Context.
The Argentine Institute of Radio astronomy (IAR) is equipped with two single-dish 30 m radio antennas capable of performing daily observations of pulsars and radio transients in the southern ...hemisphere at 1.4 GHz.
Aims.
We aim to introduce to the international community the upgrades performed and to show that the IAR observatory has become suitable for investigations in numerous areas of pulsar radio astronomy, such as pulsar timing arrays, targeted searches of continuous gravitational waves sources, monitoring of magnetars and glitching pulsars, and studies of a short time scale interstellar scintillation.
Methods.
We refurbished the two antennas at IAR to achieve high-quality timing observations. We gathered more than 1000 h of observations with both antennas in order to study the timing precision and sensitivity they can achieve.
Results.
We introduce the new developments for both radio telescopes at IAR. We present daily observations of the millisecond pulsar J0437−4715 with timing precision better than 1
μ
s. We also present a follow-up of the reactivation of the magnetar XTE J1810–197 and the measurement and monitoring of the latest (Feb. 1, 2019) glitch of the Vela pulsar (J0835–4510).
Conclusions.
We show that IAR is capable of performing pulsar monitoring in the 1.4 GHz radio band for long periods of time with a daily cadence. This opens up the possibility of pursuing several goals in pulsar science, including coordinated multi-wavelength observations with other observatories. In particular, daily observations of the millisecond pulsar J0437−4715 would increase the sensitivity of pulsar timing arrays. We also show IAR’s great potential for studying targets of opportunity and transient phenomena, such as magnetars, glitches, and fast-radio-burst sources.
Context.
The Vela supernova remnant (SNR) shows several ejecta fragments (or shrapnel) protruding beyond the forward shock, which are most likely relics of anisotropies that developed during the ...supernova (SN) explosion. Recent studies have revealed high Si abundance in two shrapnel (shrapnel A and G), located in opposite directions with respect to the SNR center. This suggests the possible existence of a Si-rich jet-counterjet structure, similar to that observed in the SNR Cassiopea A.
Aims.
We analyzed an
XMM-Newton
observation of a bright clump, behind shrapnel G, which lies along the direction connecting shrapnel A and G. The aim is to study the physical and chemical properties of this clump to ascertain whether it is part of this putative jet-like structure.
Methods.
We produced background-corrected and adaptively-smoothed count-rate images and median photon energy maps, and performed a spatially resolved spectral analysis.
Results.
We identified two structures with different physical properties. The first one is remarkably elongated along the direction connecting shrapnel A and G. Its X-ray spectrum is much softer than that of the other two shrapnel, to the point of hindering the determination of the Si abundance; however, its physical and chemical properties are consistent with those of shrapnel A and shrapnel G. The second structure, running along the southeast-northwest direction, has a higher temperature and appears similar to a thin filament. By analyzing the ROSAT data, we have found that this filament is part of a very large and coherent structure that we identified in the western rim of the shell.
Conclusions.
We obtained a thorough description of the collimated, jet-like tail of shrapnel G in Vela SNR. In addition we discovered a coherent and very extended feature roughly perpendicular to the jet-like structure that we interpret as a signature of an earlier interaction of the remnant with the stellar wind of its progenitor star. The peculiar Ne/O ratio we found in the wind residual may be suggestive of a Wolf-Rayet progenitor for Vela SNR, though further analysis is required to address this point.
Abstract We report the discovery of millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) from the bursting, high-inclination atoll neutron star low-mass X-ray binary (NS LMXB) EXO 0748−676 with the ...Rossi X-ray Time Explorer (RXTE). This class of QPO, originally discovered in three NS LMXBs, has been interpreted as a consequence of a special mode of nuclear burning on the NS surface. Using all the RXTE archival observations of the source, we detected significant (>3σ) mHz QPOs in 11 observations. The frequency of the oscillations was between ∼5 and ∼13 mHz. We also found a decrease of the QPO frequency with time in two occasions; in one of these the oscillations disappeared with the onset of an X-ray burst, similar to what was reported in other sources. Our analysis of the X-ray colours revealed that EXO 0748−676 was in a soft spectral state when it exhibited the QPOs. This makes EXO 0748−676 the sixth source with mHz oscillations associated with marginally stable burning, and the second one that shows a systematic frequency drift. Our results suggest that the mechanism that produces the drift might always be present if the mHz QPOs are observed in the so-called intermediate state.
