X-ray Observations of the Compact Source in CTA 1

Abstract

The point source RX J0007.0+7302, at the center of supernova remnant CTA 1, was studied using the X-Ray Multi-mirror Mission. The X-ray spectrum of the source is consistent with a neutron star interpretation, and is well described by a power law with the addition of a soft thermal component that may correspond to emission from hot polar cap regions or to cooling emission from a light element atmosphere over the entire star. There is evidence of extended emission on small spatial scales which may correspond to structure in the underlying synchrotron nebula. No pulsations are observed. Extrapolation of the nonthermal spectrum of RX J0007.0+7302 to gamma-ray energies yields a flux consistent with that of EGRET source 3EG J0010+7309, supporting the proposition that there is a gamma-ray emitting pulsar at the center of CTA 1. Observations of the outer regions of CTA 1 with the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics confirm earlier detections of thermal emission from the remnant and show that the synchrotron nebula extends to the outermost reaches of the SNR.

5 pages, including 4 postscript figs.LaTex. Accepted for publication by ApJ

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• Detection of an X-ray Pulsation for the Gamma-ray Pulsar Centered in CTA 1
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• Deep optical observations of the gamma-ray pulsar PSR J0007+7303 in the CTA 1 supernova remnant
• Pulsars and Their Nebulae as EGRET Sources
• Investigation of CTA 1 with Suzaku Observation
• Six Years of Chandra Observations of Supernova Remnants
• Status of the connection between unidentified EGRET sources and supernova remnants: The case of CTA 1