Search for possible connections between isolated radio pulsars and supernova remnants

We have developed a method of searching for the connections between the isolated radio pulsars and supernova remnants, based on the analysis of their kinematic characteristics. We investigate fairly young (τ _ch ≲ 10⁶ yr) radio pulsars with known proper motions and estimated distances (dispersion measures), and supernova remnants located no more than 1–2 kpc away from them. Using a standard empirical radial velocity distribution, we have constructed 100–200 thousand trajectories for each of these pulsars, tracing back their possible motion in the Galactic gravitational field on a time-scale of a few million years. The probabilities of their close encounters with the SNRs at epochs consistent with the age of the pulsar are analyzed. When these probabilities exceed considerably their reference values, obtained by assuming a purely random encounter between the objects, we conclude that the pulsars may have originated in the SNRs under consideration. Out of eight preselected pairs of pulsar-SNR association candidates, two pairs, J 1829-1751 / G16.2-2.7 and J 1833-0827 / G24.7-0.6 may have a common origin with a high probability.     

Pulsars: Space kinematic characteristics and their connection with supernova remnants

The galactic distribution of pulsars and shell remnants of supernovae (SN) as investigated on the basis of newly-estimated parameters. Special attention was paid to taking into account all possible selection effects and an attempt was made to reveal a statistically-pure ensemble of objects. On the basis of this ensemble we studied the radial andz-distribution of pulsars and supernova remnants (SNR).It is shown that the radial distribution of both objects is considered to have an annular structure with the maximum surface density at a distance of 4.5–5.3 kpc (if the distance of the Sun from the galactic centre is assumed to be equal to 8.5 kpc). The scle-height of the progenitors of SNRs is not more than 110 pc and only 15% of the SNRs, whose progenitors may also be massive runaway stars, are situated at 300 pc. The mean application of the pulsars is not more than 300 pc which agrees with the hypothesis about the genetic connection with type-II SN outbursts at the kinematic aget _k5×10⁶ yr and thez-component of spatial velocity beingV _z=120 km s^–1.The possible precursors of type-I SNRs by the shape of their radial distribution in late spirals and the various model calculations given in the literature, are also discussed.     

Relation of pulsars to the remnants of supernova bursts

Based on a large volume of statistical data it is shown that the spatial distributions of radio pulsars in the galaxy with characteristic ages T ≤ 10 ⁶ years and T > 10⁶ years differ significantly. The overwhelming majority of the pulsars with T ≤ 10 ⁶ years lie within a narrow band of width 400 pc around the galactic plane. A large portion of the pulsars with T > 10⁶ years is concentrated outside this zone. In the case of younger pulsars, a larger fraction of them lies within the confines of the above mentioned zone. It is also shown that pulsars with T ≤ 10 ⁶ years and the remnants of supernova explosions have essentially the same spatial distribution. These facts support the existence of a relationship between pulsars and supernova remnants, as well as the acquisition of high spatial velocities by pulsars during their birth. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 103–110 (February 2006).     

Limiting polarization effect—a key link in investigating the mean profiles of radio pulsars

Using a well-known method for calculating the propagation of waves in an inhomogeneous medium, we have managed to reduce the problem of wave propagation in pulsar magnetospheres to a system of two ordinary differential equations that allow the polarization characteristics of the radio emission to be quantitatively described for any magnetic field structure and an arbitrary density profile of the outflowing plasma. We confirm that for ordinary pulsars (period P ∼ 1 s, magnetic field B ₀ ∼ 10¹² G, particle production multiplicity parameter λ ∼ 10⁴), the polarization is formed inside the light cylinder at a distance of the order of a thousand neutron star radii. For reasonable magnetic field strengths and plasma densities on the emission propagation path, the degree of circular polarization is found to be ∼5–20%, in good agreement with observations.     

