A search for radio pulsars around low-mass white dwarfs

Low-mass white dwarfs can be produced either in low-mass X-ray binaries by stable mass transfer to a neutron star, or in a common envelope phase with a heavier white dwarf companion. We have searched eight low-mass white dwarf candidates recently identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey for radio pulsations from pulsar companions, using the Green Bank Telescope at 340 MHz. We have found no pulsations down to flux densities of 0.6–0.8 mJy kpc⁻² and conclude that a given low-mass helium-core white dwarf has a probability of  <0.18 ± 0.05  of being in a binary with a radio pulsar.     

Modelling interaction of relativistic and non-relativistic winds in binary system PSR B1259−63/SS2883 – I. Hydrodynamical limit

In this paper, we present a detailed hydrodynamical study of the properties of the flow produced by the collision of a pulsar wind with the surrounding in a binary system. This work is the first attempt to simulate interaction of the ultrarelativistic flow (pulsar wind) with the non-relativistic stellar wind. Obtained results show that the wind collision could result in the formation of an 'unclosed' (at spatial scales comparable to the binary system size) pulsar wind termination shock even when the stellar wind ram pressure exceeds significantly the pulsar wind kinetic pressure. Moreover, the post-shock flow propagates in a rather narrow region, with very high bulk Lorentz factor (γ∼ 100). This flow acceleration is related to adiabatic losses which are purely hydrodynamical effects. Interestingly, in this particular case, no magnetic field is required for formation of the ultrarelativistic bulk outflow. The obtained results provide a new interpretation for the orbital variability of radio, X-ray and gamma-ray signals detected from binary pulsar system PSR B1259−63/SS2883.     

Processing and Analysis of X-ray Timing Data for Crab Pulsartwo

The X-ray timing data for the Crab pulsar obtained by the Chinese X-ray pulsar navigation test satellite are processed and analyzed. The method to build the integrated and standard X-ray pulse profiles of the Crab pulsar by using the X-ray pulsar observation data and the satellite orbit data is described. The principle and algorithm for determining the pulsar's pulse time of arrival (toa) in the frequency domain are briefly introduced. The pulsar's pulse time of arrival is calculated by using the timing data of 50 min integration for each set of observational data. By the comparison between the observed Crab pulsar's pulse time of arrival at the solar system barycenter and that predicted with the Crab pulsar ephemeris, it is found that the timing accuracy is about 14 μs after the systematic error is removed by a quadratic polynomial fitting.     

INTEGRAL and XMM–Newton observations of the X-ray pulsar IGR J16320−4751/AX J1631.9−4752

We report on observations of the X-ray pulsar IGR J16320−4751 (also known as AX J1631.9−4752) performed simultaneously with International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory ( INTEGRAL ) and XMM–Newton . We refine the source position and identify the most likely infrared counterpart. Our simultaneous coverage allows us to confirm the presence of X-ray pulsations at ∼1300 s, that we detect above 20 keV with INTEGRAL for the first time. The pulse fraction is consistent with being constant with energy, which is compatible with a model of polar accretion by a pulsar. We study the spectral properties of IGR J16320−4751 during two major periods occurring during the simultaneous coverage with both satellites, namely a flare and a non-flare period. We detect the presence of a narrow 6.4 keV iron line in both periods. The presence of such a feature is typical of supergiant wind accretors such as Vela X-1 or GX 301−2. We inspect the spectral variations with respect to the pulse phase during the non-flare period, and show that the pulse is solely due to variations of the X-ray flux emitted by the source and not due to variations of the spectral parameters. Our results are therefore compatible with the source being a pulsar in a High Mass X-ray Binary. We detect a soft excess appearing in the spectra as a blackbody with a temperature of ∼0.07 keV. We discuss the origin of the X-ray emission in IGR J16320−4751: while the hard X-rays are likely the result of Compton emission produced in the close vicinity of the pulsar, based on energy argument we suggest that the soft excess is likely the emission by a collisionally energized cloud in which the compact object is embedded.     

