Search for Magnetars in the Galaxy M31 as Periodic X-ray Sources Based on XMM-Newton Data

Abstract

Several years ago a series of powerful millisecond radio bursts with close dispersion measures was detected toward the galaxy M31. Taking the hypothesis about the possible association of these radio bursts with a magnetar in M31 as a starting point, we have searched for periodic X-ray signal sources using data from the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope. As a result of our data analysis, we have identified a signal from the already known periodic X-ray source 3XMM J004301.4+413017, an accreting pulsar in a binary system. However, we have failed to detect new candidates. In particular, we have revealed no object that could be associated with the hypothetical magnetar responsible for the observed radio bursts that could have a luminosity $$L_{X}>10^{36}$$ erg s $${}^{-1}$$ .