RX-J0532.5-6551 - A NEW HIGH-MASS X-RAY BINARY IN THE LMC

RX J0532.5-6551 was discovered in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey as highly v ariable hard X-ray source. It was in the field of view of 33 pointed P SPC observations distributed over 3.5 years. In 10 observations the so urce was detected with variable mean count rates with a maximum of 0.0 46 counts s(-1), similar to the temporal behavior during the survey ob servations. The brightest optical object in the error box of RX J0532. 5-6551 is Sk-65 66, catalogued as OB star in the LMC, suggesting a hig h mass X-ray binary system. The PSPC spectrum is well represented by a power law with photon index 0.9, consistent with this classification.