SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 72064

DR. ERIC V. GOTTHELF
EVG@ASTRO.COLUMBIA.EDU

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
550 WEST 120 STREET
NEW YORK
NY USA 10027
Tel: 212-854-3257 Fax:
Medium: CD ROM
Subject: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS AND GALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION

THE ENIGMATIC NEUTRON STAR CANDIDATE 1E 161348-5055


ABSTRACT

We propose an ASCA monitoring campaign of 1E 161348-5055, the mysterious compact object located near the center of the Galactic Plane SNR RCW 103. A recent ASCA (AO6) follow-up observation of 1E 161348-5055 revealed a remarkable factor of ~10 variability in flux. Thus, 1E 161348-5055 is unlikely a simple isolated cooling NS as originally suggested, or powered simply by an unseen pulsar. We will follow its long term flux and spectral variability to constrain a possible accretion origin and to search for any binary modulations and/or transient pulsations. These measurements will provide important insight on the nature of 1E 161348-5055 and on the evolution of young NSs in general.

CO-INVESTIGATORS
CO-I NAME INSTITUTE COUNTRY
R. PETREGSFC/NASAUSA
G. VASISHTJPL/CALTECHUSA

TARGETS

TARGET NAMEPRIRADECTIMETCOFFGISSIS CNTOBS
1)1E 161348-5055
A
244.3958-51.0392
20 ks
N
N
P
1.00000
1
2)1E 161348-5055
A
244.3958-51.0392
20 ks
N
N
P
1.00000
1
3)1E 161348-5055
A
244.3958-51.0392
20 ks
N
N
P
1.00000
1
4)1E 161348-5055
A
244.3958-51.0392
20 ks
N
N
P
1.00000
1
5)1E 161348-5055
A
244.3958-51.0392
20 ks
N
N
P
1.00000
1

TARGET 1

THE SERIES OF OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE SEPERATE PROGESSIVELY BY (APPROX.): A WEEK, 2 WEEKS, A MONTH, AND 6 MONTHS (ORDERED BY PRIORITY).

TARGET 2

THE SERIES OF OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE SEPERATE PROGESSIVELY BY (APPROX.): A WEEK, 2 WEEKS, A MONTH, AND 6 MONTHS (ORDERED BY PRIORITY).

TARGET 3

THE SERIES OF OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE SEPERATE PROGESSIVELY BY (APPROX.): A WEEK, 2 WEEKS, A MONTH, AND 6 MONTHS (ORDERED BY PRIORITY).

TARGET 4

THE SERIES OF OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE SEPERATE PROGESSIVELY BY (APPROX.): A WEEK, 2 WEEKS, A MONTH, AND 6 MONTHS (ORDERED BY PRIORITY).

TARGET 5

THE SERIES OF OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE SEPERATE PROGESSIVELY BY (APPROX.): A WEEK, 2 WEEKS, A MONTH, AND 6 MONTHS (ORDERED BY PRIORITY).