A Possible Magnetar Nature for IGR J16358−4726

Abstract

We present detailed spectral and timing analysis of the hard X-ray transient IGR J16358-4726 using multisatellite archival observations. A study of the source flux time history over 6 yr suggests that lower luminosity transient outbursts can be occurring in intervals of at most 1 yr. Joint spectral fits of the higher luminosity outburst using simultaneous Chandra ACIS and INTEGRAL ISGRI data reveal a spectrum well described by an absorbed power-law model with a high-energy cutoff plus an Fe line. We detected the 1.6 hr pulsations initially reported using Chandra ACTS also in the INTEGRAL ISGRI light curve and in subsequent XMM-Newton observations. Using the INTEGRAL data, we identified a spin-up of 94 s (P = l.6 × 10 -4 ), which strongly points to a neutron star nature for IGR J16358- 4726. Assuming that the spin-up is due to disk accretion, we estimate that the source magnetic field ranges between 10 13 and 10 15 G, depending on its distance, possibly supporting a magnetar nature for IGR J16358-4726. © 2007. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.