INTEGRAL/JEM-X detection of type-I X-ray bursts from IGR J17488-2018

ATel #7136; E. Bozzo (ISDC, Switzerland), M. Falanga (ISSI, Switzerland), C. Ferrigno (ISDC, Switzerland)
on 24 Feb 2015; 12:22 UT
Credential Certification: E. Bozzo (enrico.bozzo@unige.ch)

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During the on-going INTEGRAL target of opportunity (ToO) observation of the X-ray transient IGR J17488-2018 (Atel #7098, #7106) located in the Globular Cluster NGC 6440, the two JEM-X telescopes detected so far 7 type-I X-ray bursts from the source. The onset time of the four bursts starting outside of satellite slews are: MJD 57076.700906 , 57076.789330, 57076.962492, and 57077.045683. The typical durations of the bursts as measured from the JEM-X lightcurve in the 3-10 keV energy band is 54-86 s.

The above findings confirm that IGR J17488-2018 hosts an accreting neutron star, strengthening the possible association with the millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1748.8-2021 (Atel #7106).

From the data collected by INTEGRAL in the period 2015 February 23 at 12:20 to February 24 at 04:46, we measured an average source flux of 1.8E-9 erg/cm^2/s in the 3-20 keV energy band and 1.4E-9 erg/cm^2/s in the 20-100 keV energy band.

A coordinated monitoring program of the source IGR J17488-2018 is currently being carried out with Swift and INTEGRAL.

We warmly thank the INTEGRAL operation team and the INTEGRAL Project Scientist for the rapid scheduling on the ToO observation of IGR J17488-2018.