Deep XMM-Newton observation of a northern LMC field I. Selected X-ray sources ^*

Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstraße, 85748 Garching, Germany

Corresponding author: F. Haberl, fwh@mpe.mpg.de

Received: 1 October 2002
Accepted: 14 April 2003

Abstract

First results from a deep XMM-Newton observation of a field in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) near the northern rim of the supergiant shell LMC 4 are presented. Spectral and temporal analyses of a sample of selected X-ray sources yielded two new candidates for supernova remnants, a supersoft X-ray source and a likely high mass X-ray binary (HMXB) pulsar. From the fourteen brightest sources ten exhibit power-law X-ray spectra with slopes compatible to those of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the background of the LMC. Their AGN nature is further supported by the lack of optical counterparts brighter than  mag. From the three previously known HMXBs the Be/X-ray binary  was the brightest source in the field, allowing a more detailed analysis of its X-ray spectrum and pulse profile. During the pulse  shows eclipses of the X-ray emitting areas with increased photo-electric absorption before and after the eclipse. The detection of X-ray pulsations with a period of 69.2 s is confirmed for  and a possible period of 272 s is discovered from . The results are discussed with respect to individual sources as well as in the view of source population studies in the vicinity of the supergiant shell LMC 4.