A BEPPOSAX OBSERVATION OF THE MASSIVE X-RAY PULSAR CEN X-3

Authors
DELSORDO S PIRAINO S SANTANGELO A SEGRETO A DALFIUME D ORLANDINI M
Citation
S. Delsordo et al., A BEPPOSAX OBSERVATION OF THE MASSIVE X-RAY PULSAR CEN X-3, Nuclear physics. B, Proceedings supplement, 69(1-3), 1999, pp. 162-165
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Physics, Particles & Fields
Journal title
Nuclear physics. B, Proceedings supplement → ACNP
ISSN journal
09205632
Volume
69
Issue
1-3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
162 - 165
Database
ISI
SICI code
0920-5632(1999)69:1-3<162:ABOOTM>2.0.ZU;2-R
Abstract
The X-ray binary pulsar Cen X-3 was observed with the BeppoSAX satelli te on 14/08/96 for about 20 Ks during the Science Verification Phase ( SVP). This source is a typical massive X-ray binary with a pulse perio d of 4.8 s and an orbital period of 2.1 days. In this observation the source was found in a low state with a luminosity, assuming a distance of 8 Kpc, of about 4.610(36) ergs/s in the 2-10 keV energy band. In this paper we present the first simultaneus broad band (1.5 - 50 keV) pulse averaged spectrum and discuss two spectral fitting models. The p ulsed light curve in the 1.5 - 10 keV energy band is also shown.