The XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud: XMMU J005011.2-730026 = SXP 214, a Be/X-ray binary pulsar
Pietsch, W.; Haberl, F.; Tiengo, A.; Udalski, A.; Payne, J. L.; Ehle, M.; Sturm, R.; Bartlett, E. S.; Coe, M. J.; Corbet, R. H. D.; Burton, D.; Townsend, L. J.; Filipovic, M.
United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Poland, United States, Italy, Spain
Abstract
In the course of the XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a region to the east of the emission nebula N19 was observed in 2009 November. To search for new candidates for high-mass X-ray binaries, the EPIC-pn and EPIC-MOS data of the detected point sources were investigated and their spectral and temporal characteristics identified. A new transient (XMMU J005011.2-730026 = SXP 214) with a pulse period of 214.05 s was discovered; the source had a hard X-ray spectrum with a power-law index of ∼0.65. The accurate X-ray source location permits the identification of the X-ray source with an ∼15th magnitude Be star, thereby confirming this system as a new Be/X-ray binary.