XMM-Newton observation of PSRB2224+65 and its jet

Abstract

We have investigated the pulsar PSRB2224+65 and its X-ray jet with XMM-Newton. Apart from the long X-ray jet which is almost perpendicular to the direction of proper motion, a putative extended feature at the pulsar position, which is oriented in the opposite direction to the proper motion, is also suggested by this deep X-ray imaging. Non-detection of any coherent X-ray pulsation disfavors the magnetospheric origin of the X-rays observed from the position of PSRB2224+65 and hence suggests that the interpretation of pulsar wind nebula is more viable. We have also probed the origin of PSRB2224+65 and identified a runaway star, which possibly originated from the Cygnus OB9 association, as a candidate for the former binary companion of the neutron star's progenitor. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.