Associations of very high energy gamma-ray sources discovered by H.E.S.S. with pulsar wind nebulae

The H.E.S.S. array of imaging Cherenkov telescopes has discovered a number of previously unknown γ-ray sources in the very high energy (VHE) domain above 100 GeV. The good angular resolution of H.E.S.S. (∼0.1° per event), as well as its sensitivity (a few percent of the Crab Nebula flux) and wide 5° field of view, allow a much better constrained search for counterparts in comparison to previous instruments. In several cases, the association of the VHE sources revealed by H.E.S.S. with pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) is supported by a combination of positional and morphological evidence, multi-wavelength observations, and plausible PWN model parameters. These include the plerions in the composite supernova remnants G 0.9+0.1 and MSH 15–52, the recently discovered Vela X nebula, two new sources in the Kookaburra complex, and the association of HESS J1825–137 with PSR B1823–13. The properties of these better-established associations are reviewed. A number of other sources discovered by H.E.S.S. are located near high spin-down power pulsars, but the evidence for association is less complete. These possible associations are also discussed, in the context of the available multi-wavelength data and plausible PWN scenarios. For the H.E.S.S. Collaboration     

Lense-thirring precession of radio pulsars

It is shown that if neutron stars contain dynamically de-coupled components, most plausibly discrete superfluid zones, then it is possible for the spin axes of these components o become slightly misaligned with respect to the crustal spin following a series of glitches. The crust will then undergo Lense-Thirring precession about the total angular moment with a period of ∼ 6–7.5P (assuming a crustal superfluid) and ∼ 3–6P (if the core superfluid is not tightly coupled to the crust). The precise precessional period is diagnostic of the mass distribution within each component. The implications of recent observational inferences concerning glitching pulsars are discussed. The conditions necessary for precession to be observable are analysed phenomenologically and a search of pulse-timing data for evidence of a Lense-Thirring modulation within the period range ∼ 3–8P is proposed.     

On the morphology of supernova remnants with pulsars

One of the intriguing aspects of supernova remnants is their morphology. While the majority of them look like hollow shells, a few, called plerions, are centrally filled like the Crab nebula, and some have a shell-plerion combination morphology. The centrally-filled component in these remnants is believed to be powered by a central pulsar. In this paper we present results of model calculations of the evolution of surface brightness and morphology of supernova remnants containing pulsars. We discuss how the morphology of a supernova remnant will depend on the velocity of expansion, the density of the ambient medium into which it is expanding, and the initial period and magnetic field strength of the central pulsar     

Braking index diagnostics of pulsars. I. alignment,Counteralignment and slowing-down noise

We show that the strong correlation observed between the braking indices (n) and the slowing-down ages (Τ) of pulsars is inconsistent with counteralignment between their rotation and magnetic axes, but that the data on pulsars with positive braking indices is consistent with alignment. Alternatively, slowing-down noise can quantitatively account for the data on all pulsars except the Crab and the Vela, and so for the apparent|n| ∼ Τ² correlation observed for the older pulsars.     

Scenarios for the formation of binary and millisecond pulsars – A critical assessment

The evolution of high-and low-mass X-ray binaries (HMXB and LMXB) into different types of binary radio pulsars, the ‘high-mass binary pulsars’(HMBP) and ‘low-mass binary pulsars’ (LMBP) is discussed. The HMXB evolve either into Thorne-Zytkow objects or into short-period binaries consisting of a helium star plus a neutron star (or a black hole), resembling Cygnus X-3. The latter systems evolve (with or without a second common-envelope phase) into close binary pulsars, in which the companion of the pulsar may be a massive white dwarf, a neutron star or a black hole ( some final systems may also consist of two black holes). A considerable fraction of the systems may also be disrupted in the second supernova explosion. We discuss the possible reasons why the observed numbers of double neutron stars and of systems like Cyg X-3 are several orders of magnitude lower than theoretically predicted. It is argued that the observed systems form the tip of an iceberg of much larger populations of unobserved systems, some of which may become observable in the future. As to the LMBP, we consider in some detail the origins of systems with orbital periods in the range 1–20 days. We show that to explain their existence, losses of orbital angular momentum (e.g., by magnetic braking) and in a number of cases: also of mass, have to be taken into account. The masses of the low-mass white dwarf companions in these systems can be predicted accurately. We notice a clear correlation between spin period and orbital period for these systems, as well as a clear correlation between pulsar magnetic field strength and orbital period. These relations strongly suggest that increased amounts of mass accreted by the neutron stars lead to increased decay of their magnetic fields: we suggest a simple way to understand the observed value of the ‘bottom’ field strengths of a few times 10⁸ G. Furthermore, we find that the LMBP-systems in which the pulsar has a strong magnetic field (> 10¹¹ G) have an about two orders of magnitude larger birth rate (i.e., about 4 × 10^-4 yr^-1 in the Galaxy) than the systems with millisecond pulsars (which have B < 10⁹ G). Using the observational fact that neutron stars receive a velocity kick of ∼450 km/s at birth, we find that some 90% of the potential progenitor systems of the strong-field LMBP must have been disrupted in the Supernovae in which their neutron stars were formed. Hence, the formation rate of the progenitors of the strong-field LMBP is of the same order as the galactic supernova rate (4 × 10^-3 yr^-1). This implies that a large fraction of all Supernovae take place in binaries with a close low-mass (< 2.3 M⊙) companion.     

