PSR J1734-3333: A Magnetar ProgenitorquestionMark

We propose Xray observations of the radio pulsar PSR J17343333, a possiblemagnetar progenitor. This source, a 1.2 s radio pulsar, has inferred surfacemagnetic field 5.2e13 G, well above the quantum critical field and very close tothose of bona fide magnetars. In radio timing observations we have recentlymeasured a stable braking index for this source, n0.9+/0.2. So low a brakingindex is unprecedented and suggests effective magnetic field growth, such thatthis source may soon become some form of magnetar. A previous deep XMMobservation was significantly contaminated by background flaring. Here werequest an observation to replace the exposure time lost due to flares, in orderto constrain the sources spectral properties and search for pulsations. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]