English

ROSAT observations of A0538--66 during quiescence

Astrophysics 2007-05-23 v1

Abstract

We discuss serendipitous ROSAT observations of the Be transient A0538-66, which contains the fastest known accreting X-ray pulsar (69 ms). We show that this transient is detected several times during quiescence at a level of about 10^34-35 erg/s. Considering this low luminosity it is more likely that X-rays are produced by matter falling onto the neutron star magnetosphere, rather than onto the star surface. This could be the first example of an X-ray source in the "propeller regime".

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9610239,
  title  = {ROSAT observations of A0538--66 during quiescence},
  author = {Sergio Campana},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9610239},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

5 pages + 1 figure, LaTex, Springer-Verlag's A&A macro package + s_tables macro (included). Accepted for publication in A&A Main Journal