XMM–Newton observations of PSR J0554+3107: pulsing thermal emission from a cooling high-mass neutron star.

XMM–Newton observations of the middle-aged radio-quiet γ-ray pulsar J0554+3107 allowed us, for the first time, firmly identify it in X-rays by detection of pulsations with the pulsar period. In the 0.2–2 keV band, the pulse profile shows two peaks separated by about a half of the rotation phase with the pulsed fraction of 25 ± 6 per cent. The profile and spectrum in this band can be mainly described by thermal emission from the neutron star with the hydrogen atmosphere, dipole magnetic field of ∼1013 G, and non-uniform surface temperature. Non-thermal emission from the pulsar magnetosphere is marginally detected at higher photon energies. The spectral fit with the atmosphere+power-law model implies that J0554+3107 is a rather heavy and cool neutron star with the mass of 1.6–2.1 M⊙, the radius of ≈13 km, and the redshifted effective temperature of ≈50 eV. The spectrum shows an absorption line of unknown nature at ≈350 eV. Given the extinction–distance relation, the pulsar is located at ≈2 kpc and has the redshifted bolometric thermal luminosity of ≈2 × 1032 erg s−1. We discuss cooling scenarios for J0554+3107 considering plausible equations of state of superdense matter inside the star, different compositions of the heat-blanketing envelope, and various ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]