arXiv subjects

A. G. Lyne

Publications and source records attributed to A. G. Lyne.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

arXiv2001

SNR G292.2-0.5: A Radio Supernova Remnant Associated with the Young Pulsar J1119-6127

We report on Australia Telescope Compact Array observations in the direction of the young high-magnetic-field radio pulsar PSR J1119-6127. In the resulting images we identify a non-thermal radio shell of diameter 15 arcminutes, which we classify as a previously uncataloged young supernova remnant (SNR), G292.2-0.5. This SNR is positionally coincident with PSR J1119-6127, and we conclude that the two objects are physically associated. No radio emission is detected from any pulsar wind nebula (PWN) associated with the pulsar; our observed upper limits are consistent with the expectation that high-magnetic-field pulsars produce radio nebulae which fade rapidly. This system suggests a possible explanation for the lack of associated radio pulsars and/or PWNe in many SNRs.

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arXiv2001

Orbital variability of the PSR J2051-0827 Binary System

We have carried out high-precision timing measurements of the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J2051$-$0827 with the Effelsberg 100-m radio telescope of the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie and with the Lovell 76-m radio telescope at Jodrell Bank. The 6.5-yrs radio timing measurements have revealed a significant secular variation of the projected semi-major axis of the pulsar at a rate of $\dot x\equiv d(a_{\rm 1} \sin i)/dt = (-0.23\pm 0.03)\times 10^{-12}$, which is probably caused by the Newtonian spin-orbit coupling in this binary system leading to a precession of the orbital plane. The required misalignment of the spin and orbital angular momenta of the companion are evidence for an asymmetric supernova explosion. We have also confirmed that the orbital period is currently decreasing at a rate of $\dot P_{\rm b}=(-15.5 \pm 0.8)\times 10^{-12}$s s$^{-1}$ and have measured second and third orbital period derivatives $d^2P_{\rm b}/dt^2=(+2.1 \pm 0.3)\times 10^{-20} {\rm s^{-1}}$ and $d^3P_{\rm b}/dt^3 =(3.6 \pm 0.6)\times 10^{-28} {\rm s^{-2}}$, which indicate a quasi-cyclic orbital period variation similar to those found in another eclipsing pulsar system, PSR B1957+20. The observed variation of the orbital parameters constrains the maximal value of the companion radius to $R_{\rm c max} \sim 0.06 R_{\odot}$ and implies that the companion is underfilling its Roche lobe by 50 %. The derived variation in the quadrupole moment of the companion is probably caused by tidal dissipation similar to the mechanism proposed for PSR B1957+20. We conclude that the companion is at least partially non-degenerate, convective and magnetically active.

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arXiv2001

Anomalous scattering of highly dispersed pulsars

We report multifrequency measurements of scatter broadening times for nine highly dispersed pulsars over a wide frequency range (0.6 -- 4.9 GHz). We find the scatter broadening times to be larger than expected and to scale with frequency with an average power-law index of $3.44\pm 0.13$, i.e. significantly less than that expected from standard theories. Such possible discrepancies have been predicted very recently by Cordes & Lazio.

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arXiv2001

Pulsar Timing at Urumqi Astronomical Observatory: Observing System and Results

A pulsar timing system has been operating in the 18-cm band at the Urumqi Astronomical Observatory 25-m telescope since mid-1999. Frequency resolution allowing dedispersion of the pulsar signals is provided by a 2X128X2.5 MHz filterbank/digitiser system. Observations of 74 pulsars over more than 12 months have resulted in updated pulsar periods and period derivatives, as well as improved positions. Comparison with previous measurements showed that the changes in period and period derivative tend to have the same sign and to be correlated in amplitude. A model based on unseen glitches gives a good explanation of the observed changes, suggesting that long-term fluctuations in period and period derivatives are dominated by glitches. In 2000 July, we detected a glitch of relative amplitude Delta_nu/nu~24X1e-9 in the Crab pulsar. The post-glitch decay appears similar to other large Crab glitches.

