Evidence for an similar to 80 day periodicity in the X-ray transient pulsar XTE J1946+274

We report evidence for an similar to 80 d periodicity in the X-ray flux of the hard transient pulsar XTE J1946+274. The 1.3-12keV light curve obtained with the RossiXTE All Sky Monitor shows five regularly spaced flares over a similar to 1 year baseline starting; from the outburst onset in Sept. 199 8. The first and strongest hare is somewhat longer than the subsequent four flares, which recur in a fairly periodic fashion. This suggests that the p rofile of the first flare is dominated by the time variability of the Be st ar ejection episode, while the following four flares are primarily caused b y the neutron star motion along an eccentric orbit.