Candidate Isolated Neutron Stars and Other Optically Blank X-ray Fields Identified from the ROSAT All-Sky and Sloan Digital Sky Surveys

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dc.creatorAgueros, Marcel A.
dc.creatorAnderson, Scott F.
dc.creatorMargon, Bruce
dc.creatorPosselt, Bettina
dc.creatorHaberl, Frank
dc.creatorVoges, Wolfgang
dc.creatorAnnis, James
dc.creatorSchneider, Donald P.
dc.creatorBrinkmann, Jonathan
dc.date2005-11-22
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T11:24:59Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T11:24:59Z
dc.descriptionOnly seven radio-quiet isolated neutron stars (INSs) emitting thermal X rays are known, a sample that has yet to definitively address such fundamental issues as the equation of state of degenerate neutron matter. We describe a selection algorithm based on a cross-correlation of the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) that identifies X-ray error circles devoid of plausible optical counterparts to the SDSS g~22 magnitudes limit. We quantitatively characterize these error circles as optically blank; they may host INSs or other similarly exotic X-ray sources such as radio-quiet BL Lacs, obscured AGN, etc. Our search is an order of magnitude more selective than previous searches for optically blank RASS error circles, and excludes the 99.9% of error circles that contain more common X-ray-emitting subclasses. We find 11 candidates, nine of which are new. While our search is designed to find the best INS candidates and not to produce a complete list of INSs in the RASS, it is reassuring that our number of candidates is consistent with predictions from INS population models. Further X-ray observations will obtain pinpoint positions and determine whether these sources are entirely optically blank at g~22, supporting the presence of likely isolated neutron stars and perhaps enabling detailed follow-up studies of neutron star physics.
dc.descriptionAccepted for publication in the AJ; higher resolution figures available at http://www.astro.washington.edu/agueros/pub/
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0511659
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0511659
dc.identifierAstron.J.131:1740-1749,2006
dc.identifierdoi:10.1086/500049
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/195379
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleCandidate Isolated Neutron Stars and Other Optically Blank X-ray Fields Identified from the ROSAT All-Sky and Sloan Digital Sky Surveys
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