Constraining the nature of the 18-min periodic radio transient GLEAM-X J162759.5-523504.3 via multi-wavelength observations and magneto-thermal simulations

TL;DR

This study used multi-wavelength observations and magneto-thermal simulations to investigate the nature of the 18-minute periodic radio transient GLEAM-X J162759.5-523504.3, constraining its properties and ruling out several possible models.

Contribution

It provides the first combined observational and theoretical analysis of GLEAM-X J1627, constraining its age and nature as either a magnetar or a white dwarf.

Findings

X-ray upper limits suggest the source is older than 1 Myr if a magnetar.

Most binary systems and hot white dwarfs are ruled out as counterparts.

A cold, isolated white dwarf remains a plausible explanation.

Abstract

We observed the periodic radio transient GLEAM-X J162759.5-523504.3 (GLEAM-X J1627) using the Chandra X-ray Observatory for about 30-ks on January 22-23, 2022, simultaneously with radio observations from MWA, MeerKAT and ATCA. Its radio emission and 18-min periodicity led the source to be tentatively interpreted as an extreme magnetar or a peculiar highly magnetic white dwarf. The source was not detected in the 0.3-8 keV energy range with a 3-sigma upper-limit on the count rate of 3x10^{-4} counts/s. No radio emission was detected during our X-ray observations either. Furthermore, we studied the field around GLEAM-X J1627 using archival ESO and DECam data, as well as recent SALT observations. Many sources are present close to the position of GLEAM-X J1627, but only two within the 2" radio position uncertainty. Depending on the assumed spectral distribution, the upper limits converted to an X-ray luminosity of L_{X}<6.5x10^{29} erg/s for a blackbody with temperature kT=0.3 keV, or L_{X}<9x10^{29} erg/s for a power-law with photon index Gamma = 2 (assuming a 1.3 kpc distance). Furthermore, we performed magneto-thermal simulations for neutron stars considering crust- and core-dominated field configurations. Based on our multi-band limits, we conclude that: i) in the magnetar scenario, the X-ray upper limits suggest that GLEAM-X J1627 should be older than ~1 Myr, unless it has a core-dominated magnetic field or has experienced fast-cooling; ii) in the white dwarf scenario, we can rule out most binary systems, a hot sub-dwarf and a hot magnetic isolated white dwarf (T>10.000 K), while a cold isolated white dwarf is still compatible with our limits.