Discovery of a Be/X-ray pulsar binary and associated supernova remnant in thewing of the Small Magellanic Cloud

V. Hénault-Brunet, L. M. Oskinova, M. A. Guerrero, W. Sun, Y. H. Chu, C. J. Evans, III S. Gallagher, R. A. Gruendl, J. Reyes-Iturbide

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We report on a new Be/X-ray pulsar binary located in the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The strong pulsed X-ray source was discovered with the Chandra and XMM- Newton X-ray observatories. The X-ray pulse period of 1062 s is consistently determined from both Chandra and XMM-Newton observations, revealing one of the slowest rotating X-ray pulsars known in the SMC. The optical counterpart of the X-ray source is the emission-line star 2dFS 3831. Its B0-0.5(III)e+ spectral type is determined from VLT-FLAMES and 2dF optical spectroscopy, establishing the system as a Be/X-ray binary (Be-XRB). The hard X-ray spectrum is well fitted by a power law with additional thermal and blackbody components, the latter reminiscent of persistent Be-XRBs. This system is the first evidence of a recent supernova in the low-density surroundings of NGC602. We detect a shell nebula around 2dFS 3831 in Hα and [O III] images and conclude that it is most likely a supernova remnant. If it is linked to the supernova explosion that created this new X-ray pulsar, its kinematic age of (2-4) × 10 4 yr provides a constraint on the age of the pulsar.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L13-L17
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Volume420
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012

Keywords

  • Be
  • ISM: supernova remnants
  • Magellanic clouds
  • Stars: emission-line
  • X-rays: binaries

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Discovery of a Be/X-ray pulsar binary and associated supernova remnant in thewing of the Small Magellanic Cloud'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this