The infrared counterpart to the magnetar 1RXS J170849.0-400910

Abstract

We have analyzed both archival and new infrared imaging observations of the field of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 1RXS J170849.0-400910, in search of the infrared counterpart. This field has been previously investigated, and one of the sources consistent with the position of the AXP suggested as the counterpart. We, however, find that this object is more likely a background star, while another object within the positional error circle has non-stellar colors and shows evidence for variability. These two pieces of evidence, along with a consistency argument for the X-ray-to-infrared flux ratio, point to the second source being the more likely infrared counterpart to the AXP.

19 pages AASTEX, 4 figure. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Full resolution figures at: http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/~durant/1708.ps.gz

References in corpus (2)

• A Debris Disk Around An Isolated Young Neutron Star
• Discovery of luminous pulsed hard X-ray emission from anomalous X-ray pulsars 1RXS J1708-4009, 4U 0142+61 and 1E 2259+586 by INTEGRAL and RXTE

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