NuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63
PSR B1259-63 is a well-studied TeV binary, with an energetic pulsar in orbit around a Be star. Using Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observations during the 2024 passage of the pulsar through the circumstellar disk, we find the spectrum to be the most energetic (Γ = 1.5) around 27 days after p...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adec6a |
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| author | Oliver J. Roberts Philip Kaaret M. Lynne Saade Chien-Ting Chen Steven R. Ehlert Ioannis Liodakis Martin C. Weisskopf |
| author_facet | Oliver J. Roberts Philip Kaaret M. Lynne Saade Chien-Ting Chen Steven R. Ehlert Ioannis Liodakis Martin C. Weisskopf |
| author_sort | Oliver J. Roberts |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PSR B1259-63 is a well-studied TeV binary, with an energetic pulsar in orbit around a Be star. Using Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observations during the 2024 passage of the pulsar through the circumstellar disk, we find the spectrum to be the most energetic (Γ = 1.5) around 27 days after periastron, during the first of two variable, short-term emission episodes of a contemporaneous GeV flare. We discuss the variability in the X-ray flux and the hardening of the spectrum with time, and in the context of previous observations and what that means for the competing energy loss and acceleration timescales. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f6acd37e16c44e8aaf7f507d41eb6b5 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f6acd37e16c44e8aaf7f507d41eb6b52025-07-29T05:40:03ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01988224410.3847/1538-4357/adec6aNuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63Oliver J. Roberts0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7150-9061Philip Kaaret1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3638-0637M. Lynne Saade2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7163-7015Chien-Ting Chen3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4945-5079Steven R. Ehlert4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4420-2838Ioannis Liodakis5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9200-4006Martin C. Weisskopf6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5270-4240Science and Technology Institute, Universities Space and Research Association , Huntsville, AL 35805, USA ; oroberts@usra.eduNASA Marshall Space Flight Center , Huntsville, AL 35812, USAScience and Technology Institute, Universities Space and Research Association , Huntsville, AL 35805, USA ; oroberts@usra.eduScience and Technology Institute, Universities Space and Research Association , Huntsville, AL 35805, USA ; oroberts@usra.eduNASA Marshall Space Flight Center , Huntsville, AL 35812, USANASA Marshall Space Flight Center , Huntsville, AL 35812, USA; Institute of Astrophysics , Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, GR-70013 Heraklion, GreeceNASA Marshall Space Flight Center , Huntsville, AL 35812, USAPSR B1259-63 is a well-studied TeV binary, with an energetic pulsar in orbit around a Be star. Using Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observations during the 2024 passage of the pulsar through the circumstellar disk, we find the spectrum to be the most energetic (Γ = 1.5) around 27 days after periastron, during the first of two variable, short-term emission episodes of a contemporaneous GeV flare. We discuss the variability in the X-ray flux and the hardening of the spectrum with time, and in the context of previous observations and what that means for the competing energy loss and acceleration timescales.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adec6aRotation powered pulsarsNon-thermal radiation sourcesHigh energy astrophysicsBinary starsMagnetic fields |
| spellingShingle | Oliver J. Roberts Philip Kaaret M. Lynne Saade Chien-Ting Chen Steven R. Ehlert Ioannis Liodakis Martin C. Weisskopf NuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63 The Astrophysical Journal Rotation powered pulsars Non-thermal radiation sources High energy astrophysics Binary stars Magnetic fields |
| title | NuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63 |
| title_full | NuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63 |
| title_fullStr | NuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63 |
| title_full_unstemmed | NuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63 |
| title_short | NuSTAR Analysis of the 2024 Periastron Passage of TeV Binary PSR B1259-63 |
| title_sort | nustar analysis of the 2024 periastron passage of tev binary psr b1259 63 |
| topic | Rotation powered pulsars Non-thermal radiation sources High energy astrophysics Binary stars Magnetic fields |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adec6a |
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