The discovery of an outburst and pulsed X-ray flux from SMC X-2 using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer

Authors
Corbet, RHD Marshall, FE Coe, MJ Laycock, S Handler, G
Citation
Rhd. Corbet et al., The discovery of an outburst and pulsed X-ray flux from SMC X-2 using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, ASTROPHYS J, 548(1), 2001, pp. L41-L44
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0004637X → ACNP
Volume
548
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Part
2
Pages
L41 - L44
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(20010210)548:1<L41:TDOAOA>2.0.ZU;2-R
Abstract
Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) All-Sky Monitor observations of SMC X-2 show that the source experienced an outburst in 2000 January-April reaching a peak luminosity of greater than similar to 10(38) ergs s(-1). RXTE Propo rtional Counter Array observations during this outburst reveal the presence of pulsations with a 2.37 s period. However, optical photometry of the opt ical counterpart shows that the source was still significantly fainter than it was more than a half a year after the outburst in the 1970s when SMC X- 2 was discovered.