Properties of the transient X-ray pulsar Swift J1816.7–1613 and its optical companion

Abstract

We present results of investigation of the poorly studied X-ray pulsar Swift J1816.7–1613 during its transition from the type I outburst to the quiescent state. Our studies are based on the data obtained from X-ray observatories Swift, NuSTAR, and Chandra alongside with the latest IR data from UKIDSS/GPS and Spitzer/GLIMPSE surveys. The aim of the work is to determine the parameters of the system, namely the strength of the neutron star magnetic field and the distance to the source, which are required for the interpretation of the source behaviour in the framework of physically motivated models. No cyclotron absorption line was detected in the broad-band energy spectrum. However, the timing analysis hints at the typical for the X-ray pulsars magnetic field from a few ×1011 to a few ×1012 G. We also estimated the type of the IR-companion as a B0-2e star located at a distance of 7–13 kpc.