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Possible Optical Detection of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar CXOU J010043.1-721134

Martin Durant·Marten H. van Kerwijk
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Abstract

Archival Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field/Planetary Camera 2 observations of the Small Magellanic Cloud serendipitously reveal a possible counterpart to the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar CXOU J010043.1-721134. The candidate is faint, but its location and strange colours make it an interesting object. We estimate, that the probability of such a detection being due to a non-physical source is less than 1.5%. We have tried to confirm the identification with Gemini-South and Magellan, but the conditions were insufficiently favourable. If confirmed, the object will allow the first detailed studies of the optical and ultraviolet emission of magnetars.

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Martin Durant, Marten H. van Kerwijk. 2005-06-21. Possible Optical Detection of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar CXOU J010043.1-721134. https://doi.org/10.1086/432882

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