Evolution of the X-ray Properties of the Transient Magnetar XTE J1810-197

Abstract

We report on X-ray observations of the 5.54 s transient magnetar XTE J1810-197 using the XMM-Newton and Chandra observatories, analyzing new data from 2008 through 2014, and re-analyzing data from 2003 through 2007 with the benefit of these six years of new data. From the discovery of XTE J1810-197 during its 2003 outburst to the most recent 2014 observations, its 0.3-10 keV X-ray flux has declined by a factor of about 50 from 4.1E-11 to 8.1E-13 erg/cm^2/s. Its X-ray spectrum has now reached a steady state. Pulsations continue to be detected from a 0.3 keV thermal hot-spot that remains on the neutron star surface. The luminosity of this hot-spot exceeds XTE J1810-197's spin down luminosity, indicating continuing magnetar activity. We find that XTE J1810-197's X-ray spectrum is best described by a multiple component blackbody model in which the coldest 0.14 keV component likely originates from the entire neutron star surface, and the thermal hot-spot is, at different epochs, well described by an either one or two-component blackbody model. A 1.2 keV absorption line, possibly due to resonant proton scattering, is detected at all epochs. The X-ray flux of the hot spot decreased by approximately 20% between 2008 March and 2009 March, the same period during which XTE J1810-197 became radio quiet.

27 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

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Cited by in corpus (19)

• Magnetars
• Cyclotron lines in highly magnetized neutron stars
• Systematic study of magnetar outbursts
• Radio disappearance of the magnetar XTE J1810-197 and continued X-ray timing
• Global Crustal Dynamics of Magnetars in Relation to their Bright X-ray Outbursts
• The Sleeping Monster: NuSTAR observations of SGR 1806-20, 11 years after the Giant Flare
• Axisymmetric magneto-plastic evolution of neutron-star crusts
• The 2018 X-ray and Radio Outburst of Magnetar XTE J1810-197
• The variable spin-down rate of the transient magnetar XTE J1810--197
• The X-ray evolution and geometry of the 2018 outburst of XTE J1810-197
• HESS J1809$-$193: a halo of escaped electrons around a pulsar wind nebula?
• The 11 years of low-activity of the magnetar XTE J1810-197
• The long-term enhanced brightness of the magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408
• Large polar caps for twisted magnetosphere of magnetars
• High Frequency Radio Observations of Two Magnetars, PSR J1622$-$4950 and 1E 1547.0$-$5408
• Magnetar outburst and spin-down glitch
• Variable Absorption Line in XTE J1810-197
• Flux Relaxation after two outbursts of the magnetar SGR 1627$-$41 and possible hard X-ray emission
• NICER Observations of the 2018 Outburst of XTE J1810-197