The X-ray Spectrum of the Plerionic System PSR B1509-58/MSH 15-52

Abstract

We present the results of observations of the PSR B1509$-$58/MSH 15$-$52 system in X-rays ($2-250$ keV) by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. The spectra of the peak of the pulsed component (radio phase $0.17-0.53$) is fit by a power law of photon index $1.36\pm 0.01$, with no evidence of a high energy spectral break seen up to $\sim 200$ keV. For the off-pulse spectral component, the spectrum from $2-250$ keV is fit by a power law of photon index $2.215\pm 0.005$. An iron emission line at 6.7 keV with an equivalent width of 129 eV improves the fit, but only at a marginal significance. Thermal bremsstrahlung and Raymond-Smith models produce much worse fits to the unpulsed data. The lack of a high energy spectral break in the pulsed emission implies an efficiency of $\ge 3$ in the conversion of pulsar spindown energy to pulsed X-rays in the system.

Accepted by ApJ Letters, 18 pages, 4 postscript figures