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arXiv · astro-ph/0109452

Re-examining the X-Ray versus Spin-Down Luminosity Correlation of Rotation Powered Pulsars

Abstract

The empirical relation between the X-ray luminosity (in the 2-10 keV band) and the rate of spin-down energy loss of a sample of 37 pulsars is re-examined considering recent data from ASCA, RXTE, BeppoSAX, Chandra, and XMM-Newton. The data show a significant scatter around an average correlation computed including statistical and systematic errors. All the X-ray luminosities are found to lie below a critical line corresponding to a maximum efficiency of conversion of rotational energy into X-rays varying between 0.1 and 80%. The large dispersion of the X-ray luminosity below the critical line indicates that other physical parameters uncorrelated with the period and period derivative need to be included to account for the observed emission at X-ray energies. We indicate a few possibilities that all conspire to lower the luminosity.

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BibTeXRIS

Andrea Possenti, Rossella Cerutti, Monica Colpi, Sandro Mereghetti. 2002-04-05. Re-examining the X-Ray versus Spin-Down Luminosity Correlation of Rotation Powered Pulsars. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361%3A20020472

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