Short-term variability of the transitional pulsar candidate CXOU J110926.4−650224 from X-rays to infrared

CXOU J110926.4−650224 is a candidate transitional millisecond pulsar (tMSP) with X-ray and radio emission properties reminiscent of those observed in confirmed tMSPs in their X-ray ‘subluminous’ disc state. We present the results of observing campaigns that, for the first time, characterise the optical and near-infrared variability of this source and establish a connection with the mode-switching phenomenon observed in X-rays. The optical emission exhibited flickering activity, frequent dipping episodes where it appeared redder, and a multi-peaked flare where it was bluer. The variability pattern was strongly correlated with that of the X-ray emission. Each dip matched an X-ray low-mode episode, indicating that a significant portion of the optical emission originates from nearly the same region as the X-ray emission. The near-infrared emission also displayed remarkable variability, including a dip of 20 min in length during which it nearly vanished. Time-resolved optical spectroscopic observations reveal significant changes in the properties of emission lines from the disc and help infer the spectral type of the companion star to be between K0 and K5. We compare the properties of CXOU J110926.4−650224 with those of other tMSPs in the X-ray subluminous disc state and discuss our findings within the context of a recently proposed scenario that explains the phenomenology exhibited by the prototypical tMSP PSR J1023+0038 .

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Publication Details

Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2024-08-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450915
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.33

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article

Short-term variability of the transitional pulsar candidate CXOU J110926.4−650224 from X-rays to infrared

F. Vincentelli, N. Rea, S. Campana, F. Coti Zelati et al.
4 citations
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
1.33
article

Short-term variability of the transitional pulsar candidate CXOU J110926.4−650224 from X-rays to infrared

F. Vincentelli, N. Rea, S. Campana, F. Coti Zelati, A. Marino, P. D’Avanzo, A. Papitto, Antonella Manca, J. Brink, Domitilla de Martino, Diego F. Torres, G. Illiano, A. Miraval Zanon, T. R. Marsh, D. A. H. Buckley, V. S. Dhillon, M. C. Baglio
article en
4 citations

Abstract

CXOU J110926.4−650224 is a candidate transitional millisecond pulsar (tMSP) with X-ray and radio emission properties reminiscent of those observed in confirmed tMSPs in their X-ray ‘subluminous’ disc state. We present the results of observing campaigns that, for the first time, characterise the optical and near-infrared variability of this source and establish a connection with the mode-switching phenomenon observed in X-rays. The optical emission exhibited flickering activity, frequent dipping episodes where it appeared redder, and a multi-peaked flare where it was bluer. The variability pattern was strongly correlated with that of the X-ray emission. Each dip matched an X-ray low-mode episode, indicating that a significant portion of the optical emission originates from nearly the same region as the X-ray emission. The near-infrared emission also displayed remarkable variability, including a dip of 20 min in length during which it nearly vanished. Time-resolved optical spectroscopic observations reveal significant changes in the properties of emission lines from the disc and help infer the spectral type of the companion star to be between K0 and K5. We compare the properties of CXOU J110926.4−650224 with those of other tMSPs in the X-ray subluminous disc state and discuss our findings within the context of a recently proposed scenario that explains the phenomenology exhibited by the prototypical tMSP PSR J1023+0038 .

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 690
University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT), Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES), Institute of Space Sciences (ES), University of Cape Town (ZA), Universidad de La Laguna (ES), Astronomical Observatory of Rome (IT), Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (IT), Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte (IT), Brera Astronomical Observatory (IT), University of Warwick (GB), Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (ES), South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (ZA), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Cagliari (IT), Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES), Sapienza University of Rome (IT), National Institute for Astrophysics (IT), University of Sheffield (GB)
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
1.33
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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