X-ray pulsations from the region of the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544−2619

Drave, S P; Bird, A J; Townsend, L J; Hill, A B; McBride, V A; Sguera, V; Bazzano, A; Clark, D J

X-ray pulsations from the region of the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544−2619

Journal Article

2012

Journal Title

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Link to Journal

https://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117947

Department

Department of Astronomy

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

Phase-targeted RXTE observations have allowed us to detect a transient 71.49 pm 0.02 s signal that is most likely to be originating from the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544-2619. The phase-folded light curve shows a possible double-peaked structure with a pulsed flux of ~4.8*10-12 erg cm-2 s-1 (3-10 keV). Assuming the signal to indicate the spin period of the neutron star in the system, the provisional location of IGR J17544-2619 on the Corbet diagram places the system within the classical wind-fed supergiant XRB region. Such a result illustrates the growing trend of supergiant fast X-ray transients to span across both of the original classes of HMXB in Porb - Pspin space.