Spatial Distribution of Pulsars

The spatial distributions of pulsars with ages of less than 10⁶ years and more than 10⁶ years are shown to be quite different. The spatial distributions of pulsars with ages of less than 106 years and of the remnants of supernova outbursts are essentially the same. They lie near the galactic plane in a thin zone of width 400 pc. The overwhelming majority of pulsars with ages exceeding 106 years lie outside this zone. These facts suggest a genetic relationship between pulsars and supernova remnants. The spatial distribution of pulsars with different emission periods also supports this point.     

MMIV: de SGR 1806–20 Anno Mirabili

On 27th December 2004 SGR 1806–20, one of the most active Soft γ-ray Repeaters (SGRs), displayed an extremely rare event, also known as giant flare, during which up to 10⁴⁷ ergs were released in the ∼1–1000 keV range in less than 1 s. Before and after the giant flare we carried out IR observations by using adaptive optics (NAOS-CONICA) mounted on VLT which provided images of unprecedented quality (FWHM better than 0.1″). We discovered the likely IR counterpart to SGR 1806–20 based on positional coincidence with the VLA uncertainty region and flux variability of a factor of about 2 correlated with that at higher energies. Moreover, by analysing the Rossi-XTE/PCA data we have discovered rapid Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) in the pulsating tail of the 27th December 2004 giant flare of SGR 1806–20. QPOs at ∼92.5 Hz are detected in a 50 s interval starting 170 s after the onset of the giant flare. These QPOs appear to be associated with increased emission by a relatively hard unpulsed component and are seen only over phases of the 7.56 s spin period pulsations away from the main peak. QPOs at ∼18 and ∼30 Hz are also detected ∼200–300 s after the onset of the giant flare. This is the first time that QPOs are unambiguously detected in the flux of a Soft Gamma-ray Repeater, or any other isolated neutron star. We interpret the highest QPOs in terms of the coupling of toroidal seismic modes with Alfvén waves propagating along magnetospheric field lines. The lowest frequency QPO might instead provide indirect evidence on the strength of the internal magnetic field of the neutron star.      

Hard X-ray emission from the SNR G337.2+0.1

We report hard X-ray emission of the non-thermal supernova remnant G337.2+0.1. The source presents centrally filled and diffuse X-ray emission. A spectral study confirms that the column density of the central part of the object is about N _H∼5.9(±1.5)×10²² cm⁻² and its X-ray spectrum is well represented by a single power-law with a photon index Γ=0.96±0.56. Detailed spectral analysis indicates that the outer region is highly absorbed and quite softer than the inner region. Characteristics already observed in other well-known X-ray plerions. Based on the gathered information, we confirm the SNR nature of G337.2+0.1, and suggest that the central region of the source is a pulsar wind nebula (PWN), originated by an energetic though yet undetected pulsar.     

