Discovery of 59 ms pulsations from 1RXS J141256.0+792204 (Calvera)

We report on the results of a multi-wavelength study of the compact object candidate 1RXS J141256.0+792204 (Calvera). Calvera was observed in the X-rays with XMM-Newton/EPIC twice for a total exposure time of similar to 50 ks. The source spectrum is thermal and well reproduced by a two-component model composed of either two (absorbed) hydrogen atmosphere models or two blackbodies with temperatures kT(1) similar to 55/150 eV, kT(2) similar to 80/250 eV, respectively (as measured at infinity). Evidence was found for an absorption feature at similar to 0.65 keV while no power-law high-energy tail is statistically required. Using pn and MOS data we discovered pulsations in the X-ray emission at a period P = 59.2 ms. The detection is highly significant (greater than or similar to 11 sigma), and unambiguously confirms the neutron star nature of Calvera. The pulse profile is nearly sinusoidal, with a pulsed fraction of similar to 18 per cent. We looked for the timing signature of Calvera in the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data base and found a significant (similar to 5 sigma) pulsed signal at a period coincident with the X-ray value. The gamma-ray timing analysis yielded a tight upper limit on the period derivative, (P)over dot < 5 x 10(-18) s s(-1) ((E)over dot(rot) < 10(33) erg s(-1), B < 5 x 10(10) G for magneto-dipolar spin-down). Radio searches at 1.36 GHz with the 100-m Effelsberg radio telescope yielded negative results, with a deep upper limit on the pulsed flux of 0.05 mJy. Diffuse, soft (< 1 keV) X-ray emission about 13 arcmin west of the Calvera position is present both in our pointed observations and in archive ROSAT all-sky survey images, but is unlikely associated with the X-ray pulsar. Its spectrum is compatible with an old supernova remnant (SNR); no evidence for diffuse emission in the radio and optical bands was found. The most likely interpretations are that Calvera is either a central compact object escaped from a SNR or a mildly recycled pulsar; in both cases the source would be the first ever member of the class detected at gamma-ray energies.