The identification of the long-period X-ray pulsar 1WGA J1958.2+323 with a Be-star/X-ray binary
Loading...
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Description
We present the results of optical observations performed between May and September 1998 of the stars within the position error circle of the recently discovered 12min pulsating X-ray source 1WGA J1958.2+3232. Based on photometry and slitless spectroscopy, we selected a likely optical counterpart, which was subsequently determined to be a m_V=15.7 B0Ve star, the spectral properties of which are in good agreement with the X-ray results. The proposed optical counterpart shows several H, He and Fe emission-lines, while the interstellar absorption spectral features place the star at a distance of about 800 pc.The inferred X-ray luminosity for this distance is about 10^33 erg s^-1 in the 2--10 keV band. We conclude that 1WGA J1958.2+3232 is a likely new long-period low-luminosity accreting neutron star in a Be-star/X-ray binary system.
4 pages. Accepted for publication on A&A Letters. 3 PostScript figures. A&A LaTeX macro used
4 pages. Accepted for publication on A&A Letters. 3 PostScript figures. A&A LaTeX macro used