arXiv subjects

C. -Y. Ng

Publications and source records attributed to C. -Y. Ng.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Evidence of a Low-Energy Cutoff in the Injected Spectrum of a Pulsar Wind Nebula

Bow-shock pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) are synchrotron sources formed when the outflow of supersonic pulsars is confined by the surrounding interstellar medium. These sources are dominated by freshly injected particles, thus providing a unique laboratory for studying particle acceleration in relativistic outflows. The Mouse is a prototypical bow-shock PWN and is bright in the radio and X-ray bands, enabling detailed multi-wavelength spectral modeling. Using data from 17 telescopes, the Mouse is detected from 118 MHz to 353 GHz, covering over 3 decades in frequency, and in X-rays from 0.5 to 30 keV. A clear spectral break is identified at 3.7 GHz. The radio spectrum exhibits a rising trend at low frequency, peaks at the break, and then declines. We find a change in spectral index $Δα=0.65\pm0.05$ across the break. We attribute this to an intrinsic cutoff or steepening in the injected particle distribution. This could indicate the characteristic energy of leptons leaving the pulsar magnetosphere, or energy dissipation after the particles cross the termination shock.

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arXiv2026

Understanding Pulsar Wind Nebulae with the SKA

Produced by the interaction between the ``pulsar wind'' powered by the rotational energy of a neutron star and its surroundings, the study of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) provides vital insight into the physics of neutron star magnetospheres and ultra-relativistic outflows. Spatially-resolved studies of the continuum and polarized radio emission of these sources are vital for understanding the production of $e^\pm$ in the magnetospheres of neutron stars, the acceleration of these particles (and potentially baryons) to $\gtrsim10^{15}~{\rm eV}$ energies, and their propagation within the PWN and in the surrounding interstellar medium. The significant improvements in sensitivity, dynamic range, timing capabilities offered by the Square Kilometer Array have the potential to greatly improve our understanding of the origin of some of the highest energy particles produced in the Milky Way.

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arXiv2026

IXPE Polarizations of the Lighthouse Pulsar, Trail, and Filament

The Lighthouse pulsar (PSR J1101$-$6101) sports a bright X-ray trail and filament. The synchrotron emission from both structures is expected to be polarized, with electric vector position angle (EVPA) perpendicular to the magnetic field direction and polarization degree (PD) indicating the local degree of magnetic turbulence. We present a 1 megasecond Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation of the Lighthouse complex. At the 99% confidence level, we detect the filament polarization with PD $55 \pm 18\%$ and EVPA indicating a magnetic field parallel to the filament axis. The large PD implies a turbulent magnetic field weaker than the background field, in conflict with some existing models. We also detect polarization from the pulsar and trail. The trail's X-ray polarization is nearly orthogonal to the radio polarization, suggesting spatial separation between the X-ray- and radio-emitting leptons. The pulsar polarization is well-fit by the rotating vector model.

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arXiv2026

The Cocoon from a Massive Star's Death: VLA Radio Polarization Study of Possible Historical Supernova Remnant G7.7$-$3.7

G7.7$-$3.7 is a possible historical SNR, with the origin of its cocoon-like morphology and its supernova type remaining unclear. We performed L-band radio polarization observations of G7.7$-$3.7 using the Very Large Array in C and B-configurations. The high-resolution 1.4 GHz continuum image reveals a cocoon-like morphology with multiple shells and faint blowout structures. The total flux density is 9.6$\pm$0.5 Jy and the spectral index map shows predominantly nonthermal emission, with an integrated spectral index of $-$0.38$\pm$0.04. Polarization images of G7.7$-$3.7 show high linear polarization fraction (30%-40%) in the northwestern filaments and moderate polarization (10%-20%) in the northeast and south. The magnetic fields aligned with the filamentary structures, consistent with shock compression. Large rotation measure (RM) variations across the SNR likely originate from magnetized massive progenitor winds. We suggest that the cocoon-like morphology results from the interaction between the SNR and pre-existing circumstellar shells, demonstrating that the radio polarization provides useful constraints on the environments and even the progenitor mass-loss.

