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 source.[1] It is located at a distance of 11 kpc in the radio complex CTB 33, a star forming region that includes the supernova remnant G337.0-0.1.[2]

SGR 1627−41
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ara
Right ascension 16h 35m 52.0s
Declination −47° 35′ 14.0″
Database references
SIMBADdata

This object is believed to be a neutron star 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. 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.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Woods, Peter M.; et al. (July 1999). "Discovery of a New Soft Gamma Repeater, SGR 1627−41". The Astrophysical Journal. 519 (2): L139–L142. arXiv:astro-ph/9903267. Bibcode:1999ApJ...519L.139W. doi:10.1086/312124. S2CID 16437754.
  2. ^ Hurley, K.; et al. (July 1999). "Precise Interplanetary Network Localization of a New Soft Gamma Repeater, SGR 1627−41". The Astrophysical Journal. 519 (2): L143–L145. arXiv:astro-ph/9903268. Bibcode:1999ApJ...519L.143H. doi:10.1086/312115. S2CID 119433541.
  3. ^ Kouveliotou, C.; et al. (October 2003). "Unraveling the Cooling Trend of the Soft Gamma Repeater SGR 1627−41". The Astrophysical Journal. 596 (1): L79–L82. arXiv:astro-ph/0309118. Bibcode:2003ApJ...596L..79K. doi:10.1086/379187. S2CID 5500045.
  4. ^ Lyubarsky, Yuri; et al. (November 2002). "Diagnosing Magnetars with Transient Cooling". The Astrophysical Journal. 580 (1): L69–L72. arXiv:astro-ph/0211110. Bibcode:2002ApJ...580L..69L. doi:10.1086/345402. S2CID 14947154.