Discovery of the neutron star nature of SLX 1737-282

J. J. M. in 't Zand; F. Verbunt; E. Kuulkers; C. Markwardt; A. Bazzano; M. Cocchi; R. Cornelisse; J. Heise; L. Natalucci; P. Ubertini

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20020631

arXiv · astro-ph/0204433

Discovery of the neutron star nature of SLX 1737-282

J. J. M. in 't Zand·F. Verbunt·E. Kuulkers·C. Markwardt·A. Bazzano·M. Cocchi·R. Cornelisse·J. Heise·L. Natalucci·P. Ubertini

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Abstract

SLX 1737-282 is a persistent moderately bright X-ray source 1.2 deg from the Galactic center. X-ray observations with the Wide Field Cameras on BeppoSAX have for the first time revealed the true nature of SLX 1737-282: a 15-min long thermonuclear flash was detected exposing the source as a neutron star in a binary system. The flash was Eddington-limited constraining the distance to between 5 and 8 kpc. We analyze BeppoSAX, ROSAT, and RXTE data on SLX 1737-282. The persistent 0.5-200 keV luminosity is close to or less than 1% of the Eddington limit which implies a rarely-seen circumstance for thermonuclear flash activity.

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J. J. M. in 't Zand, F. Verbunt, E. Kuulkers, C. Markwardt, A. Bazzano, M. Cocchi, R. Cornelisse, J. Heise, L. Natalucci, P. Ubertini. 2002-04-25. Discovery of the neutron star nature of SLX 1737-282. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361%3A20020631

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