Abstract for Proposal 090233
Prompt X-ray and radio follow-up of magnetar outbursts
Magnetars are neutron stars mainly powered by their huge magnetic fields.
They go through long stretches of quiescence, interrupted by periods of
activity, via short X-ray bursts, large giant flares and yearly-timescale
X-ray outbursts. Lately several normal pulsars showed magnetar-like
emission, and FRB-like events were observed during a short X-ray burst,
prompting important questions on the exact physics and reach of the
magnetar phenomenon. We propose a Joint XMM (110ks) and NRAO/GRB (14hr)
ToO program aimed at gather new physical insights on magnetars surface,
field configuration and magnetosphere; search for radio pulsed emission
and for (quasi-)simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts. We might trigger
this program on any source that will undergo a magnetar-like outburst
during AO21.
Details on Observing Strategy and Trigger Criteria
We will trigger this XMM+GBT proposal on the discovery (via Swift,
Fermi-GBM or MAXI) of SGR-like bursts, an X-ray outburst (10 times
re-brightening wrt ROSAT) or FRB-like radio bursts from a known (or new)
pulsar/magnetar. We ask for a single XMM trigger within AO21 for a total
exposure time of 110ks divided in: 1 - XMM observation of 50ks within two
weeks from the detection of the burst/outburst, plus a simultaneous GBT
observation of maximum 14hr (it will depend on the source declination and
visibility during the XMM observation); 2- a second XMM observation of
60ks after about 180 days (usually in the next visibility window for XMM).