RXJ1838.4-0301 - AN ACCRETING PULSAR OR CORONAL X-RAY-EMISSION

The X-ray source RX J1838.4-0301 is of particular interest since it is a possible member of a small subclass of pulsars with anomalous prope rties. A spectroscopic study of its proposed optical counterpart and a reanalysis of the ROSAT data indicate that the observed optical and X -rap properties, with the exception of the reported similar to 5s peri odicity (Schwentker 1994), are consistent with coronal emission from a n active late type star. In the lack of an independent confirmation, t he presence of X-ray pulsations in RX J1838.4-0301 should be considere d with caution.