Astron. Astrophys. 358, 583-586 (2000)

BeppoSAX observation of Cen X-4 in quiescence

S. Campana ¹, L. Stella ², S. Mereghetti ³ and D. Cremonesi <sup>3

1</sup> Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Bianchi 46, 23807 Merate, Italy
² Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00040 Monteporzio Catone (Roma), Italy
³ Istituto di Fisica Cosmica "G. Occhialini", CNR, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy

Received 4 November 1999 / Accepted 11 April 2000

Abstract

We report on a 61 ks BeppoSAX observation of the soft X-ray transient Cen X-4 during quiescence which allowed to study the source X-ray spectrum from keV to keV. A two-component spectral model was required, consisting of a black body with temperature of keV and a power law with photon index . These values are compatible with earlier ASCA results indicating that Cen X-4 may be stable, within a factor of a few, over a 5 year baseline.

Key words: stars: individual: Cen X-4 stars: neutron stars: pulsars: general X-rays: stars

Send offprint requests to: campana@merate.mi.astro.it

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Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. BeppoSAX observation
  • 2.1. Spectral analysis
  • 2.2. Timing analysis
  • 2.3. Reanalysis of ASCA data
• 3. Discussion
• Acknowledgements
• References

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 2000

Online publication: June 8, 2000
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