Swift/BAT detects renewed hard X-ray activity from the neutron star transient XTE J1701-462
ATel #3028; H. A. Krimm (CRESST/GSFC/USRA), S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC), W. Baumgartner (CRESST/GSFC/UMBC), J. Cummings (CRESST/GSFC/UMBC), E. Fenimore (LANL), N. Gehrels (GSFC), C. B. Markwardt (GSFC), D. Palmer (LANL), T. Sakamoto (CRESTT/GSFC/UMBC), G. Skinner (CRESST/GSFC/UMD), M. Stamatikos (OSU/GSFC), J. Tueller (GSFC), T. Ukwatta (GSFC/GWU)
on 12 Nov 2010; 19:01 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Transients
Credential Certification: Hans A. Krimm (Hans.Krimm@nasa.gov)
Subjects: X-ray, Request for Observations, Binary, Neutron Star, Transient
Referred to by ATel #: 3029
The Swift/BAT hard X-ray transient monitor reports renewed activity in the 15-50
keV band for the transient neutron star Z source and low mass X-ray binary
system XTE J1701-262. Starting on 2010-Nov-08 (MJD 55508), the source has
increased in intensity from an undetectable level (one-sigma upper limit for a daily average of
0.0016 cts/cm2/sec or 8 mcrab) up to a current level of 0.010 ± 0.003
cts/cm2/sec (45 mcrab) averaged over the data from 2010-Nov-09 through Nov-11.
The significances of individual daily detections are fairly low because in most
observations the source is located near the edge of the BAT field of view.
This is the highest rate seen in the BAT monitor since the 2006-2007
outburst (e.g. Homan et al., ATel #1144) when the source reached a comparable count rate (~40 mcrab) and remained at this level for over 550 days.
Swift/BAT Hard X-ray Transient light curve for XTE J1701-262
