Cooling of the super-heated neutron star in MAXI J0556-332

Observing the cooling of neutron stars reheated by accretion provides uniqueinsights into neutron star structure. Here we propose observations of thecooling neutron star in MAXI J0556332, a transient that had been accreting atnearEddington rates for nearly 16 months when it returned to quiescence in May2012. Chandra and XMM observations in quiescence have revealed a rapidly coolingneutron star with by far the highest temperatures observed to date for suchsystems. We request two 48 ks XMM observations of MAXI J0556332. Theseobservations will 1) allow us to search for an early break in the cooling curvethat might be indicative of uneven heating in the crust, and 2) help us inunderstanding why the neutron star in this system is exceptionally hot. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]