XMM-Newton X-ray Detection of the High Magnetic Field Radio Pulsar PSR B1916+14

Abstract

Using observations made with the XMM-Newton Observatory, we report the first X-ray detection of the high magnetic field radio pulsar PSR B1916+14. We show that the X-ray spectrum of the pulsar can be well fitted with an absorbed blackbody with temperature in the range of 0.08-0.23 keV, or a neutron star hydrogen atmosphere model with best-fit effective temperature of $\sim$0.10 keV, higher than expected from fast cooling models. The origin of the likely thermal emission is not well constrained by our short observation and is consistent with initial cooling or return-current heating. We found no pulsations in these data and set a 1$\sigma$ upper limit on the pulsed fraction in the 0.1--2 keV band of $\sim$0.7. Implications of these results for our understanding of the different observational properties of isolated neutron stars are discussed.

17 pages, 4 figures, accepted to ApJ

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• A Coherent Timing Solution for the Nearby, Thermally Emitting Isolated Neutron Star RX J0420.0-5022
• Chandra observations of SGR 1627-41 near quiescence
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• PSR J1840-1419: A very cool neutron star
• Nulls subpulse drift and mode-switching in pulsars: the polar-cap surface
• More than meets the eye: magnetars in disguise
• Rotational and X-ray luminosity evolution of high-B radio pulsars
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