The radio shut-off, glitch, and X-ray burst in 1E 1547.0-5408 interpreted through magnetic reconfiguration

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Author: Suvorov, Arthur G
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 13.06.2023
• Subjects: Crustal fractures; Ejecta; Fireballs; Fractures; Magnetars; Magnetospheres; Perturbation; Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena; Physics - High Energy Physics - Phenomenology; Polar caps; Pulsars; Quadrupoles; Reconfiguration; Static models
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2302.13777

A short X-ray burst was observed from the radio-loud magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408 in 2022 April. Unusually however, the source stopped showing radio pulsations \(\gtrsim 3\,\)weeks prior to the burst. After recovery, radio timing revealed that the object had also undergone a modest glitch. A model for the overall event is constructed where an initially mild perturbation adjusts the magnetic geometry near the polar caps, leading to shallow fractures. Crustal ejecta or particles leaking from a pair-plasma fireball pollute the magnetospheric gaps, shutting off the pulsar mechanism, but the energy release is not yet large enough to noticeably enhance the X-ray flux. This perturbation gradually ramps, eventuating in a large-scale energy redistribution which fuels the burst. The star's mass quadrupole moment changes in tandem, issuing a glitch. Some quantitative estimates for the magnetic reconfiguration under this interpretation are provided, based on a quasi-static model where the fluid evolves through a sequence of hydromagnetic equilibria.