Published 2007 | Version v1
Journal article

Simultaneous INTEGRAL and RXTE observations of the accreting millisecond pulsar HETE J1900.1-2455

  • 1. CEA Saclay, DSM, DAPNIA, Serv Astrophys, CNRS FRE 2591, F-91191 Gif Sur Yvette, (France)
  • 2. Unite Mixte Rech Astroparticule and Cosmol, F-75005 Paris, (France)
  • 3. Astron Div, Oulu 90014, (Finland)
  • 4. Observ Paris, Lab Univers and Theories, F-92195 Meudon, (France)
  • 5. SRON Netherlands Inst Space Res, NL-3584 CA Utrecht, (Netherlands)
  • 6. Univ Amsterdam, Astron Inst Anton Pannekoek, NL-1098 SJ Amsterdam, (Netherlands)
  • 7. INAF, Osserv Astron Rome, I-00040 Rome, (Italy)

Description

Aims. HETE J1900.1 - 2455 is the seventh known X-ray transient accreting millisecond pulsar and has been in outburst for more than one year. We compared the data on HETE J1900.1 - 2455 with other similar objects and made an attempt at deriving constraints on the physical processes responsible for a spectral formation. Methods. The broad-band spectrum of the persistent emission in the 2 - 300 keV energy band and the timing properties were studied using simultaneous INTEGRAL and publicly available RXTE data obtained in October 2005. The properties of the X-ray bursts observed from HETE J1900.1 - 2455 were also investigated. Results. The spectrum is well described by a two- component model consisting of a blackbody- like soft X- ray emission at 0.8 keV temperature and a thermal Comptonized spectrum with electron temperature of 30 keV and Thomson optical depth τT similar to 2 for the slab geometry. The source is detected by INTEGRAL up to 200 keV at a luminosity of 5 * 1036 erg s-1 (assuming a distance of 5 kpc) in the 0.1 - 200 keV energy band. We have also detected one type I X- ray burst which shows photospheric radius expansion. The burst occurred at an inferred persistent emission level of similar to 3 - 4% of the Eddington luminosity. Using data for all X- ray bursts observed to date from HETE J1900.1 - 2455, the burst recurrence time is estimated to be about 2 days. No pulsations have been detected either in the RXTE or in the INTEGRAL data which puts interesting constraints on theories of magnetic field evolution in neutron star low- mass X- ray binaries. (authors)

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Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Journal Volume
464
Journal Issue
no.3
Journal Page Range
p. 1069-1074
ISSN
0004-6361

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