ABSTRACT
NGC 2071 is a star-forming region that overlaps with three γ-ray sources detected by the Fermi Space Telescope. We propose that strong flare activity in T Tauri stars could produce γ-ray ...emission in a way that makes them a counterpart to some unidentified sources detected by the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi satellite. We have performed a spectral and temporal analysis for two Fermi data sets: the first 2 yr and the entire 14 yr of observations. We have found that the γ-ray source is detectable at 3.2σ above the background at energies above 100 GeV during the first 2 yr of observation. The analysis of the expected frequency of the highest energy flares occurring in T Tauri stars is consistent with our estimate. In addition, we have determined the minimum energy of the flare that would produce γ-ray emission, which is ∼5 × 1037 erg. This agreement becomes a hard observational constraint supporting previous hypotheses about rare flares as the origin of unidentified γ-ray sources in star-forming regions.
ABSTRACT
We present a detailed spatially resolved X-ray study of Chandra observations towards the central region of the supernova remnant (SNR) G359.1-0.5. We removed 168 point-like sources and ...performed an adaptive smoothing on the entire field-of-view of the Chandra ACIS-I observation. The images obtained show an extended X-ray emission below $4.0\, {\rm keV}$ that partially fills the interior of G359.1-0.5. In order to characterize the X-ray emission, we divide the emitting area into 10 different regions inside the remnant. We identify the presence of at least four emission lines that confirm the thin thermal plasma origin. All spectral regions are well fitted by a recombining plasma model (VRNEI) with an absorbing column density range from 1.5 to $2.1\times 10^{22}\, {\rm cm}^{-2}$, and electron temperatures from 0.14 to $0.19\, {\rm keV}$. We also calculated an average electron density of $0.7\, {\rm cm}^{-3}$, estimated an age of 2.8 × 104 yr for the remnant, which can be lower if the filling factor is considered, and an X-ray luminosity of $1.6 \times 10^{35} \, {\rm erg}\, {\rm s}^{-1}$. Finally, we show that the X-ray emission is morphologically anti-correlated with adjacent CO clouds interacting with the SNR. Our results favour that the recombining plasma inside G359.1-0.5 could be explained via adiabatic cooling.
The black hole candidate and X-ray binary MAXI J1535−571 was discovered in 2017
September. During the decay of its discovery outburst, and before returning to quiescence,
the source underwent at ...least four reflaring events, with peak luminosities of ∼1035–36 erg s−1
(d/4.1 kpc)2. To investigate the nature of these flares, we analysed a sample of NICER (Neutron
star Interior Composition Explorer) observations taken with almost daily cadence. In this work,
we present the detailed spectral and timing analysis of the evolution of the four reflares. The
higher sensitivity of NICER at lower energies, in comparison with other X-ray detectors,
allowed us to constrain the disc component of the spectrum at ∼0.5 keV. We found that during
each reflare the source appears to trace out a q-shaped track in the hardness–intensity diagram
similar to those observed in black hole binaries during full outbursts. MAXI J1535−571 transits
between the hard state (valleys) and softer states (peaks) during these flares. Moreover, the
Comptonized component is undetected at the peak of the first reflare, while the disc component
is undetected during the valleys. Assuming the most likely distance of 4.1 kpc, we find that
the hard-to-soft transitions take place at the lowest luminosities ever observed in a black
hole transient, while the soft-to-hard transitions occur at some of the lowest luminosities ever
reported for such systems.
ABSTRACT
We detect millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) using the Rossi X-ray Time Explorer (RXTE) from the atoll neutron-star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries 4U 1608–52 and Aql X–1. From ...the analysis of all RXTE observations of 4U 1608–52 and Aql X–1, we find mHz QPOs with a significance level >3σ in 49 and 47 observations, respectively. The QPO frequency is constrained between ∼4.2 and 13.4 mHz. These types of mHz QPOs have been interpreted as being the result of marginally stable nuclear burning of He on the NS surface. We also report the discovery of a downward frequency drift in three observations of 4U 1608–52, making it the third source that shows this behaviour. We only find strong evidence of frequency drift in one occasion in Aql X–1, probably because the observations were too short to measure a significant drift. Finally, the mHz QPOs are mainly detected when both sources are in the soft or intermediate states; the cases that show frequency drift only occur when the sources are in intermediate states. Our results are consistent with the phenomenology observed for the NS systems 4U 1636–53 and EXO 0748–676, suggesting that all four sources can reach the conditions for marginally stable burning of He on the NS surface. These conditions depend on the source state in the same manner in all four systems.
