Revival of the Magnetar PSR J1622-4950: Observations with MeerKAT, Parkes, XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR
Journal article, 2018

New radio (MeerKAT and Parkes) and X-ray (XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR) observations of PSR J1622-4950 indicate that the magnetar, in a quiescent state since at least early 2015, reactivated between 2017 March 19 and April 5. The radio flux density, while variable, is approximately 100 larger than during its dormant state. The X-ray flux one month after reactivation was at least 800 larger than during quiescence, and has been decaying exponentially on a 111 19 day timescale. This high-flux state, together with a radio-derived rotational ephemeris, enabled for the first time the detection of X-ray pulsations for this magnetar. At 5%, the 0.3-6 keV pulsed fraction is comparable to the smallest observed for magnetars. The overall pulsar geometry inferred from polarized radio emission appears to be broadly consistent with that determined 6-8 years earlier. However, rotating vector model fits suggest that we are now seeing radio emission from a different location in the magnetosphere than previously. This indicates a novel way in which radio emission from magnetars can differ from that of ordinary pulsars. The torque on the neutron star is varying rapidly and unsteadily, as is common for magnetars following outburst, having changed by a factor of 7 within six months of reactivation.

stars: magnetars

pulsars: individual (PSR J16224950)

pulsars: general

stars: neutron

Author

F. Camilo

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

P. Scholz

National Research Council Canada

M. Serylak

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

Station de Radioastronomie de Nançay

University of the Western Cape

S. Buchner

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

M. Merryfield

University of Victoria

National Research Council Canada

V. M. Kaspi

McGill University

R. F. Archibald

McGill University

University of Toronto

M. Bailes

Swinburne University of Technology

A. Jameson

Swinburne University of Technology

W. Van Straten

Auckland University of Technology

Swinburne University of Technology

J. Sarkissian

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

J.E. Reynolds

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

S. Johnston

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

G. Hobbs

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

T. D. Abbott

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

R. M. Adam

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

G. B. Adams

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

T. Alberts

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

R. Andreas

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

K. M.B. Asad

University of the Western Cape

Rhodes University

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

D. E. Baker

Dirk Baker Consulting

T. Baloyi

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

E. F. Bauermeister

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

T. Baxana

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

T. G.H. Bennett

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

G. Bernardi

Istituto di Radioastronomia

Rhodes University

D. Booisen

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

Roy Booth

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

D. H. Botha

EMSS Antennas

L. Boyana

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

L. R.S. Brederode

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

J. P. Burger

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

T. Cheetham

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

J. Conradie

EMSS Antennas

J. P. Conradie

EMSS Antennas

D. B. Davidson

Stellenbosch University

G. De Bruin

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

B. De Swardt

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

C. De Villiers

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

D. I.L.De Villiers

Stellenbosch University

M. S.De Villiers

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

W. De Villiers

EMSS Antennas

C. De Waal

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

M. A. Dikgale

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

G. Du Toit

EMSS Antennas

L. J.Du Toit

EMSS Antennas

S. W.P. Esterhuyse

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

B. Fanaroff

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

S. Fataar

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

A. R. Foley

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

G. Foster

University of Oxford

University of California

D. Fourie

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

R. Gamatham

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

T. Gatsi

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

R. Geschke

University of Cape Town

S. Goedhart

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

T. L. Grobler

Stellenbosch University

S. C. Gumede

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

M. J. Hlakola

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

A. Hokwana

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

D. H. Hoorn

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

D. Horn

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

J. Horrell

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

B. Hugo

Rhodes University

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

A. Isaacson

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

O. Jacobs

EMSS Antennas

J. P.Jansen Van Rensburg

EMSS Antennas

J. L. Jonas

Rhodes University

B. Jordaan

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

EMSS Antennas

A. Joubert

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

F. Joubert

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

G. I.G. Józsa

Argelander-Institut für Astronomie

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

Rhodes University

R. Julie

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

C. C. Julius

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

F. Kapp

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

A. Karastergiou

Rhodes University

University of the Western Cape

University of Oxford

F. Karels

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

M. Kariseb

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

R. Karuppusamy

Max Planck Society

V. Kasper

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

E. C. Knox-Davies

EMSS Antennas

D. Koch

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

P. P.A. Kotzé

Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

A. Krebs

EMSS Antennas

Astrophysical Journal

0004-637X (ISSN) 1538-4357 (eISSN)

Vol. 856 2 180

Subject Categories

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics

DOI

10.3847/1538-4357/aab35a

More information

Latest update

10/10/2023