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arXiv2026

Pulsar Population Synthesis with Magnetorotational Evolution: Constraining the Decay of Magnetic field

We present a population synthesis model for normal radio pulsars in the Galaxy incorporating the latest developments in the field and the magnetorotational evolution processes. Our model considers spin-down with a force-free magnetosphere and the decay of the magnetic field strength and its inclination angle. The simulated pulsar population is fit to a large observation sample that covers the majority of radio surveys using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique. We compare the distributions of four major observables: spin period (P), spin down rate($\dot{P}$), dispersion measure, and radio flux density using accurate high-dimensional Kolmogoro-Smirnov statistics. We test two B-field decay scenarios, an exponential model motivated by ohmic dissipation and a power-law model motivated by the Hall effect. The former clearly provides a better fit, and it can successfully reproduce the observed pulsar distributions with a decay timescale of $8.3_{-3.0}^{+3.9}$ Myr. The result suggests that significant B-field decay in aged pulsars and ohmic dissipation could be the dominant process.

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arXiv2026

IXPE view of the Crab pulsar following the 17 July and 6 August 2025 glitches

The Crab pulsar experienced two relatively small glitches separated by only 20 days in September and October 2025. IXPE observed the source twice, with delay times since the glitch epoch ranging between 35 and 75 days, depending on the observation. We carried out a multi-method analysis to investigate whether there is evidence for significant changes in the polarization properties of the pulsar, underlying possible variations in the pulsar magnetosphere itself following the glitches. Specifically, we performed: (1) phase-averaged polarimetry of the Crab pulsar before and after the glitches, following an approach similar to that adopted in 2019 by PolarLight, a non-imaging CubeSat-class photoelectric polarimeter which observed a change in the X-ray polarization within 100 days after a stronger glitch in July 2019; (2) a comparison, before and after the glitch, of phase-resolved X-ray polarimetry with IXPE, not possible with PolarLight. Furthermore, we investigated, by means of phase-resolved optical (OPTIMA) polarimetry, whether a significant change in the X-to-optical lag was present in the data before and after the glitch. We find no evidence of a change in the polarization for the pulsar emission before and after the glitch, We use the upper limits obtained to estimate the maximum change in magnetic obliquity allowed by the data, using the standard rotating vector model and assuming that the glitch is due to a neutron-star quake. We constrain this maximum change to be no greater than $\pm4^{o}$ at the 95\% confidence level.

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arXiv2026

Radio Study of Vela X Cocoon

The evolution of pulsar Wind Nebulae (PWNe) influences how high energy particles in the vicinity are generated and transport. The Vela PWN (only $\sim300$\,pc away), provides a rather rare case between young and well-evolved systems. We therefore performed new 6 and 16\,cm high-resolution observations of the Vela X Cocoon region with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The observations reveal a complex region with a $\sim0.5^\circ$ major curved filament extending to far south from the pulsar, as well as other intersecting filaments and wisps. Our spectral analysis hints its connection with the PWN. Our results also found strongly linearly polarized emission, ordered and tangential $B$-field to the filaments. We find the rotation measure (RM) and polarization fraction (PF) along the filament are anti-correlated with the total intensity. We develop a simple 3D model of a spiral filament to explain these, while the PF distribution requires external interpretations such as interaction with the reverse shock. Comparison with archival data suggests that large scale features like the major filament are generally stable and large motions near the X-ray filament, all these confirm the distinction between radio and X-ray features.

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arXiv2026

Magnetic Flux Tubes Illuminated by Pulsar Winds

Observations of linear structure connecting pulsars to gamma-ray halos reveal injection of TeV electrons into the interstellar medium (ISM). In some cases, this could be attributed to nearly scattering-free electron transport along large-scale magnetic fields connected to pulsar winds with very slow diffusion across the field lines. In this work we model this process with a magnetic flux tube emerging from the pulsar and attached to the ISM magnetic field. We show that particles in this case have an anisotropic distribution of magnetic pitch angle, such that the overall emission is highly beamed. We apply this model to pulsar tails and filaments, including the extended X-ray and TeV emission associated with PSR J1740+1000 and the misaligned X-ray jet in the Guitar Nebula, to constrain their particle population and magnetic fields.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Understanding Pulsar Wind Nebulae with the SKA

