SGR 1627−41, is a
soft gamma repeater (SGR), located in the constellation of
Ara. It was discovered June 15, 1998, using the Burst and transient Source Experiment (
BATSE) and was the first soft gamma repeater to be discovered since 1979. During a period of 6 weeks, the star bursted approximately 100 times, and then went quiet. The measured bursts lasted an average of 100 milliseconds but ranged from 25 ms to 1.8 seconds. SGR 1627−41 is a persistent
X-ray
An X-ray (also known in many languages as Röntgen radiation) is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than those of ultraviolet rays and longer than those of gamma rays. Roughly, X-rays have a wavelength ran ...
source. It is located at a distance of 11
kpc in the radio complex CTB 33, a star forming region that includes the
supernova remnant
A supernova remnant (SNR) is the structure resulting from the explosion of a star in a supernova. The supernova remnant is bounded by an expanding shock wave, and consists of ejected material expanding from the explosion, and the interstellar mat ...
G337.0-0.1.
This object is believed to be a
neutron star
A neutron star is the gravitationally collapsed Stellar core, core of a massive supergiant star. It results from the supernova explosion of a stellar evolution#Massive star, massive star—combined with gravitational collapse—that compresses ...
that undergoes random outbursts of hard and soft X-rays. This may be caused by the loss of angular momentum of a highly magnetized neutron star, or
magnetar
A magnetar is a type of neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field (~109 to 1011 T, ~1013 to 1015 G). The magnetic-field decay powers the emission of high-energy electromagnetic radiation, particularly X-rays and gamma rays.Ward; Br ...
. Alternatively, it may be a
quark star, although this is considered less likely. After the 1998 outburst and the 40-day afterglow, SGR 1627−41 has remained dormant and is steadily cooling down from the peak during the event.
References
XMM-Newton observation of the Soft Gamma Ray Repeater SGR 1627−41 in a low luminosity state
{{DEFAULTSORT:SGR 1627-41
Ara (constellation)
Radio-quiet neutron stars
Pulsars
Soft gamma repeaters
Magnetars