Ultraviolet emission from young and middle-aged pulsars

We present the UV spectroscopy and timing of three nearby pulsars (Vela, B0656+14 and Geminga) recently observed with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. We also review the optical and X-ray properties of these pulsars and establish their connection with the UV properties. We show that the multiwavelengths properties of neutron stars (NSs) vary significantly within the sample of middle-aged pulsars. Even larger differences are found between the thermal components of Geminga and B0656+14 as compared to those of radio-quiet isolated NSs. These differences could be attributed to different properties of the NS surface layers. This work was supported by STScI grants GO-9182 and GO-9797 and NASA grant NAG5-10865.     

Open cluster ASCC21 as a probable birthplace of the neutron star Geminga

We analyze the encounters of the neutron star (pulsar) Geminga with open star clusters in the OB association Ori OB1a through the integration of epicyclic orbits into the past by taking into account the errors in the data. The open cluster ASCC21 is shown to be the most probable birthplace of either a single progenitor star for the Geminga pulsar or a binary progenitor system that subsequently broke up. Monte Carlo simulations of Geminga-ASCC21 encounters with the pulsar radial velocity V _r = ?100±50 km s^?1 have shown that close encounters could occur between them within ≤10 pc at about t = ?0.52 Myr. In addition, the trajectory of the neutron star Geminga passes at a distance of ≈25 pc from the center of the compact OB association λ Ori at about t = ?0.39 Myr, which is close to the age of the pulsar estimated from its timing.     

脉冲星Geminga MeV 脉冲辐射证据

利用直接解调方法分析COMPTELVPI数据,得到了脉冲星Geminga10-30MeV脉冲辐射存在的证据：全位相及分位相成像均得到了Geminga．分位相成像结果显示,光变曲线的峰值位于pulse1附近,而其它位相区域只能给出上限．由于成像分析不存在选择效应,该成像结果表明,Geminga在MeV能区仍存在脉冲辐射．虽然Geminga的弱MeV辐射使得很难就VP1数据作时间分析,但仍得到了一些周期信号的迹象,并且与成像结果不相矛盾．进一步考察EGRET观测Geminga在30MeV以上的强度比Pulse2／Pulse1,发现在VP1观测的较低能区,Pulse1有渐强于Pulse2的趋势,这和我们在MeV能区的成像及时间分析结果相一致．成像得到的流强表明,Geminga的能谱至少在10MeV以上不应出现偏折．     

Measuring the proper motion of the pulsar Geminga using γ-ray data

We have measured the right ascension of Geminga at different epochs by comparing the absolute phases between the different γ-ray observations. These values show that the right-ascension component of the proper motion of Geminga is 0.226±0.03 arcsec per year, which is consistent with that of G″, the most probable optical counterpart, thus independently confirming the correspondence between G″ and Geminga.     

Search for TeV gamma-rays from Geminga pulsar

We present the results of observation of the Geminga pulsar carried out in the TeV energy band during the 6 year period spanning 2000–2006 using the Pachmarhi Array of Cherenkov Telescopes (PACT). A long stretch of data, new computer codes and the “Tempo” package have been used in the present analysis. We have searched for evidence of pulsed emission of γ-rays from the Geminga pulsar using the post-glitch pulsar elements obtained by Jackson and Halpern from X-ray/γ-ray satellite data. We do not see any significant evidence for pulsed emission from the Geminga pulsar at a threshold energy of 825 GeV. In this paper we present our results on the light curve in the TeV energy band, set an upper limit on the time averaged flux of γ-rays, and compare our results with other ground based observations.     

利用γ射线数据测量Geminga脉冲星的自行

通过比较不同观测中Ｇｅｍｉｎｇａ脉冲星的γ射线绝对位相，测量出了不同时间Ｇｅｍｉｎｇａ的位置。这些位置表明Ｇｅｍｉｎｇａ自行的赤经分量为０．２２６±０．０３弧秒／年，与它的一个最可能的光学对应体Ｇ″的自行相一致，从而独立地确定了Ｇ″与Ｇｅｍｉｎｇａ之间的对应关系。     

Gamma-ray pulsars: the pulse profiles and phase-resolved spectra of Geminga

We present a calculation of a three-dimensional pulsar magnetosphere model to explain high-energy emission from the Geminga pulsar with a thick outer gap. High-energy γ -rays are produced by primary accelerated particles with a power-law energy distribution through curvature radiation inside the outer gap. We also calculate the emission pattern, pulse profile and phase-resolved spectra of high-energy γ -rays of the Geminga pulsar, and find that its pulse profile is consistent with the observed one if the magnetic inclination and viewing angle are ∼50° and ∼86° respectively. We describe the relative phases among soft (thermal) X-rays, hard (non-thermal) X-rays, and γ -rays. Our results indicate that X-ray and γ -ray emission from the Geminga pulsar may be explained by the single thick outer gap model. Finally, we discuss the implications of the radio and optical emission of the Geminga pulsar.     

On the radio-frequency emission from the Geminga pulsar

The famous neutron star Geminga was until quite lately the only pulsar undetected in the radio regime, though observed as a strong pulsating γ- and X-ray source. Three independent groups from the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory (Russia) reported recently the detection of pulsed radio emission from Geminga at 102.5 MHz, i.e., the first detection of the radio pulsar PSR J0633 + 1746 by Kuz'min &38; Losovskii, Malofeev &38; Malov and Shitov &38; Pugachev. This pulsar exhibits the weakest radio luminosity known. Its average pulse profile appears to be very wide, filling an entire 360° pulse window according to Kuz'min &38; Losovskii.   We present a model explaining the peculiarities of the Geminga radio pulsar, based on the assumption that it is an almost aligned rotator. The electromagnetic waves generated in the inner magnetosphere reach the region within the light cylinder with a weak magnetic field (at distances of a few light cylinder radii), where they are strongly damped due to the cyclotron resonance with particles of magnetospheric electron–positron plasma. The lowest frequencies that can escape are determined by the value of the magnetic field in the region where the line of sight passes through the light cylinder. The specific viewing geometry of an almost aligned rotator implies that the observer's line of sight probes the emission region near the bundle of the last open field lines. This explains the unusually weak emission from Geminga's low-frequency radio pulsar.