Chandra Smells a RRAT: X-ray Detection of a Rotating Radio Transient

TL;DR

This paper reports the first X-ray detection of a Rotating Radio Transient (RRAT), providing new insights into their nature as neutron stars through Chandra observations.

Contribution

It presents the serendipitous X-ray detection of an RRAT, offering the first X-ray characterization and analysis of its properties.

Findings

X-ray source coincides with an RRAT

X-ray emission shows specific spectral and temporal features

Results support neutron star interpretation of RRATs

Abstract

"Rotating RAdio Transients" (RRATs) are a newly discovered astronomical phenomenon, characterised by occasional brief radio bursts, with average intervals between bursts ranging from minutes to hours. The burst spacings allow identification of periodicities, which fall in the range 0.4 to 7 seconds. The RRATs thus seem to be rotating neutron stars, albeit with properties very different from the rest of the population. We here present the serendipitous detection with the Chandra X-ray Observatory of a bright point-like X-ray source coincident with one of the RRATs. We discuss the temporal and spectral properties of this X-ray emission, consider counterparts in other wavebands, and interpret these results in the context of possible explanations for the RRAT population.