Magnetar-like X-ray Bursts from a Rotation Powered Pulsar, PSR J1119-6127

TL;DR

This study reports on 12 energetic X-ray bursts from pulsar PSR J1119-6127, revealing magnetar-like activity and spectral cooling, challenging its classification as a typical rotation-powered pulsar.

Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed spectral and temporal analysis of magnetar-like bursts from PSR J1119-6127, demonstrating its placement within the magnetar population.

Findings

12 X-ray bursts analyzed during 2016 active phase

Spectral softening and cooling observed post-burst

Unusual high magnetic field pulsar exhibits magnetar-like activity

Abstract

Two energetic hard X-ray bursts have recently triggered the Fermi and Swift space observatories from the rotation powered pulsar, PSR J1119-6127. We have performed in depth spectral and temporal analyses of these two events. Our extensive searches in both observatory data for lower luminosity bursts uncovered 10 additional events from the source. We report here on the timing and energetics of the 12 bursts from PSR J1119-6127 during its burst active phase of 2016 July 26 and 28. We also found a spectral softer X-ray flux enhancement in a post burst episode, which shows evidence of cooling. We discuss here the implications of these results on the nature of this unusual high-field radio pulsar, which firmly place it within the typical magnetar population.