| Issue |
A&A
Volume 415, Number 2, February IV 2004
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | L31 - L34 | |
| Section | Letters | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20040009 | |
| Published online | 11 February 2004 | |
Letter to the Editor
Long-term variability in the X-ray emission of RX J0720.4-3125
1
SRON, National Institute for Space Research, Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584 CA Utrecht, The Netherlands
2
Astronomical Institute, Utrecht University, PO Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Corresponding author: C.P. de Vries, C.Pde.Vries@sron.nl
Received:
28
December
2003
Accepted:
14
January
2004
We detect a gradual, long-term change in the shape of the X-ray spectrum of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4-3125, such that the spectrum of the source can no longer be described as a blackbody spectrum. The change is accompanied by an energy-dependent change in the pulse profile. If the X-ray emission is influenced by the magnetic field of the pulsar, these changes in spectral shape may point to precession of the neutron star.
Key words: neutron stars / X-rays
© ESO, 2004
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