Study of the spectral soft excess in high luminosity transient pulsars

The spectra of many Xray pulsars show a lowenergy component in addition to themain powerlaw, which can be described with different models (both thermal andnonthermal). The study of this feature is essential in order to cast light onthe physical processes ongoing in accreting sources. Due to the low absorptionin its direction, the transient pulsars in the SMC, which can reach highluminosities (Lx > 1E38 erg/s), can provide high statistic spectra at lowenergies; two of them (XTE J01117317 and RX J0059.27138) have already shown aclear excess during their outburst. Therefore we ask to perform a triggeredobservation with XMM of a selected sample of transient pulsars in the SMC, ifthey undergo a bright outburst, in order to characterize the properties of the soft excess. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]