Produced by the interaction between the ``pulsar wind'' powered by the rotational energy of a neutron star and its surroundings, the study of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) provides vital insight into the physics of neutron star magnetospheres and ultra-relativistic outflows. Spatially-resolved studies of the continuum and polarized radio emission of these sources are vital for understanding the production of $e^\pm$ in the magnetospheres of neutron stars, the acceleration of these particles to $\gtrsim10^{15}~{\rm eV}$ energies, and the propagation of these particles within the PWN as well as the surrounding interstellar medium. The significant improvements in sensitivity, dynamic range, timing capabilities offered by the Square Kilometer Array have the potential to significantly improve our understanding of the origin of some of the highest energy particles produced in the Milky Way.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Observatory Science with eXTP

Scheduled for launch in 2030, the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarization (eXTP) telescope is a Chinese space-based mission aimed at studying extreme conditions and phenomena in astrophysics. eXTP will feature three main payloads: Spectroscopy Focusing Arrays (SFAs), Polarimetry Focusing Arrays (PFAs), and a Wide-field Camera (W2C). This white paper outlines observatory science, incorporating key scientific advances and instrumental changes since the publication of the previous white paper [1]. We will discuss perspectives of eXTP on the research domains of flare stars, supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries, ultraluminous X-ray sources, AGN, and pulsar-based positioning and timekeeping.

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arXiv2025

High-resolution Radio Study of Pulsar Wind Nebula MSH 15-52 and Supernova Remnant RCW 89

We present high-resolution radio observations of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) MSH15-52, which is renowned for its distinctive hand-like shape, and its associated supernova remnant RCW 89. Using the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), we obtained 3 and 6,cm radio maps with a resolution of 2 arcsec. These unveil small-scale radio features in the system and allow a direct comparison with the arcsecond-resolution X-ray images. We find that the radio emission is composed of a complex filamentary structure. In particular, there is a bar-like feature across the central pulsar B1509-58 in the inner PWN, and the radio sheath wrapping around the pulsar also appears to be made up of filaments. Some prominent X-ray features are not detected in radio, including the one-sided jet in the south and the finger-like structures in the north. These indicates turn over of the particle distribution at low energies in these regions. For RCW 89, the radio emission well coincides with both the X-ray knots and the Hα filaments. The high polarization fraction shows that the emission is synchrotron in nature, but it extends well beyond the sharp boundary of the non-thermal X-ray emission, which is difficult to explain.

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arXiv2025

Einstein Probe Discovery of EP J182730.0-095633: A New Black Hole X-ray Binary Candidate in Faint Outburst?

Black hole X-ray binaries (candidates) currently identified in our galaxy are mainly transient sources, with the majority discovered through the detection of their X-ray outbursts. Among these, only four were found during faint outbursts exhibiting peak X-ray luminosities $L_{\rm X}\lesssim10^{36}~{\rm erg~s^{-1}}$, likely due to the previous lack of sensitive, wide-field monitoring instruments in the X-ray band. In this Letter, we present the discovery of an intriguing X-ray transient, EP J182730.0-095633, via the Einstein Probe (EP) and subsequent multi-wavelength follow-up studies. This transient, located on the Galactic plane, experienced a faint and brief X-ray outburst lasting about 20 days. Its X-ray spectrum is non-thermal and consistent with a power-law model with a nearly constant photon index of $Γ\sim2$ throughout the outburst. A long-lasting millihertz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) signal was detected in its X-ray light curve, centered around a frequency of $\sim0.04$ Hz. A transient near-infrared source was identified as its counterpart, although no optical emission was detectable, likely due to significant extinction. A radio counterpart was also observed, displaying an inverted radio spectrum with $α\sim0.45$. The X-ray spectral and temporal characteristics, along with the multi-wavelength properties, indicate that the source is a faint low-mass X-ray binary, with the compact object likely being a black hole. This work demonstrates the potential of the EP in discovering new X-ray binaries by capturing faint-level X-ray outbursts.

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arXiv2025

A polarized view of the young Pulsar Wind Nebula 3C 58 with IXPE

Pulsar Wind nebulae (PWNe), are among the most efficient particle accelerators in the Universe, however understanding the physical conditions and the magnetic geometry in their inner region has always proved elusive. X-ray polarization provides now a unique opportunity to investigate the magnetic field structure and turbulence properties close to where high energy particles are accelerated. Here we report on the recent X-ray polarization measurement of the PWN 3C 58 by the International X-ray Polarimeter Explorer (IXPE). 3C 58 is a young system displaying a characteristic jet-torus structure which, unlike other PWNe, is seen almost edge on. This nebula shows a high level of integrated polarization ~ 22% at an angle ~ 97deg, with an implied magnetic field oriented parallel to the major axis of the inner torus, suggesting a toroidal magnetic geometry with little turbulence in the interior, and an intrinsic level of polarization possibly approaching the theoretical limit for synchrotron emission. No significant detection of a polarized signal from the associated pulsar was found. These results confirm that the internal structure of young PWNe is far less turbulent than previously predicted, and at odds with multidimensional numerical simulations.

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arXiv2025

X-ray polarization in SN 1006 southwest shows spatial variations and differences with the radio band

We report the detection of a spatial variation of X-ray polarization in the southwestern shell of SN 1006 (SN 1006 SW) using IXPE. The shell has an average X-ray polarization degree (PD) of $21.6\%\pm 4.5\%$ and polarization angle (PA) of $-48^\circ \pm 5^\circ$ in the 2--4 keV energy band, similar to those in the northeastern shell. The PD varies along SN 1006 SW, with a peak PD$= 40\%\pm 8\%$ in the south and a significantly lower PD $\lesssim 27\%$ (99\% upper limit) in the west where the shell has been proposed to be interacting with an interstellar cloud. The correlation between the PD, which reflects the magnetic orderliness, and the preshock density provides observational evidence that magnetic turbulence and amplification are environment-dependent. The high PD detected in the southern region of the shell constrains the magnetic turbulence scale of $\lesssim 0.1$~pc. Moreover, by comparing the IXPE X-ray and MeerKAT radio polarization measurements for SN 1006 SW, we found that magnetic fields traced by X-ray polarization are nearly radially distributed, whereas those traced by radio polarization tend to follow a direction parallel to the Galactic plane. This suggests that the X-ray polarization probes freshly amplified magnetic fields from small-scale structures in the immediate postshock region, while the radio traces more extended regions influenced by the pre-existing ambient magnetic fields.

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arXiv2025

X-ray Polarization of the High-Synchrotron-Peak BL Lacertae Object 1ES 1959+650 during Intermediate and High X-ray Flux States

We report the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) polarimetric and simultaneous multiwavelength observations of the high-energy-peaked BL Lacertae (HBL) object 1ES 1959+650, performed in 2022 October and 2023 August. In 2022 October IXPE measured an average polarization degree $Π_{\rm X}=9.4\;\!\%\pm 1.6\;\!\%$ and an electric-vector position angle $ψ_{\rm X}=53^{\circ}\pm 5^{\circ}$. The polarized X-ray emission can be decomposed into a constant component, plus a rotating component, with rotation velocity $ω_{\rm EVPA}=(-117\;\!\pm\;\!12)$ ${\rm deg}\;\!{\rm d}^{-1}$. In 2023 August, during a period of pronounced activity of the source, IXPE measured an average $Π_{\rm X}=12.4\;\!\%\pm0.7\;\!\%$ and $ψ_X=20^{\circ}\pm2^{\circ}$, with evidence ($\sim$0.4$\;\!\%$ chance probability) for a rapidly rotating component with $ω_{\rm EVPA}=(1864\;\!\pm\;\!34)$ ${\rm deg}\;\!{\rm d}^{-1}$. These findings suggest the presence of a helical magnetic field in the jet of 1ES 1959+650 or stochastic processes governing the field in turbulent plasma. Our multiwavelength campaigns from radio to X-ray reveal variability in both polarization and flux from optical to X-rays. We interpret the results in terms of a relatively slowly varying component dominating the radio and optical emission, while rapidly variable polarized components dominate the X-ray and provide minor contribution at optical wavelengths. The radio and optical data indicate that on parsec scales the magnetic field is primarily orthogonal to the jet direction. On the contrary, X-ray measurements show a magnetic field almost aligned with the parsec jet direction. Confronting with other IXPE observations, we guess that the magnetic field of HBLs on sub-pc scale should be rather unstable, often changing its direction with respect to the VLBA jet.

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arXiv2025

Radio Observation of the Pulsar Wind Nebula in SNR G11.2-0.3

Pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) are important sources for understanding galactic high-energy processes, but it is controversial until now about how high-energy particles in PWNe are accelerated and transported. Lacking radio counterparts of X-ray PWNe (the proposed acceleration sites) introduce difficulties to better understandings in multi wavelengths. Our recent 3, 6, and 16\,cm high-resolution observations of G11.2$-$0.3 PWN with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) uniquely show morphological similarity with its X-ray PWN (a torus/jet feature). Spectral indices of the radio torus and jet are around -0.09 and -0.10, respectively. Meanwhile for the jet region, the spectral break between radio and X-ray spectra implies particle acceleration mechanisms other than a diffusive shock acceleration. Polarization results suggest a helical B-field inside the jet, the equipartition B-field strength of which is below 100\,$μ$G.

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arXiv2024

Analysis of Crab X-ray Polarization using Deeper IXPE Observations

We present Crab X-ray polarization measurements using IXPE data with a total exposure of 300ks, three times more than the initial 2022 discovery paper. Polarization is detected in three times more pulsar phase bins, revealing an S-shaped $+40^\circ$ polarization angle sweep in the main pulse and ${>}1σ$ departures from the OPTIMA optical polarization in both pulses, suggesting different radiation mechanisms or sites for the polarized emission at the two wavebands. Our polarization map of the inner nebula reveals a toroidal magnetic field, as seen in prior IXPE analyses. Along the southern jet, the magnetic field orientation relative to the jet axis changes from perpendicular to parallel and the polarization degree decreases by ${\sim}6\%$. These observations may be explained by kink instabilities along the jet or a collision with a dense, jet-deflecting medium at the tip. Using spectropolarimetric analysis, we find asymmetric polarization in the four quadrants of the inner nebula, as expected for a toroidal field geometry, and a spatial correlation between polarization degree and photon index.

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arXiv2024

Discovery of a shock-compressed magnetic field in the north-western rim of the young supernova remnant RX J1713.7-3946 with X-ray polarimetry

Supernova remnants (SNRs) provide insights into cosmic-ray acceleration and magnetic field dynamics at shock fronts. Recent X-ray polarimetric measurements by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) have revealed radial magnetic fields near particle acceleration sites in young SNRs, including Cassiopeia A, Tycho, and SN 1006. We present here the spatially-resolved IXPE X-ray polarimetric observation of the northwestern rim of SNR RX J1713.7-3946. For the first time, our analysis shows that the magnetic field in particle acceleration sites of this SNR is oriented tangentially with respect to the shock front. Because of the lack of precise Faraday-rotation measurements in the radio band, this was not possible before. The average measured polarization degree (PD) of the synchtrotron emission is 12.5 {\pm} 3.3%, lower than the one measured by IXPE in SN 1006, comparable to the Tycho one, but notably higher than the one in Cassiopeia A. On sub-parsec scales, localized patches within RX J1713.7-3946 display PD up to 41.5 {\pm} 9.5%. These results are compatible with a shock-compressed magnetic field. However, in order to explain the observed PD, either the presence of a radial net magnetic field upstream of the shock, or partial reisotropization of the turbulence downstream by radial magneto-hydrodynamical instabilities, can be invoked. From comparison of PD and magnetic field distribution with γ-rays and 12 CO data, our results provide new inputs in favor of a leptonic origin of the γ-ray emission.

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