Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-09-29
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
10 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters
Scientific paper
10.1111/j.1745-3933.2008.00569.x
We report the detection of a point source CXO J172337.5-373442 in a Chandra field with a high significance (26.7 sigma), and the discovery (4 sigma) of a 48" long X-ray tail emanating from the point source. The X-ray spectra of both the point source and the tail are well described with a single absorbed powerlaw, and the tail is harder (powerlaw index Gamma = 0.14^{+0.59}_{-0.68}) than the point source (Gamma = 1.78^{+0.13}_{-0.11}). From this first detailed spatial, spectral and timing X-ray analysis of CXO J172337.5-373442, and from a plausible optical counterpart found from the archives, we conclude that this source is either a Galactic High-Mass X-ray Binary with an X-ray jet or a Galactic pulsar with its "pulsar wind nebula" seen as the X-ray tail. Although, the currently available data are not enough to distinguish between these two candidates with certainty, a detailed comparison of their known properties with those of CXO J172337.5-373442 favours the latter type. If this identification is correct, then the pulsar should be middle-aged or old, that has escaped from its supernova remnant, and the X-ray tail should originate from the synchrotron emission from either of the following locations: (1) a shocked region, or (2) a jet emanating from the pulsar's magnetosphere.
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