Search for redshifted 2.2 MeV neutron capture line from A0535+262 in outburst

Abstract

June 2005, followed by a dimmer outburst in August-September 2005. This increased intensity provided an opportunity to search for redshifted neutroncapture lines from the surface of the neutron star. If discovered, such lines would constrain the neutron star equation of state, providing the motivation of this search. The spectrometer (SPI) on board the INTEGRAL satellite observed the dimmer outburst and provided the data for this research. We have not detected a line with enough significance, with the width-dependent upper limits on the broadened and redshifted neutron capture line in the range of (2 – 11) × 10−4 photons cm−2 s−1. To our knowledge, these are the strongest upper limits on the redshifted 2.2 MeV emission from an accreting neutron star. Our analysis of the transparency of the neutron star surface for 2.2 MeV photons shows that photons have a small but finite chance of leaving the atmosphere unscattered, which diminishes the possibility of detection.

Available Versions of this Item

• Search for redshifted 2.2 MeV neutron capture line from A0535+262 in outburst. (deposited 22 Oct 2008 17:09)
  • Search for redshifted 2.2 MeV neutron capture line from A0535+262 in outburst. (deposited 01 Dec 2008 13:29) [Currently Displayed]
    • Search for redshifted 2.2 MeV neutron capture line from A0535+262 in outburst. (deposited 08 Sep 2009 09:32)