The thermal radiation of the isolated neutron star RX J1856.5–3754 observed with Chandra and XMM-Newton

The thermal radiation of the isolated neutron star RX J1856.5–3754 observed with Chandra and XMM-Newton

We present results of the analysis of data collected in 57-ks XMM-Newton and 505-ks Chandra observations of the nearby (≃ 120 pc) isolated neutron star RXJ1856.5–3754. We confirm most of the statements made by Burwitz et al. (2001) who discussed the original 55-ks Chandra data. Detailed spectral analysis of the combined X-ray and optical data rules out the currently available nonmagnetic light ...

Modelling the spin pulse profile of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4–3125 observed with XMM-Newton⋆

We model the spin pulse intensity and hardness ratio profiles of the isolated neutron star RXJ0720.4– 3125 using XMM-Newton data. The observed variation is approximately sinusoidal with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 15%, and the hardness ratio is softest slightly before flux maximum. By using polar cap models we are able to derive maximum polar cap sizes and acceptable viewing geometries. The inf...

Spectral and temporal variations of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4−3125: new XMM-Newton observations

Context. In the past, the isolated, radio-quiet neutron star RX J0720.4−3125 showed variations in its spectral parameters (apparent radius, temperature of the emitting area and equivalent width of the absorption feature) seen in the X-ray spectra, not only during the spin period of 8.39 s, but also over time scales of years. New X-ray observations of RX J0720.4−3125 with XMM-Newton extend the c...

Xmm-newton Discovery of 7 S Pulsations in the Isolated Neutron Star Rx J1856.5–3754

Thanks to the high counting statistics provided by a recent XMM-Newton observation of RX J1856.5–3754 we have discovered that this isolated neutron star pulsates at a period of 7.055 s. This confirms that RX J1856.5–3754 is similar in nature to the the other six thermally emitting, nearby neutron stars discovered in soft X–rays with ROSAT. The pulsations are detected at consistent periods in se...

X-Ray Observations of Neutron Stars with XMM-Newton & Chandra