Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service


· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Electronic Refereed Journal Article (HTML)
· arXiv e-print (arXiv:astro-ph/0610382)
· References in the article
· Citations to the Article (16) (Citation History)
· Refereed Citations to the Article
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
Resonant Compton upscattering in anomalous X-ray pulsars
Authors:
Baring, Matthew G.; Harding, Alice K.
Affiliation:
AA(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University), AB(Gravitational Astrophysics Laboratory, Exploration of the Universe Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Publication:
Astrophysics and Space Science, Volume 308, Issue 1-4, pp. 109-118 (Ap&SS Homepage)
Publication Date:
04/2007
Origin:
SPRINGER
Abstract Copyright:
(c) 2007: Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
DOI:
10.1007/s10509-007-9326-x
Bibliographic Code:
2007Ap&SS.308..109B

Abstract

A significant new development in the study of Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) has been the recent discovery by INTEGRAL and RXTE of flat, hard X-ray components in three AXPs. These non-thermal spectral components differ dramatically from the steeper quasi-power-law tails seen in the classic X-ray band in these sources. A prime candidate mechanism for generating this new component is resonant, magnetic Compton upscattering. This process is very efficient in the strong magnetic fields present in AXPs. Here an introductory exploration of an inner magnetospheric model for upscattering of surface thermal X-rays in AXPs is offered, preparing the way for an investigation of whether such resonant upscattering can explain the 20 150 keV spectra seen by INTEGRAL. Characteristically flat emission spectra produced by non-thermal electrons injected in the emission region are computed using collision integrals. A relativistic QED scattering cross section is employed so that Klein Nishina reductions are influential in determining the photon spectra and fluxes. Spectral results depend strongly on the magnetospheric locale of the scattering and the observer’s orientation, which couple directly to the angular distributions of photons sampled.
Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)

   

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints
    



SAO/NASA ADS Homepage | ADS Sitemap | Query Form | Basic Search | Preferences | HELP | FAQ