RXTE PCA Detects the Millisecond Pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 in Outburst
ATel #1728; C. B. Markwardt (CRESST/U. Md./NASA/GSFC) & J. H. Swank (NASA/GSFC)
on 22 Sep 2008; 02:48 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Craig B. Markwardt (craigm@lheamail.gsfc.nasa.gov)
Subjects: X-ray, Request for Observations, Binary, Neutron Star, Transient, Pulsar
Regular RXTE PCA monitoring observations on 2008-09-21 at 10:00 UT detected flux from the position of the accreting millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658. The 2-10 keV flux was 10 mCrab. This appears to be the beginning of a new transient outburst (the last one began in June 2005).
There is a small amount of on-source PCA data with high time resolution, but the pulsations were not detectable. However, in previous outbursts the typical pulsed amplitude was ~5%, which is near the detectability limit for the present small amount of data. More PCA observations are planned. Follow-up observations at other wavelengths are encouraged.
We thank D. Altamirano and R. Wijnands for pointing out this outburst in the scan data.
