NASA Telescopes Reveal Hidden Properties of X-Ray Pulsar RX J0032.9-7348

Pulsars are neutron stars rotating quickly, emitting electromagnetic radiation in numerous wavelengths, together with radio waves, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray. Recognized as a X ray transient supply within the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) about 30 years in the past, RX J0032.9-7348 has been categorized as an X-ray Pulsar after detecting X-ray pulsations with a interval of roughly 7.02 seconds after experiencing an X-ray brightening in October 2024.To take a more in-depth take a look at it, astronomers have integrated two NASA X-ray telescope, NICER and NuSTAR.

Discovery and Observational Marketing campaign

According to Handbook of X-ray and Gamma ray Astrophysics, Accretion-powered X-ray pulsars (XRPs) are neutron stars inside binary systems that emit X-rays in common pulses, powered by the accretion of matter from a companion star. Nonetheless, though RX J0032.9-7348 has been identified for many years, little or no is understood relating to its properties and its optical counterpart has not been recognized. Subsequently, a staff of astronomers led by Birendra Chhotaray of the Bodily Analysis Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, India, determined to take a more in-depth take a look at this pulsar with NuSTAR and NICER.
Dr Chhotaray and his staff have been in a position to confirm the X-ray pulsation interval of RX J0032.9-7348 via their observations and so they additionally found that this pulsar has a double-peak pulse profile all through a large vitality vary, with small modifications within the type of vitality dependence.

Findings

Outcomes of the observational marketing campaign, published on the arXiv preprint server, provides perception of the spin dynamics and luminosity of this pulsar. The accretion processes in the course of the X-ray brightening section will increase its angular momentum. It outcomes right into a spin-up of roughly -0.00033 seconds per day.
The luminosity of the pulsar diverse from 8.2 undecillion to 37 undecillion erg/s in the course of the monitoring marketing campaign. The researchers report that no proof of iron emission line or cyclotron resonance scattering options was discovered within the vitality spectrum of this supply.