Search for Mid-IR Flux Variations from The Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 4U 0142+61

Abstract

We report on our Spitzer observations of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61, made following a large X-ray burst that occurred on 2007 February 7. To search for mid-infrared flux variations, four imaging observations were carried out at 4.5 and 8.0 $\mu$m with the Infrared Array Camera from February 14 to 21. No significant flux variations were detected, and the average fluxes were 32.1$\pm$2.0 $\mu$Jy at 4.5 $\mu$m and 59.8$\pm 8.5$ $\mu$Jy at 8.0 $\mu$m, consistent with those obtained in 2005. The non-detection of variability is interesting in light of reported rapid variability from this source in the near-infrared, but consistent with the fact that the source already went back to its quiescent state before our observations began, as indicated by contemporaneous X-ray observations. In order to understand the origin of the near-infrared variability, frequent, simultaneous multi-wavelength observations are needed.

arXiv comment5 pages, 1 figure, ApJ, accepted

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• The McGill Magnetar Catalog
• A Mid-Infrared Counterpart to the Magnetar 1E 2259+586
• Optical/Infrared Observations of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 1E 1048.1-5937 During Its 2007 X-Ray Flare
• Searching for Debris Disks around Isolated Pulsars
• Search for Near-Infrared Pulsation of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 4U 0142+61