2025A&A...698A..71S


Query : 2025A&A...698A..71S

2025A&A...698A..71S - Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 698A71 (2025/6-1)

Discovery of a bimodal luminosity distribution in the persistent Be/X-ray pulsar 2RXP J130159.6-635806.

SALGANIK A., TSYGANKOV S.S., CHERNYAKOVA M., MALYSHEV D. and POUTANEN J.

Abstract (from CDS):

We present a comprehensive analysis of 2RXP J130159.6-635806, a persistent low-luminosity Be/X-ray pulsar, focusing on its transition to a spin equilibrium state and the discovery of a bimodal luminosity distribution that possibly reveals a new accretion regime. Using data from the NuSTAR, Swift, XMM-Newton, and Chandra observatories, we investigated changes in the pulsar's timing and spectral properties. After more than 20 years of continuous spin-up, the pulsar's spin period has stabilized, marking the onset of spin equilibrium. This transition was accompanied by the emergence of a previously unobserved accretion regime at $ L_{\mathrm{bol}} = (2.0_{-1.0}^{+2.3})\times 10^{34} $ erg s–1, an order of magnitude lower than its earlier quiescent state. After that, the source occasionally switched between these regimes, remaining in each state for extended periods, with the transition from a luminosity of 1035 erg s–1 to 1034 erg s–1 taking less than 2.3 days. The analysis of the spectral data collected during this new low-luminosity state revealed a two-hump shape that is different from the cutoff power-law spectra observed at higher luminosities. The discovery of pulsations in this state, together with the hard spectral shape, indicates ongoing accretion. We estimate the magnetic field strength to be ∼1013 G based on indirect methods. Additionally, we report a hint of a previously undetected ∼90-day orbital period in the system.

Abstract Copyright: © The Authors 2025

Journal keyword(s): accretion, accretion disks - magnetic fields - stars: neutron - pulsars: individual: 2RXP J130159.6-635806 - X-rays: binaries

Simbad objects: 11

goto Full paper

goto View the references in ADS

Number of rows : 11
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA
ICRS (J2000)
DEC
Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2026
#notes
1 V* V635 Cas HXB 01 18 31.9704955824 +63 44 33.072603144 17.05 16.64 15.19 14.34 13.22 B0.2Ve 791 0
2 EM* GGA 104 HXB 01 47 00.2124077208 +61 21 23.663788056 11.76 12.09 11.366 11.00 10.52 B1IIIe 205 0
3 V* BQ Cam HXB 03 34 59.9116110096 +53 10 23.296879776   17.16 15.42 14.26 13.04 O8.5Ve 525 1
4 V* X Per HXB 03 55 23.0777456088 +31 02 45.039836148 6.090 6.840 6.720     O9.5III 1037 0
5 LS V +44 17 HXB 04 40 59.3296237272 +44 31 49.258049376 11.02 11.42 10.73 10.28 9.76 B0.2Ve 176 0
6 HD 245770 HXB 05 38 54.5748918624 +26 18 56.836952784 9.30 9.84 9.39 8.77 8.30 O9/B0III/Ve 1045 0
7 GRO J1008-571 HXB 10 09 46.9642314696 -58 17 35.603851848       14.63   B0e 269 0
8 2MASS J12440380-6322320 IR 12 44 03.80856 -63 22 32.0592           ~ 9 0
9 V* V850 Cen HXB 13 01 17.0968941216 -61 36 06.637549788   15.6 14.40     B2Vne 361 0
10 IGR J13020-6359 HXB 13 01 58.7205396744 -63 58 08.828687136           B0.5Ve 68 0
11 KS 1947+300 HXB 19 49 35.4841147968 +30 12 31.775979852   15.16 14.22 13.53 12.88 B0Ve 194 0

To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:objects in 2025A&A...698A..71S and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu