Issue |
A&A
Volume 502, Number 1, July IV 2009
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 21 - 25 | |
Section | Astrophysical processes | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200912131 | |
Published online | 15 June 2009 |
Research Note
Swift observations of IGR J16479-4514 in outburst
1
ISDC, Geneva Observatory, University of Geneva, Chemin d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
2
INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 3300044 Rome, Italy e-mail: bozzo@oa-roma.inaf.it
3
Dipartimento di Fisica - Università di Roma Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
4
International Space Science Institute, Hallerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
5
INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, via Emilio Bianchi 46, 23807 Merate (LC), Italy
Received:
22
March
2009
Accepted:
29
May
2009
Aims. The supergiant fast X-ray transient source IGR J16479-4514 was observed in outburst two times with Swift. Its quiescent state was investigated in-depth only once in 2008 through a relatively long pointed observation with XMM-Newton. The latter observation was taken about 1.7 days after the outburst in 2008, and showed an X-ray eclipse-like event, likely caused by the supergiant companion. At present, this is the only supergiant fast X-ray transient that displayed an evidence for an X-ray eclipse.
Methods. Here we carry out a comparison between the most recent outburst of IGR J16479-4514, caught by Swift on 29 January 2009 and those detected previously from this source.
Results. The decay from the outbursts in 2005, 2008 and 2009 presents many similarities, and suggests a common mechanism that modulates the mass accretion rate onto the neutron star in IGR J16479-4514.
Key words: X-rays: binaries / stars: binaries: eclipsing / stars: individual: IGR J16479-4514 / stars: neutron / X-rays: stars
© ESO, 2009
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