How rapidly do neutron stars spin at birth? Constraints from archival X-ray observations of extragalactic supernovae

Traditionally, studies aimed at inferring the distribution of birth periods of neutron stars are based on radio surveys. Here we propose an independent method to constrain the pulsar spin periods at birth based on their X-ray luminosities. In particular, the observed luminosity distribution of supernovae (SNe) poses a constraint on the initial rotational energy of the embedded pulsars, via the     correlation found for radio pulsars, and under the assumption that this relation continues to hold beyond the observed range. We have extracted X-ray luminosities (or limits) for a large sample of historical SNe observed with Chandra , XMM and Swift , which have been firmly classified as core-collapse SNe. We have then compared these observational limits with the results of Monte Carlo simulations of the pulsar X-ray luminosity distribution for a range of values of the birth parameters. We find that a pulsar population dominated by millisecond periods at birth is ruled out by the data.     

Observations of the transient X-ray pulsar KS 1947+300 by the INTEGRAL and RXTE observatories

We analyze the observations of the X-ray pulsar KS 1947+300 performed by the INTEGRAL and RXTE observatories over a wide (3–100 keV) X-ray energy range. The shape of the pulse profile was found to depend on the luminosity of the source. Based on the model of a magnetized neutron star, we study the characteristics of the pulsar using the change in its spin-up rate. We estimated the magnetic field strength of the pulsar and the distance to the binary.     

Non-pulsed Emission from the Binary System B1259-63

PSR B1259-63 is the only known binary system with a radio pulsar from which the non-pulsed radio and X-ray emission was detected. The companion star in this system is a Be star SS 2883. A rapidly rotating radio pulsar is expected to produce a wind of relativistic particles. Be stars are known to produce highly asymmetric mass loss. Due to the interaction of the pulsar wind and the Be star wind the system of two shocks between the pulsar and the Be star forms. In this paper we show that the observed non-pulsed radio emission from the system is a result of the synchrotron emission of the relativistic particles in the outflow beyond the shock wave and that the non-pulsed X-ray emission is due to the inverse Compton scattering of the Be star photons on this particles. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

PSR J1740−3052: a pulsar with a massive companion

We report on the discovery of a binary pulsar, PSR J1740−3052, during the Parkes multibeam survey. Timing observations of the 570-ms pulsar at Jodrell Bank and Parkes show that it is young, with a characteristic age of 350 kyr, and is in a 231-d, highly eccentric orbit with a companion whose mass exceeds 11 M_⊙. An accurate position for the pulsar was obtained using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Near-infrared 2.2-μm observations made with the telescopes at the Siding Spring observatory reveal a late-type star coincident with the pulsar position. However, we do not believe that this star is the companion of the pulsar, because a typical star of this spectral type and required mass would extend beyond the orbit of the pulsar. Furthermore, the measured advance of periastron of the pulsar suggests a more compact companion, for example, a main-sequence star with radius only a few times that of the Sun. Such a companion is also more consistent with the small dispersion measure variations seen near periastron. Although we cannot conclusively rule out a black hole companion, we believe that the companion is probably an early B star, making the system similar to the binary PSR J0045−7319.     

X射线脉冲星导航可用目标源研究

脉冲星具有自转非常稳定的特性,在空间自主导航中有重要的应用前景.选择和研究一组适合于脉冲星导航使用的候选目标源非常重要,决定脉冲星导航精度的主要因素有:导航目标源X射线流量强度、目标源的位置精度和旋转参数精度.对可用于导航的一些X射线源进行了讨论研究,并对最适合做导航研究的转动能驱动的X射线脉冲星进行统计分析.     

