A new type of X-ray pulsar
Oskinova, Lidia M.; Naze, Yael; Todt, Helge; Huenemoerder, David P.; Ignace, Richard; Hubrig, Swetlana; Hamann, Wolf-Rainer
Abstract:
X-ray emission from stars much more massive than the Sun was discovered
only 35 years ago. Such stars drive fast stellar winds where shocks can
develop, and it is commonly assumed that the X-rays emerge from the
shock-heated plasma. Many massive stars additionally pulsate. However,
hitherto it was neither theoretically predicted nor observed that these
pulsations would affect their X-ray emission. Here we report the
discovery of pulsating X-rays from the massive B-type star
ξ1 Canis
Majoris. This star is a variable of beta Cephei type and has a strong
magnetic field. Our observations with the XMM-Newton telescope reveal
X-ray pulsations with the same period as the fundamental stellar
pulsation. This discovery challenges our understanding of stellar winds
from massive stars, their X-ray emission, and their magnetism.
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