2009/08/27 by Mark H. Finger, Nazar R. Ikhsanov, N. R. Ikhsanov +4 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Accretion (finance) #Accretion disc #Astronomy #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Magnetar #Neutron star #Orbital period #Period (music) #Physics #Pulsar #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Spin (aerodynamics) #Stars #astro-ph.HE
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0004-637x/709/2/1249
Submitted to The Astrophysical Journal
arxiv created 2009/08/27 · openalex publication_date 2010/01/13 · arxiv updated 2015/05/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
4U 2206+54 is a high-mass X-ray binary which has been suspected to contain a neutron star accreting from the wind of its companion, BD +53° 2790. Reig et al. have recently detected 5560 s period pulsations in both Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer ( RXTE ) and International Gamma-ray Astrophysics Laboratory observations which they conclude are due to the spin of the neutron star. We present observations made with Suzaku which are contemporaneous with their RXTE observation of this source. We find strong pulsations at a period of 5554 ± 9 s in agreement with their results. We also present a reanalysis of BeppoSAX observations of 4U 2206+54 made in 1998, in which we find strong pulsations at a period of 5420 ± 28 s, revealing a spin-down trend in this long-period accreting pulsar. Analysis of these data suggests that the neutron star in this system is an accretion-powered magnetar.