Models for the formation of binary and millisecond radio pulsars

The peculiar combination of a relatively short pulse period and a relatively weak surface dipole magnetic field strength of binary radio pulsars finds a consistent explanation in terms of (i) decay of the surface dipole component of neutron-star magnetic fields on a timescale of (2–5) × 10⁶ yr, in combination with (ii) spin-up of the rotation of the neutron star during a subsequent mass-transfer phase. The four known binary radio pulsars appear to fall into two different categories. Two of them, PSR 0655 + 64 and PSR 1913 + 16, have short orbital periods (<25 h) and high mass functions, indicating companion masses 0.7M⊙ (∼1 (± 0.3) M⊙ and 1.4 M⊙, respectively). The other two, PSR 0820 + 02 and PSR 1953 + 29, have long orbital periods (117d), nearly circular orbits, and low, almost identical mass functions of about 3×10^-3 M⊙, suggesting companion masses of about 0.3M⊙. It is pointed out that these two classes of systems are expected to be formed by the later evolution of binaries consisting of a neutron star and a normal companion star, in which the companion was (considerably) more massive than the neutron star, or less massive than the neutron star, respectively. In the first case the companion of the neutron star in the final system will be a massive white dwarf, in a circular orbit, or a neutron star in an eccentric orbit. In the second case the final companion to the neutron star will be a low-mass (∼ 0.3 M⊙) helium white dwarf in a wide and nearly circular orbit. In systems of the second type the neutron star was most probably formed by the accretion-induced collapse of a white dwarf. This explains in a natural way why PSR 1953 + 29 has a millisecond rotation period and PSR 0820 + 02 has not. Among the binary models proposed for the formation of the 1.5-millisecond pulsar, the only ones that appear to be viable are those in which the companion disappeared by coalescence with the neutron star. In such models the companion may have been a red dwarf of mass 0.03M⊙, a neutron star, or a massive (>0.7M⊙) white dwarf. Only in the last-mentioned case is a position of the pulsar close to the galactic plane a natural consequence. In the first-mentioned case the progenitor system most probably was a cataclysmic-variable binary in which the white dwarf collapsed by accretion.     

On the pulsar distribution in the solar neighborhood

The spatial distribution of pulsars in the solar neighborhood is investigated on the basis of the recent catalog of Taylor, Manchester, and Lyne. It is shown that “old” pulsars with an age τ > 2.10⁶ yr, like “young ” ones, are indicators of fragments of the Galaxy’s spiral structure. It is concluded that if the distance scale adopted in the catalog is accurate, the peculiar velocities of the pulsars with the most accurate distances must be far lower than those adopted up to now. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 245–250, April-June, 1998.     

A possible explanation of photon emission from supernova remnants by jitter radiation

We investigate a possibility that non-thermal X-ray emission in a supernova remnant(SNR) is produced by jitter radiation, which is the analogue of synchrotron radiation in small-scale random magnetic fields. We can fit the multi-wavelength data of SNRs RX J1713.7-3946 (G347.3-0.5) and RX J0852.0-4622 (G266.6-1.2) by constructing pure jitter and inverse Compton (IC) emission models. We find that the physical fit parameters of random magnetic fields take values of several tens of μG strength and of the order of ∼10⁷ cm correlation length. These properties of random magnetic fields in collisionless shock of SNRs are discussed.      

The drift model of “magnetars”

It is shown that the drift waves near the light cylinder can cause the modulation of emission with periods of order several seconds. These periods explain the intervals between successive pulses observed in AXPs, SGRs and radio pulsars with long periods. The model under consideration gives the possibility to calculate real rotation periods P of host neutron stars. It is shown that P≤1 s for the investigated objects. The magnetic fields at the surface of the neutron star are of order 10¹¹–10¹³ G and equal to the fields usual for the known radio pulsars.      

Meteoritic Impacts and Climatic Changes in Pliocene–Pleistocene Epoch

During the Pliocene–Pleistocene epoch, covering last ∼5.2 Ma of Earth’s history, altogether 34 terrestrial meteoritic impact craters are known. Most of these craters (29) have diameter ≤10 km, among which 11 craters fall in 1,000 to 100 m range, and 7 are still smaller in dimension and of recent age. The age versus impact-frequency plot shows that the meteoritic impacts during this time period occurred in discrete intervals but have a periodicity that shows the best possible coincidence with the ∼425 Ky climatic cycles observed by Fourier analysis and FFT filtering of composite high resolution benthic foraminiferal δ¹⁸O record. This observation is also supported by Monte Carlo test with 71% success where meteoritic impact(s) shows coincidence with climatic cooling within our error limit. The newly observed climatic–meteoritic cycle may be same with the ∼400 Ky Milankovitch cycle or it is a different newly understood cycle relating both the climatic variation and meteoritic impact events.     

