The anatomy of a magnetar: XMM monitoring of the transient anomalous X-ray pulsar XTE J1810-197

Abstract

We present the latest results from a multi-epoch timing and spectral study of the Transient Anomalous X-ray Pulsar XTE J1810-197. We have acquired seven observations of this pulsar with the Newton X-ray Multi-mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) over the course of two and a half years, to follow the spectral evolution as the source fades from outburst. The spectrum is arguably best characterized by a two-temperature blackbody whose luminosities are decreasing exponentially with τ 1=870 d and τ 2=280 d, respectively. The temperatures of these components are currently cooling at a rate of 22% per year from a nearly constant value recorded at earlier epochs of kT 1=0.25 keV and kT 2=0.67 keV, respectively. The new data show that the temperature T 1 and luminosity of that component have nearly returned to their historic quiescent levels and that its pulsed fraction, which has steadily decreased with time, is now consistent with the previous lack of detected pulsations in quiescence. We also summarize the detections of radio emission from XTE J1810-197, the first confirmed for any AXP. We consider possible models for the emission geometry and mechanisms of XTE J1810-197. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007.