A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Multi-Wavelength Properties of the 2021 Periastron Passage of PSR B1259-63
Authors: Chernyakova Maria, Malyshev Denys, van Soelen Brian, O'Sullivan Shane, Sobey Charlotte, Tsygankov Sergey, Mc Keague Samuel, Green Jacog, Kirwan Matthew, Santangelo Andrea, Puhlhofer Gerd, Monageng Itumeleng M
Publisher: MDPI
Publishing place: Basel
Publication year: 2021
Journal: Universe
Journal name in source: UNIVERSE
Journal acronym: UNIVERSE-BASEL
Article number: ARTN 242
Volume: 7
Number of pages: 11
eISSN: 2218-1997
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/universe7070242
Web address : https://doi.org/10.3390/universe7070242
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/66841225
PSR B1259-63 is a gamma-ray binary system hosting a radio pulsar orbiting around a O9.5Ve star, LS 2883, with a period of similar to 3.4 years. The interaction of the pulsar wind with the LS 2883 outflow leads to unpulsed broadband emission in the radio, X-ray, GeV, and TeV domains. One of the most unusual features of the system is an outburst of GeV energies around the periastron, during which the energy release substantially exceeds the spin down luminosity under the assumption of the isotropic emission. In this paper, we present the first results of a recent multi-wavelength campaign (radio, optical, and X-ray bands) accompanied by the analysis of publicly available GeV Fermi/LAT data. The campaign covered a period of more than 100 days around the 2021 periastron and revealed substantial differences from previously observed passages. We report a major delay of the GeV flare, weaker X-ray flux during the peaks, which are typically attributed to the times when the pulsar crosses the disk, and the appearance of a third X-ray peak never observed before. We argue that these features are consistent with the emission cone model proposed by us previously, in the case of a sparser and clumpier disk of the Be star.
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