HST/NICMOS Observations of M82

The irregular galaxy M82 is known as the archetypal starburst galaxy. Its proximity (3.5 Mpc) makes this galaxy an ideal laboratory for studying the properties of its starburst. The detailed morphology of the [FeII] 1.644 μm and emission Pa_α (at 1.87 μm) is revealed by the NICMOS images. The peak of the 2.2 μm continuum brightness(evolved population) lies very close to the dynamical centre. Most of the Pa_α emission (which traces the young population) is distributed in a ring of star formation (with a `hole' lacking line emission at the centre of the galaxy). These observations support the scenario in which the starburst in M82 is propagating outwards. It has long been suggested that the [FeII] emission in starburst galaxies can be used as a measure of supernova (SN) activity. M82 shows a large number of radio supernova remnants (SNRs), approximately 50, lying in the plane of the galaxy. The comparison of the positions of the bright compact [FeII] emitting regions with the location of the radio SNRs shows that there is no one-to-one spatial correspondence between the two emissions, suggesting that the radio and [FeII] emissions trace two populations of SNRs with different ages. Young (a few hundred years) SNRs are best traced by their radio emission, whereas the [FeII] stage lasts for at least a few 10⁴ yr. The compact [FeII] sources contribute only some 20 % of the total [FeII] emission observed in M82. However, much of the remaining unresolved [FeII] emission in the plane of the galaxy may arise from SNRs that expanded and merged into a general interstellar medium within a few 10⁴ yr. Presumably, as much as 70% of the total extinction-corrected [FeII]1.644 μm in M82 is associated with SNRs. The extended and diffuse [FeII] component in M82 seems to be related with the superwind above and below the disc of the galaxy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Distribution of free electrons in the galactic plane

A method is proposed for constructing a map of the electron density distribution in the galactic plane. Data on the dispersion measures DM of more than 1500 pulsars and their distances, found by an independent method, are used. The independent distances of the pulsars are estimated using an empirical relation of the form L=γP ^α Ṗ ^β W ^δ between the radio luminosity L of the pulsars and their periods P, the rate of change Ṗ. of their periods, and the half width W of their pulses. A map of the electron density distribution in the galactic plane within a ±400 pc layer is provided. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 277–287 (May 2006).     

WR 140 (=V1687 Cyg): Infrared photometry, 2001–2010

We present the results of our infrared observations of WR 140 (=V1687 Cyg) in 2001–2010. Analysis of the observations has shown that the J brightness at maximum increased near the periastron by about 0 ^m .3; the M brightness increased by ∼2 ^m in less than 50 days. The minimum J brightness and the minimum L and M brightnesses were observed 550–600 and 1300–1400 days after the maximum, respectively. The JHKLM brightness minimum was observed in the range of orbital phases 0.7–0.9. The parameters of the primary O5 component of the binary have been estimated to be the following: R(O5) ≈ 24.7R _⊙, L(O5) ≈ 8 × 10⁵ L _⊙, and M _bol(O5) ≈ −10 ^m . At the infrared brightness minimum, T _g ∼ 820–880 K, R _g ≈ 2.6 × 10⁵ R _⊙, the optical depth of the shell at 3.5 μm is ∼5.3 × 10⁻⁶, and its mass is ≈1.4 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙. At the maximum, the corresponding parameters are ∼1300 K, 8.6 × 10⁴ R _⊙, ∼2 × 10⁻⁴, and ∼6 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙; the mean rate of dust inflow (condensation) into the dust structure is ∼3.3 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙ yr⁻¹. The mean escape velocity of the shell from the heating source is ∼10³ km s⁻¹ and the mean dispersal rate of the shell is ∼1.1 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙ yr⁻¹.