Fast X-ray and IR variability of A 0535+262

X-ray bursts of the source A 0535+262 with a characteristic time-scale ∼ 5 min have been discovered using the observational data of the Soviet ‘Astron’ satellite obtained on 7 April, 1983. Similar temporal variations were observed in the IR range on 26 September, 1981, 26–27 October and 16–17 December, 1983. The presence of such bursts gives evidence of strong inhomogeneity in the electron shell around the optical component and an accreting flow of matter in the vicinity of the neutron star. The parameters of the inhomogeneities are estimated.