XMM-Newton and SRG/eROSITA observations of the isolated neutron star candidate 4XMM J 022141.5−735632

We report the results of follow-up investigations of a possible new thermally emitting isolated neutron star (INS), 4XMM J 022141.5−735632 , using observations from XMM-Newton and Spectrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG) eROSITA. The analysis is complemented by Legacy Survey imaging in the optical and near-inf...

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Published in:Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2022-10, Vol.666, p.A148
Main Authors: Pires, A. M., Motch, C., Kurpas, J., Schwope, A. D., Valdes, F., Haberl, F., Traulsen, I., Tubín, D., Becker, W., Comparat, J., Maitra, C., Meisner, A., Moustakas, J., Salvato, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Astronomy & Astrophysics
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Summary:We report the results of follow-up investigations of a possible new thermally emitting isolated neutron star (INS), 4XMM J 022141.5−735632 , using observations from XMM-Newton and Spectrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG) eROSITA. The analysis is complemented by Legacy Survey imaging in the optical and near-infrared wavelengths. The X-ray source, the first to be targeted by XMM-Newton in an effort to identify new INS candidates from the fourth generation of the XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue Data Release 9 (4XMM-DR9), shows a remarkably soft energy distribution and a lack of catalogued counterparts; the very high X-ray-to-optical flux ratio virtually excludes any other identification than an INS. Within current observational limits, no significant flux variation or change of spectral state is registered over nearly ten years. Future dedicated observations, particularly to search for pulsations, are crucial to shed further light on the nature of the X-ray source and relations to other Galactic neutron stars.
ISSN:0004-6361
1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361/202244514