Cyclotron Resonance Energies at a Low X-Ray Luminosity: A0535+262 Observed with Suzaku

Abstract

The binary X-ray pulsar A0535 + 262 was observed with the Suzaku X-ray observatory on 2005 September 14 for a net exposure of 22 ks. The source was in the declining phase of a minor outburst, exhibiting 3-50 keV luminosity of ∼3.7 × 1035 ergs s-1 at an assumed distance of 2 kpc. In spite of the very low source intensity (about 30 mcrab at 20 keV), its electron cyclotron resonance was detected clearly with the Suzaku Hard X-Ray Detector, in absorption at about 45 keV. The resonance energy is found to be essentially the same as that measured when the source is almost 2 orders of magnitude more luminous. These results are compared with the luminosity-dependent changes in the cyclotron resonance energy, observed from 4U 0115+63 and X0331+53. © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.