Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Rutledge, R. E
• Fox, D. B
• Shevchuk, A. H

Titel

Discovery of an Isolated Compact Object at High Galactic Latitude

Ist Teil von

• The Astrophysical journal, 2008-01, Vol.672 (2), p.1137-1143

Ort / Verlag

Chicago, IL: IOP Publishing

Erscheinungsjahr

2008

Quelle

EZB Electronic Journals Library

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• We report the discovery of a compact object at high Galactic latitude. The object was Initially Identified as a ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalog X-ray source, 1RXS J141256.0+792204, statistically likely to possess a high X-ray to optical flux ratio. Further observations using Swift, Gemini-North, and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory refined the source position and confirmed the absence of any optical counterpart to an X-ray to optical flux ratio of Fx(0.1-2.4 keV)/Fv > 8700 (3 sigma ). Interpretation of 1RXS J141256.0+792204-which we have dubbed Calvera-as a typical X-ray-dim isolated neutron star would place it at z approximately 5.1 kpc above the Galactic disk-in the Galactic halo-implying that it either has an extreme space velocity (v sub(z) [unk] 5100 km s super(-1)) or has failed to cool according to theoretical predictions. Interpretations as a persistent anomalous X-ray pulsar or a "compact central object" present conflicts with these classes' typical properties. We conclude that the properties of Calvera are most consistent with those of a nearby (80-260 pc) radio pulsar, similar to the radio millisecond pulsars of 47 Tucanae, with further observations required to confirm this classification. If it is a millisecond pulsar, it is has an X-ray flux equal to the X-ray brightest millisecond pulsar (and so is tied for highest flux); the closest northern hemisphere millisecond pulsar; and potentially the closest known millisecond pulsar in the sky, making it an interesting target for X-ray study, a radio pulsar timing array, and LIGO.