively bright objects with a luminosity around similar to 10(34) erg s(-1) and (hard) power-law spectra, and (ii) fainter ones showing thermal spectra. X-ray pulsations were detected from five objects in group (i) with quite a large pulse fraction of 50-70 per cent. The obtained results are discussed within the framework of the models describing the interaction of the infalling matter with the NS magnetic field and those describing heating and cooling in accreting NSs.
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