Influence of Neutron Star Parameters on Evolutions of Different Types of Pulsar

Influences of the mass, moment of inertia, rotation, absence of stability in the atmosphere and some other parameters of neutron stars on the evolution of pulsars are examined. It is shown that the locations and evolutions of soft gamma repeaters, anomalous X-ray pulsars and other types of pulsar on the period versus period derivative diagram can be explained adopting values of B < 10¹⁴ G for these objects if they have smaller mass (e.g. about 0.5 Solar mass) compared to the conventionally adopted values of mass. This approach gives the possibility to explain many properties of different types of pulsar.     

Fast rotation of neutron stars and equation of state of dense matter

Fast rotation of compact stars (at sub-millisecond period) and, in particular, their stability, are sensitive to the equation of state (EOS) of dense matter. Recent observations of XTE J1739-285 suggest that it contains a neutron star rotating at 1122 Hz. At such rotational frequency the effects of rotation on star’s structure are significant. We study the interplay of fast rotation, EOS, and gravitational mass of a sub-millisecond pulsar. We discuss the EOS dependence of spin-up to a sub-millisecond period, via mass accretion from a disk in a low-mass X-ray binary.     

A candidate gamma-ray pulsar in the supernova remnant CTA 1

We present a detailed analysis of the high-energy gamma-ray source 2EG J0008+7307. The source has a steady flux and a hard spectrum, softening above 2 GeV. The properties of the gamma-ray source are suggestive of emission from a young pulsar in the spatially coincident CTA 1 supernova remnant, which has recently been found to have a non-thermal X-ray plerion. Our 95 per cent uncertainty contour around the > 1 GeV source position includes the point-like X-ray source at the centre of the plerion. We propose that this object is a young pulsar and is the most likely counterpart of 2EG J0008+7307.     

G359.95-0.04: an energetic pulsar candidate near Sgr A*

We report the discovery of a prominent non-thermal X-ray feature located near the Galactic centre that we identify as an energetic pulsar wind nebula. This feature, G359.95-0.04, lies 1-lyr north of Sgr A* (in projection), is comet like in shape, and has a power-law spectrum that steepens with increasing distance from the putative pulsar. The distinct spectral and spatial X-ray characteristics of the feature are similar to those belonging to the rare class of ram-pressure confined pulsar wind nebulae. The luminosity of the nebula at the distance of Sgr A*, consistent with the inferred X-ray absorptions, is   L_x ∼ 1 × 10³⁴ erg s⁻¹  in the 2–10 keV energy band. The cometary tail extends back to a region centred at the massive stellar complex IRS 13 and surrounded by an enhanced diffuse X-ray emission, which may represent an associated supernova remnant. Furthermore, the inverse Compton scattering of the strong ambient radiation by the nebula consistently explains the observed TeV emission from the Galactic centre. We also briefly discuss plausible connections of G359.95-0.04 to other high-energy sources in the region, such as the young stellar complexes IRS 13 and SNR Sgr A East.     

The mass of the neutron star in the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J 1012 + 5307

We have measured the radial velocity variation of the white dwarf secondary in the binary system containing the millisecond pulsar PSR J 1012 + 5307. Combined with the orbital parameters of the radio pulsar, we infer a mass ratio q (≡ M ₁/ M ₂) = 10.5 ± 0.5. Our optical spectroscopy has also allowed us to determine the mass of the white dwarf companion by fitting the spectrum to a grid of DA model atmospheres: we estimate M ₂ = 0.16 ± 0.02 M⊙, and hence the mass of the neutron star is 1.64 ± 0.22 M⊙, where the error is dominated by that of M ₂. The orbital inclination is 52 ± 4°. For an initial neutron star mass of ∼ 1.4 M⊙, only a few tenths of a solar mass at most has been successfully accreted over the lifetime of the progenitor low-mass X-ray binary. If the initial mass of the secondary was ∼ 1 M⊙, our result suggests that the mass transfer may have been non-conservative.     