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arXiv2001

Simultaneous single-pulse observations of radio pulsars: I. The polarization characteristics of PSR B0329+54

We present the first results from a programme of multi-frequency simultaneous single pulse observations carried out as part of the European Pulsar Network. We detail the main data analysis methods and apply them to simultaneous observations of the strong pulsar B0329+54 at 1.4 and 2.7 GHz using the Jodrell Bank and Effelsberg radio telescopes respectively. The pulses at different frequencies are highly correlated in their total intensity, as seen in previous experiments, and generally show consistent position angles of the linearly polarized component. In contrast, the circularly polarized emission sometimes shows clear differences between pulses received at different frequencies. These results are unexpected and warrant further follow-up studies to interpret them in the context of the intrinsic bandwidth of pulsar radiation.

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arXiv2001

A blind HI survey of the M81 group

Results are presented of the first blind HI survey of the M81 group of galaxies. The data were taken as part of the HI Jodrell All Sky Survey (HIJASS). The survey reveals several new aspects to the complex morphology of the HI distribution in the group. All four of the known dwarf irregular (dIrr) galaxies close to M81 can be unambiguously seen in the HIJASS data. Each forms part of the complex tidal structure in the area. We suggest that at least three of these galaxies may have formed recently from the tidal debris in which they are embedded. The structure connecting M81 to NGC2976 is revealed as a single tidal bridge of mass approx. 2.1 x 10^8 Msol and projected spatial extent approx. 80 kpc. Two `spurs' of HI projecting from the M81 complex to lower declinations are traced over a considerably larger spatial and velocity extent than by previous surveys. The dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies BK5N and Kar 64 lie at the spatial extremity of one of these features and appear to be associated with it. We suggest that these may be the remnants of dIrrs which has been stripped of gas and transmuted into dEs by close gravitational encounters with NGC3077. The nucleated dE galaxy Kar 61 is unambiguously detected in HI for the first time and has an HI mass of approx.10^8 Msol, further confirming it as a dE/dIrr transitional object. HIJASS has revealed one new possible group member, HIJASS J1021+6842. This object contains approx. 2 x 10^7 Msol of HI and lies approx.105arcmin from IC2574. It has no optical counterpart on the Digital Sky Survey.

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arXiv2001

An eclipsing millisecond pulsar with a possible main-sequence companion in NGC 6397

We present the results of one year of pulse timing observations of PSR J1740-5340, an eclipsing millisecond pulsar located in the globular cluster NGC 6397. We have obtained detailed orbital parameters and a precise position for the pulsar. The radio pulsar signal shows frequent interactions with the atmosphere of the companion, and suffers significant and strongly variable delays and intensity variations over a wide range of orbital phases. These characteristics and the binary parameters indicate that the companion may be a bloated main-sequence star or the remnant (still filling its Roche lobe) of the star that spun up the pulsar. In both cases, this would be the first binary millisecond pulsar system with such a companion.

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arXiv2001

Detection of ionized gas in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae

We report the detection of ionized intracluster gas in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae. Pulsars in this cluster with a negative period derivative, which must lie in the distant half of the cluster, have significantly higher measured integrated electron column densities than the pulsars with a positive period derivative. We derive the plasma density within the central few pc of the cluster using two different methods which yield consistent values. Our best estimate of n_e = (0.067+-0.015)/cm^3 is about 100 times the free electron density of the ISM in the vicinity of 47 Tucanae, and the ionized gas is probably the dominant component of the intracluster medium.

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arXiv2001

PSR J1016-5857: a young radio pulsar with possible supernova remnant, X-ray, and gamma-ray associations

We report the discovery of a young and energetic pulsar in the Parkes multibeam survey of the Galactic plane. PSR J1016-5857 has a rotation period of 107 ms and period derivative of 8e-14, implying a characteristic age of 21 kyr and spin-down luminosity of 2.6e36 erg/s. The pulsar is located just outside, and possibly interacting with, the shell supernova remnant G284.3-1.8. Archival X-ray data show a source near the pulsar position which is consistent with emission from a pulsar wind nebula. The pulsar is also located inside the error box of the unidentified EGRET source 3EG J1013-5915, for which it represents a plausible counterpart.

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arXiv2001

The Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey: I. Observing and Data Analysis Systems, Discovery and Timing of 100 Pulsars

The Parkes multibeam pulsar survey is a sensitive survey of a strip along the Galactic plane with |b|<5 deg and l=260 deg to l=50 deg. It uses a 13-beam receiver on the 64-m Parkes radio telescope, receiving two polarisations per beam over a 288 MHz bandwidth centred on 1374 MHz. Receiver and data acquisition systems are described in some detail. For pulsar periods in the range 0.1 - 2 s and dispersion measures of less than 300 cm^{-3} pc, the nominal limiting flux density of the survey is about 0.2 mJy. At shorter or longer periods or higher dispersions, the sensitivity is reduced. Timing observations are carried out for pulsars discovered in the survey for 12 - 18 months after confirmation to obtain accurate positions, spin parameters, dispersion measures, pulse shapes and mean flux densities. The survey is proving to be extremely successful, with more than 600 pulsars discovered so far. We expect that, when complete, this one survey will come close to finding as many pulsars as all previous pulsar surveys put together. The newly discovered pulsars tend to be young, distant and of high radio luminosity. They will form a valuable sample for studies of pulsar emission properties, the Galactic distribution and evolution of pulsars, and as probes of interstellar medium properties. This paper reports the timing and pulse shape parameters for the first 100 pulsars timed at Parkes, including three pulsars with periods of less than 100 ms which are members of binary systems. These results are briefly compared with the parameters of the previously known population.

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arXiv2001

New Millisecond Pulsars in Globular Clusters

A new search of globular clusters for millisecond pulsars is in progress at Parkes. In this paper we describe the motivation, the new hardware and software systems adopted, the survey plan and the preliminary results. So far, we have discovered ten new millisecond pulsars in four clusters for which no associated pulsars were previously known.

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arXiv2001

PSR J2229+6114: Discovery of an Energetic Young Pulsar in the Error Box of the EGRET Source 3EG J2227+6122

We report the detection of radio and X-ray pulsations at a period of 51.6 ms from the X-ray source RX/AX J2229.0+6114 in the error box of the EGRET source 3EG J2227+6122. An ephemeris derived from a single ASCA observation and multiple epochs at 1412 MHz from Jodrell Bank indicates steady spin-down with P-dot = 7.83 x 10^(-14) s/s. From the measured P and P-dot we derive spin-down power E-dot = 2.2 x 10^(37) erg/s, magnetic field B = 2.0 x 10^(12) G, and characteristic age P/2P-dot = 10,460 yr. An image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals a point source surrounded by centrally peaked diffuse emission that is contained within an incomplete radio shell. We assign the name G106.6+2.9 to this new supernova remnant, which is evidently a pulsar wind nebula. For a distance of 3 kpc estimated from X-ray absorption, the ratio of X-ray luminosity to spin-down power is ~8 x 10^(-5), smaller than that of most pulsars, but similar to the Vela pulsar. If PSR J2229+6114 is the counterpart of 3EG J2227+6122 then its efficiency of gamma-ray production, if isotropic, is 0.016 (d/3 kpc)^2. It obeys an established trend of gamma-ray efficiency among known gamma-ray pulsars which, in combination with the demonstrated absence of any other plausible counterpart for 3EG J2227+6122, makes the identification compelling. If confirmed, this identification bolsters the pulsar model for unidentified Galactic EGRET sources.

