A Variable X-ray Source Close to the Magnetar SGR 1935+2154

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of an X-ray transient near the magnetar SGR 1935+2154, exploring its potential connection to fast radio bursts and the magnetar's environment.

Contribution

It presents the first detection of an X-ray transient close to SGR 1935+2154, providing new insights into the magnetar's surroundings and possible links to FRB phenomena.

Findings

Discovered an X-ray transient near SGR 1935+2154

Suggests a potential connection between the transient and magnetar activity

Provides data for understanding magnetar environments and FRB origins

Abstract

The recent discovery of a millisecond radio burst from the Galactic magnetar SGR 1935+2154 has initiated an intense discussion about the connection between magnetars and fast radio bursts (FRBs). Although some properties of the radio burst from SGR 1935+2154 are not the same as cosmological FRBs, there are theoretical models which propose a connection between magnetars and FRBs (see review by Margalit et al. 2020). In particular, the role of a magnetar wind nebula is included in some models, and therefore it is worthwhile to investigate the X-ray environment of SGR 1935+2154 in more detail. Here, we report on the discovery of an X-ray transient feature near SGR 1935+2154 using archival Chandra data and discuss its possible origin.