ABSTRACT
We report a detailed multi-wavelength study of the supernova remnant G296.5+10.0 using archival data from XMM–Newton and Fermi-LAT complemented with ATCA observations. In the X-ray band, we ...performed an adaptive smoothing on the double background subtracted images to construct an X-ray mosaic map with six individual observations. Below 2.0 keV, G296.5+10.0 is asymmetrical, with the south-east side of the radio shell brighter than the south-west one. The spatially resolved X-ray spectral study confirms the thermal origin of the plasma, with enhanced metal abundances, probably arising from ejecta material according to the H i and infrared ($140~{\mu \rm m}$) distributions. In the γ-ray band, we analysed 14 years of accumulated Fermi observations below 500 GeV via different fitting processes. To discuss the origin of the γ-ray emission, we compare the GeV results with H i structures probably associated with the SNR and with the radio spectral indices found at various positions towards the radio shell. Moreover, we identified diverse sources candidates to contribute γ-ray emissions observed. Also, we calculated the lepto-hadronic spectral energy distribution of the remnant for synchrotron, inverse Compton, Bremsstrahlung, and proton–proton processes. The emission at low energies can be explained by electron-synchrotron radiation, with a weak magnetic field of $B=25\, {\rm \mu G}$, while the γ-ray data can be explained by hadronic interactions. Employing the reddening-distance method, we computed a distance of 1.4 kpc for the SNR, implying an age of 14 000 yr.
Context. The Vela supernova remnant displays several ejecta, which are fragment-like features protruding beyond the front of its primary blast shock wave. They appear to be “shrapnel”, ...bowshock-shaped relics of the supernova explosion. One of these pieces of shrapnel (A), located in the northeastern edge of the remnant, is peculiar because its X-ray spectrum exhibits a high Si abundance, in contrast to the other observed ejecta fragments, which show enhanced O, Ne, and Mg abundances. Aims. In this Letter we present the analysis of another ejecta fragment located opposite to shrapnel A with respect to the center of the shell, in the southwestern boundary of the remnant, named shrapnel G. We aim to fully characterize its X-ray emission to gather new information about the core-collapse supernova explosion mechanism. Methods. We thoroughly analyzed a dedicated XMM-Newton observation of shrapnel G by producing background-subtracted and exposure-corrected maps in different energy ranges, which we complemented with a spatially resolved spectral analysis of the X-ray emission. Results. The fragment presents a bowshock-like shape with its anti-apex pointing to the center of the remnant. Its X-ray spectrum is best fit by a thermal plasma out of equilibrium of ionization with low O and Fe, roughly solar Ne and Mg, and a significantly high Si abundance, which is required to fit a very clear Si line at ~1.85 keV. Its chemical composition and spectral properties are compatible with those of shrapnel A, which is located on the opposite side of the remnant. Conclusions. As a consequence of the nucleosynthesis, pieces of Si-rich shrapnel are expected to originate in deeper layers of the progenitor star compared to ejecta with lower-Z elements. A high velocity and density contrast with respect to the surrounding ejecta are necessary to make shrapnel A and G overtake the forward shock. The line connecting shrapnel A and G crosses almost exactly the expansion center of the remnant, strongly suggesting a Si-rich jet-counterjet structure, reminiscent of that observed in the young remnant Cas A.
Aims. We report results of an X-ray study of the supernova remnant (SNR) G344.7-0.1 and the point-like X-ray source located at the geometrical center of the SNR radio structure. Methods. The ...morphology and spectral properties of the remnant and the central X-ray point-like source were studied using data from the XMM-Newton and Chandra satellites. Archival radio data and infrared Spitzer observations at 8 and 24 μm were used to compare and study its multi-band properties at different wavelengths. Results. The XMM-Newton and Chandra observations reveal that the overall X-ray emission of G344.7-0.1 is extended and correlates very well with regions of bright radio and infrared emission. The X-ray spectrum is dominated by prominent atomic emission lines. These characteristics suggest that the X-ray emission originated in a thin thermal plasma, whose radiation is represented well by a plane-parallel shock plasma model (PSHOCK). Our study favors the scenario in which G344.7-0.1 is a 6 × 103 year old SNR expanding in a medium with a high density gradient and is most likely encountering a molecular cloud on the western side. In addition, we report the discovery of a soft point-like X-ray source located at the geometrical center of the radio SNR structure. The object presents some characteristics of the so-called compact central objects (CCO). However, its neutral hydrogen absorption column (NH) is inconsistent with that of the SNR. Coincident with the position of the source, we found infrared and optical objects with typical early-K star characteristics. The X-ray source may be a foreground star or the CCO associated with the SNR. If this latter possibility were confirmed, the point-like source would be the farthest CCO detected so far and the eighth member of the new population of isolated and weakly magnetized neutron stars.
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