The recently discovered coherent X-ray pulsations at a frequency of similar to400 Hz in SAX J1808.4-3658, together with a measure of the source luminosity in quiescence, allow us to put an upper limit on the neutron star magnetic field, that is B less than or equal to 5 x 10(8) Gauss, using simple considerations on the position of the magnetospheric radius during quiescent periods. Combined with the lower limit inferred from the presence of X-ray pulsations, this constrains the SAX J1808.4-3658 neutron star magnetic field in the quite narrow range (1-5) x 10(8) Gauss. Similar considerations applied to the case of Aql X-1 give a neutron star magnetic field lower than similar to 10(9) Gauss.
Constraints on the neutron star magnetic field of the two X-ray transients SAX J1808.4-3658 and Aql X-1
BURDERI, LUCIANO
2003-01-01
Abstract
The recently discovered coherent X-ray pulsations at a frequency of similar to400 Hz in SAX J1808.4-3658, together with a measure of the source luminosity in quiescence, allow us to put an upper limit on the neutron star magnetic field, that is B less than or equal to 5 x 10(8) Gauss, using simple considerations on the position of the magnetospheric radius during quiescent periods. Combined with the lower limit inferred from the presence of X-ray pulsations, this constrains the SAX J1808.4-3658 neutron star magnetic field in the quite narrow range (1-5) x 10(8) Gauss. Similar considerations applied to the case of Aql X-1 give a neutron star magnetic field lower than similar to 10(9) Gauss.
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