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Magnetar-like X-ray bursts from an anomalous X-ray pulsar

Author

Listed:
  • F. P. Gavriil

    (McGill University)

  • V. M. Kaspi

    (McGill University
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • P. M. Woods

    (Space Science Research Center, National Space Science and Technology Center)

Abstract

Anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) are a class of rare X-ray emitting pulsars whose energy source has been perplexing for some 20 years1,2,3. Unlike other X-ray emitting pulsars, AXPs cannot be powered by rotational energy or by accretion of matter from a binary companion star, hence the designation ‘anomalous’. Many of the rotational and radiative properties of the AXPs are strikingly similar to those of another class of exotic objects, the soft-γ-ray repeaters (SGRs). But the defining property of the SGRs—their low-energy-γ-ray and X-ray bursts—has not hitherto been observed for AXPs. Soft-γ-ray repeaters are thought to be ‘magnetars’, which are young neutron stars whose emission is powered by the decay of an ultra-high magnetic field4,5; the suggestion that AXPs might also be magnetars has been controversial6. Here we report two X-ray bursts, with properties similar to those of SGRs, from the direction of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E1048.1 - 5937. These events imply a close relationship (perhaps evolutionary) between AXPs and SGRs, with both being magnetars.

Suggested Citation

  • F. P. Gavriil & V. M. Kaspi & P. M. Woods, 2002. "Magnetar-like X-ray bursts from an anomalous X-ray pulsar," Nature, Nature, vol. 419(6903), pages 142-144, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:419:y:2002:i:6903:d:10.1038_nature01011
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01011
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