The quiescent X-ray properties of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar and eclipsing binary Swift J1749.4-2807

Abstract

Swift J1749.4-2807 is a transient neutron star low-mass X-ray binary that contains an accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar spinning at 518Hz. It is the first of its kind that displays X-ray eclipses, which holds significant promise to precisely constrain the mass of the neutron star. We report on a ≃ 105ks long XMM-Newton observation performed when Swift J1749.4-2807 was in quiescence. We detect the source at a 0.5-10keV luminosity of ≃1 × 1033(D/6.7 kpc)2 erg s-1. The X-ray light curve displays three eclipses that are consistent in orbital phase and duration with the ephemeris derived during outburst. Unlike most quiescent neutron stars, the X-ray spectrum can be adequately described with a simple power law, while a pure-hydrogen atmosphere model does not fit the data. We place an upper limit on the 0.01-100keV thermal luminosity of the cooling neutron star of ≲ 2 × 1033 erg s-1 and constrain its temperature to be ≲ 0.1keV (for an observer at infinity). Timing analysis does not reveal evidence for X-ray pulsations near the known spin frequency of the neutron star or its first overtone with a fractional rms of ≲ 34% and ≲ 28%, respectively. We discuss the implications of our findings for dynamical mass measurements, the thermal state of the neutron star, and the origin of the quiescent X-ray emission. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.