Imaging X-ray, Optical, and Infrared Observations of the Transient Anomalous X-ray Pulsar XTE J1810-197
Abstract
We report an X-ray study of XTE J1810-197, a 5.54s pulsar discovered by Ibrahim (2003) in recent RXTE observations. In a short exposure with the Chandra HRC camera we detect one source at (J2000) 18:09:51.13, -19:43:51.7 with a 1-sigma uncertainty radius of 2.5 arcsec. Its flux is strongly modulated (58% pulsed fraction) at the expected period. Spectra obtained with XMM-Newton are well fitted by a two-component model that typically describes anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs), an absorbed blackbody plus power law with kT = 0.67+/-0.01 keV, Gamma=3.7+/-0.2, N_H=(1.05+/-0.05)E22 cm^-2, and Fx(0.5-10 keV) = 3.98E-11 ergs/cm2/s. Alternatively, a 2-Temp blackbody fit is just as acceptable. The location of CXOU J180951.1-194351 is consistent with an Einstein, Rosat, and ASCA source, when its flux was 75 times fainter, and from which no pulsations are found. The spectrum changed dramatically between the "quiescent" and "active" states, the former can be modeled as a softer blackbody. Using XMM timing data, we place an upper limit of 0.03 lt-s on any orbital motion in the period range 10m-8hr. Optical and IR images obtained on the SMARTS 1.3 m telescope at CTIO show no object in the Chandra error circle to limits V = 22.5, I=21.3, J=18.9, and K=17.5. Together, these results argue that CXOU J180951.1-194351 is an isolated neutron star, one most similar to the transient AXP AX J1844.8-0256. Continuing study of XTE J1810-197 in various states of luminosity is important for understanding and possibly unifying a growing class of isolated, young neutron stars that are not powered by rotation.Keywords
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