X-ray observations of PSR B0355+54 and its pulsar wind nebula

We present X-ray data of the middle-aged radio pulsar PSR B0355+54. The XMM-Newton and Chandra observations show not only emission from the pulsar itself, but also compact diffuse emission extending ∼50″ in the opposite direction to the pulsar’s proper motion. Our analysis also indicates the presence of fainter diffuse emission extending ∼5′ from the point source. The morphology of the diffuse component is similar to the ram-pressure confined pulsar wind nebulae detected for other sources. We find that the compact diffuse component is well-fitted with a power-law, with an index that is consistent with the values found for other pulsar wind nebulae. The core emission from the pulsar can be characterized with a thermal plus power-law fit, with the thermal emission most likely originating in a hot polar cap.     

The steady spin-down rate of 4U 1907+09

Using X-ray data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer , we report the pulse timing results of the accretion-powered, high-mass X-ray binary pulsar 4U 1907+09, covering a time-span of almost two years. We measured three new pulse periods in addition to the previously measured four pulse periods. We are able to connect pulse arrival times in phase for more than a year. The source has been spinning down almost at a constant rate, with a spin-down rate of     for more than 15 yr. Residuals of pulse arrival times yield a very low level of random-walk noise, with a strength of ∼     on a time-scale of 383 d, which is 40 times lower than that of the high-mass X-ray binary pulsar Vela X-1. The noise strength is only a factor of 5 greater than that of the low-mass X-ray binary pulsar 4U 1626−67. The low level of the timing noise and the very stable spin-down rate of 4U 1907+09 make this source unique among the high-mass X-ray binary pulsars, providing another example, in addition to 4U 1626−67, of long-term quiet spin down from an accreting source. These examples show that the extended quiet spin-down episodes observed in the anomalous X-ray pulsars 1RXS J170849.0−400910 and 1E 2259+586 do not necessarily imply that these sources are not accreting pulsars.     

A model for the millisecond pulsar PSR 1937+214

We suggest a model for the millisecond pulsar 1937+214, according to which the immediate progenitor of the pulsar was a binary consisting of two neutron stars of unequal mass. The heavier neutron star was spun up by the transfer of angular momentum from the orbit, and the lighter neutron star was tidally disrupted, leaving behind a millisecond pulsar.     

Compact models with regular charge distributions

We model a compact relativistic body with anisotropic pressures in the presence of an electric field. The equation of state is barotropic, with a linear relationship between the radial pressure and the energy density. Simple exact models of the Einstein–Maxwell equations are generated. A graphical analysis indicates that the matter and electromagnetic variables are well behaved. In particular, the proper charge density is regular for certain parameter values at the stellar center unlike earlier anisotropic models in the presence of charge. We show that the electric field affects the mass of stellar objects and the observed mass for a particular binary pulsar is regained. Our models contain previous results of anisotropic charged matter with a linear equation of state for special parameter values.     

The Nature of AX J0051-733 in the SMC: A Pulsar Born with Ultrastrong Magnetic Field?

We investigate the nature of the pulsar of the Be/X-ray binary, AX J0051-733. Although the system has a very short orbital period, it meets the basic definition of Be/X-ray binaries. We argue that, in order to interpret such a short orbital period, the initial magnetic field strength of the pulsar must be between 4.2×10¹³–5×10¹⁵ G, if typical values of the parameters chosen. Thus, the pulsar was most likely born as a magnetar. We further suggest that magnetar descendants can also be found among the massive X-ray binaries with extremely short-orbit periods, in addition to among the X-ray binaries with very long pulse periods.     

The first results of observations of the transient pulsar SAX J2103.5+4545 by the INTEGRAL observatory

We present the preliminary results of our analysis of the observations of the X-ray pulsar SAX J2103.5+4545 by the INTEGRAL Observatory in December 2002. We mapped this region of the sky in a wide energy range, from 3 to 200 keV. The detection of the source is shown to be significant up to energies of ～100 keV. The hard X-ray flux in the energy range 15–100 keV is variable and presumably depends on the orbital phase. We show that the shape of the pulsar spectrum and its parameters derived from 18–150-keV IBIS data are compatible with the RXTE observations of the source.