BeppoSAX observation of PSR B1937+21

We present the results of a BeppoSAX observation of the fastest rotating pulsar known: PSR B1937+21. The ~200 ks observation (78.5 ks MECS/34 ks LECS on-source time) allowed us to investigate with high statistical significance both the spectral properties and the pulse profile shape. The pulse profile is clearly double peaked at energies ≳4 keV. Peak widths are compatible with the instrumental time resolution and the second pulse lags the main pulse 0.52 in phase, like is the case in the radio. In the 1.3-4 keV band we detect a ~45% DC component; conversely the 4-10 keV pulsed fraction is consistent with 100%. The on-pulse spectrum is fitted with an absorbed power-law of spectral index ~1.2, harder than that of the total flux which is ~1.9. The total unabsorbed (2-10 keV) flux is F_2-10 = 4.1¿ 10^-13 erg cm^-2 s^-1, implying a luminosity of L_X = 5.0¿ 10³¹ Theta (d/3.6 kpc)² erg s^-1 and a X-ray efficiency of eta = 4.5¿ 10^-5 Theta, where Theta is the solid angle spanned by the emission beam. These results are in agreement with those obtained by ASCA and a more recent Rossi-XTE observation. The hydrogen column density N_H ~ 2¿ 10²² cm^-2 is ~10 times higher than expected from the radio dispersion measure and average Galactic density of e^-. Though it is compatible (within 2 sigma) with the Galactic (H I derived) value of ~ 1¿ 10²² cm^-2, inspection of dust extinction maps reveal that the pulsar falls in a highly absorbed region. In addition, 1.4 GHz radio map shows that the nearby (likely unrelated) H II source 4C21.53W is part of a circular emission region ~4' across.