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 180Subject Categories
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
DOI
10.3847/1538-4357/aab35a