Very fast optical flaring from a possible new Galactic magnetar

A. Stefanescu (), G. Kanbach (), A. Słowikowska, J. Greiner, S. McBreen and G. Sala
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A. Stefanescu: Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, PO Box 1312, 85741 Garching, Germany
G. Kanbach: Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, PO Box 1312, 85741 Garching, Germany
A. Słowikowska: IESL, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, PO Box 1385, GR-711 10 Heraklion, Greece
J. Greiner: Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, PO Box 1312, 85741 Garching, Germany
S. McBreen: Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, PO Box 1312, 85741 Garching, Germany
G. Sala: Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, PO Box 1312, 85741 Garching, Germany

Nature, 2008, vol. 455, issue 7212, 503-505

Abstract: SWIFT J195509.6+261406 Two groups report the observation of optical flares from SWIFT J195509.6+261406, an intriguing X-ray source located in our Galaxy and initially discovered as a γ-ray burst by the orbiting Swift observatory. Stefanescu et al. detected extremely bright and rapid optical flaring, producing optical light-curves similar to the high energy light-curves of soft γ-ray repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars, which are thought to be neutron stars with extremely high magnetic fields (magnetars). In a multiwavelength study Castro-Tirado et al. detected more than 40 flaring episodes at optical wavelengths over a time span of three days. They suggest that SWIFT J195509+261406 could be an isolated magnetar whose bursting activity has been detected at optical wavelengths.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature07308

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