[43.04] XMM Observations of Aql X-1

AAS 206th Meeting, 29 May - 2 June 2005
Session 43 Pulsars, Neutron Stars and White Dwarfs
Poster, Wednesday, 10:00am-7:00pm, Thursday, 9:20am-2:00pm, June 1, 2005, Ballroom A

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[43.04] XMM Observations of Aql X-1

K.L. Hoffman (McGill University)

A fraction of X-ray binaries have highly variable luminosities. This is a result of a highly variable accretion rate onto the the neutron star. The accretion will at times suddenly stop, the neutron star is then in quiescence. While in quiescence the crust of the neutron star is heated due to short periods of active accretion. As a result of the heating, the neutron star will emit thermal radiation. The spectrum of the quiescent emission can be used to determine the radius of the neutron star. Using the XMM observations of Aql X-1, I will present the preliminary results of the radius measurements of this quiescent emitter.

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