Long-term evolution of the fastest accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934

We propose a 70 ks XMM observation of the fastest accreting millisecond pulsardiscovered so far, IGR J00291+5934, during its next outburst. A measure of itsspin and orbital parameters will put firm constraints on its longterm evolutionand on the mechanisms (magnetodipole emission, gravitational radiation)proposed to explain it. The lack of neutron stars observed to spin atfrequencies close the centrifugal breakup (virgul1.5 kHz) will be tackled on anobservational basis. The observation will also give accurate pulsar ephemeris,to allow a search for the gammaray counterpart expected to turn on as thesource switches to a rotationpowered pulsar state during Xray quiescence. Thisis a resubmission of a proposal approved for the AO11 and 12, and which was not triggered. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]