X-ray pulsar GRO J1008−57 as an orthogonal rotator

Journal article

X-ray polarimetry is a unique way to probe geometrical configuration of highly-magnetized accreting neutron stars (X-ray pulsars). GRO J1008$-$57 is the first transient X-ray pulsar observed at two different flux levels by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) during its outburst in November 2022. The polarization properties were found to be independent of the source luminosity, with the polarization degree varying between non-detection to about 15% over the pulse phase. Fitting the phase-resolved spectro-polarimetric data with the rotating vector model allowed us to estimate the pulsar inclination (130 deg, which is in good agreement with the orbital inclination), the position angle (75 deg) of the pulsar spin axis, and the magnetic obliquity (74 deg). This makes GRO J1008$-$57 the first confidently identified X-ray pulsar as a nearly orthogonal rotator. The results are discussed in the context of the neutron star atmosphere models and theories of pulsars' axis alignment.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to A&A. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2209.0244

Authors: Tsygankov, SS; Doroshenko, V; Mushtukov, AA; Poutanen, J; Di Marco, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: EDP Sciences
• Journal: Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Volume: 675
• Pages: A48-A48
• Publication date: 2023-05-26
• Acceptance date: 2023-05-05
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202346134
• EISSN: 1432-0746
• ISSN: 0004-6361
• Language: English
• Keywords: Polarimetry; Astronomy; Neutron star; Polarization (electrochemistry); Scattering; Orbital inclination; Position angle; Millisecond pulsar; Luminosity; Pulsar; Astrophysics; Optics; X-ray pulsar; Physics; Binary number