Exploring the intrabinary shock from the redback millisecond pulsar PSR J2129-0429

Abstract

We have investigated the intrabinary shock emission from the redback millisecond pulsar PSR J2129-0429 with XMM-Newton and Fermi. Orbital modulation in X-ray and UV can be clearly seen. The X-ray modulation of this pulsar has a double-peaked structure with a dip in between. The observed X-rays are non-thermal dominant and can be modeled by a power-law with Γ ∼ 1.2. An intrabinary shock may have been the origin of the observed X-rays with the UV light curve resulting from the ellipsoidal modulation of the companion. Modeling the UV light curve requires a large viewing angle. The heating effect of the UV light curve is found to be negligible which suggests the high energy radiation beam of PSR J2129-0429 is not directed toward its companion. On the other hand, no significant orbital modulation can be found in γ-rays which suggests the majority of the γ-rays come from the pulsar.