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arXiv2001

Timing the millisecond pulsars in 47 Tucanae

In the last 10 years 20 millisecond pulsars have been discovered in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae. Hitherto, only 3 of these had published timing solutions. Here we improve upon these 3 and present 12 new solutions. These measurements can be used to determine a variety of physical properties of the pulsars and of the cluster. The 15 pulsars have positions determined with typical uncertianties of only a few milliarcsec and they are all located within 1.2 arcmin of the cluster centre. We have also measured the proper motions of 5 of the pulsars, which are consistent with the proper motion of 47 Tuc based on Hipparcos data. The period derivatives measured for many of the pulsars are dominated by the dynamical effects of the cluster gravitational field, and are used to constrain the surface mass density of the cluster. All pulsars have characteristic ages T > 170 Myr and magnetic fields B < 2.4e9 Gauss, and the average T > 1 Gyr. We have measured the rate of advance of periastron for the binary pulsar J0024-7204H, implying a total system mass 1.4+-0.8 solar masses.

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arXiv2001

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-day, highly eccentric orbit with a companion whose mass exceeds 11 M_sun. An accurate position for the pulsar was obtained using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Near-infrared 2.2-um observations make 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 pulsar's companion, because a typical star of this spectral type and required mass would extend beyond the pulsar's orbit. 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 the companion is probably an early B star, making the system similar to the binary PSR J0045-7319.

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arXiv2001

Precision Timing Measurements of PSR J1012+5307

We present results and applications of high precision timing measurements of the millisecond pulsar J1012+5307. Combining our radio observations with results based on optical observations, we derive complete 3-D velocity information for this system. Correcting for Doppler effects, we derive the intrinsic spin parameters of this pulsar and a characteristic age of 8.6 +/- 1.9 Gyr. Our upper limit for the orbital eccentricity of only 8 * 10^-7 (68% C.L.) is the smallest ever measured for a binary system. We demonstrate that this makes the pulsar an ideal laboratory to test certain aspects of alternative theories of gravitation. Our precise measurements suggest deviations from a simple pulsar spin-down timing model, which are consistent with timing noise and the extrapolation of the known behaviour of slowly rotating pulsars.

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arXiv2001

Evidence for Free Precession in the Pulsar B1642-03

We present an analysis of the timing data of the pulsar B1642-03, collected over a span of 30 years between 1969 and 1999. During this interval, the timing residuals exhibit cyclical changes with amplitude varying from 15 ms to 80 ms and spacing of maxima varying from 3 years to 7 years. Interpretation of these observed cyclical changes in terms of free precession suggests a wobble angle of about 0.8 degrees.

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arXiv2000

A radio supernova remnant associated with the young pulsar J1119-6127

We report on Australia Telescope Compact Array observations in the direction of the young high magnetic-field pulsar J1119-6127. In the resulting images we identify a non-thermal radio shell of diameter 15', which we classify as a previously uncatalogued young supernova remnant, G292.2-0.5. This supernova remnant is positionally coincident with PSR J1119-6127, and we conclude that the two objects are physically associated. No radio emission is detected from any pulsar wind nebula (PWN) associated with the pulsar; our observed upper limits are consistent with the expectation that high magnetic-field pulsars produce radio nebulae which fade rapidly. This system suggests a possible explanation for the lack of an associated radio pulsar and/or PWN in many supernova remnants.

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arXiv2000

Discovery of Five Binary Radio Pulsars

We report on five binary pulsars discovered in the Parkes multibeam Galactic plane survey. All of the pulsars are old, with characteristic ages 1-11 Gyr, and have relatively small inferred magnetic fields, 5-90e8 G. The orbital periods range from 1.3 to 15 days. As a group these objects differ from the usual low-mass binary pulsars (LMBPs): their spin periods of 9-88 ms are relatively long; their companion masses, 0.2-1.1 Msun, are, in at least some cases, suggestive of CO or more massive white dwarfs; and some of the orbital eccentricities, 1e-5 < e < 0.002, are unexpectedly large. We argue that these observed characteristics reflect binary evolution that is significantly different from that of LMBPs. We also note that intermediate-mass binary pulsars apparently have a smaller scale-height than LMBPs.

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