Discovery of 5.16s pulsations from the isolated neutron star RBS 1223

Abstract

The isolated neutron star candidate RBS 1223 was observed with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer aboard the Chandra X-ray observatory on 2000 June 24. A timing analysis of the data yielded a periodic modulation with a period P=5.1571696^(+1.57*10^(-4) -1.36*10^(-4)s. Using ROSAT HRI archived observations we detected a period P=5.1561274 \pm 4.4*10^(-4)s and determined period derivative dP/dt=(0.7 - 2.0)*10^(-11) s*s^(-1). The detection of this period and dP/dt indicates that RBS 12223 has a ``characteristic'' age of 6000-12000 years and huge magnetic field at the surface (B(dipole)~(1.7- 3.2)*10^(+14) G) typical for anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs).