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   PR # 42060
   GX301-2 is an X-ray pulsar in a binary system with WRA 977. In a 1994
   ASCA-BATSE observation Pravdo et al. discovered a periodic
   near-apastron flare accompanying the known pre-periastron flare. They
   suggested that a circumstellar disk around WRA 977 can account for
   the periodic flares and the spin-up seen since 1984, by supplying
   matter for the flares and angular momentum for the spin-up. We will
   observe the flare spectra and look for evidence of the disk from
   measurements of the low-energy absorption and the iron line and edge
   energies. We will also measure phase-resolved spectra to search for
   changes between the flare and quiescent spectra. Finally we will make
   further pulse period measurements to search for mini-spin-ups
   correlated with the flares.
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