arXiv subjects

D. R. Lorimer

Publications and source records attributed to D. R. Lorimer.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Pulsar Birthrate from Parkes Multi-beam Survey

We report on calculations of the pulsar birthrate based on the results of the Parkes multibeam survey. From the observed sample of more than 800 pulsars, we compute the pulsar current, accounting as accurately as possible for all known selection effects. The main goal of this work is to understand the pulsar birthrate as a function of the surface dipole magnetic field strengths. We show that pulsars with magnetic fields greater than 10**12.5 G account for about half of the total birthrate.

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arXiv2003

The Galactic population and birth rate of radio pulsars

We review current understanding of the underlying, as opposed to the observed, pulsar population. The observed sample is heavily biased by selection effects, so that surveys see less than 10% of all potentially observable pulsars. We compare various techniques used to correct the sample for these biases. By far the most significant recent development has been the discovery of over 700 pulsars in the Parkes Multibeam (PM) survey. This new sample is far less affected by selection effects and we use it to make a preliminary analysis of the Galactic pulsar distribution, finding further evidence for a deficit of pulsars in the inner Galaxy.

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arXiv2003

PSR J1847-0130: A Radio Pulsar with Magnetar Spin Characteristics

We report the discovery of PSR J1847-0130, a radio pulsar with a 6.7-s spin period, in the Parkes multibeam survey of the Galactic plane. The slowdown rate for the pulsar, 1.3x10^{-12} s/s, is high and implies a surface dipole magnetic field strength of 9.4x10^{13} G. This inferred dipolar magnetic field strength is the highest by far among all known radio pulsars and over twice the ``quantum critical field'' above which some models predict radio emission should not occur. The inferred dipolar magnetic field strength and period of this pulsar are in the same range as those of the anomalous X-ray pulsars, which have been identified as being "magnetars" whose luminous X-ray emission is powered by their large magnetic fields. We have examined archival ASCA data and place an upper limit on the X-ray luminosity of J1847-0130 which is lower than the luminosities of all but one AXP. The properties of this pulsar prove that inferred dipolar magnetic field strength and period cannot alone be responsible for the unusual high-energy properties of the magnetars and creates new challenges for understanding the possible relationship between these two manifestations of young neutron stars.

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arXiv2003

The Parkes multibeam pulsar survey: III. Young pulsars & the discovery and timing of 200 pulsars

The Parkes multibeam pulsar survey has unlocked vast areas of the Galactic plane which were previously invisible to earlier low-frequency and less-sensitive surveys. The survey has discovered more than 600 new pulsars so far, including many that are young and exotic. In this paper we report the discovery of 200 pulsars for which we present positional and spin-down parameters, dispersion measures, flux densities and pulse profiles. A large number of these new pulsars are young and energetic, and we review possible associations of $γ$-ray sources with the sample of about 1300 pulsars for which timing solutions are known. Based on a statistical analysis, we estimate that about $19\pm6$ associations are genuine. The survey has also discovered 12 pulsars with spin properties similar to those of the Vela pulsar, nearly doubling the known population of such neutron stars. Studying the properties of all known `Vela-like' pulsars, we find their radio luminosities to be similar to normal pulsars, implying that they are very inefficient radio sources. Finally, we review the use of the newly discovered pulsars as Galactic probes and discuss the implications of the new NE2001 Galactic electron density model for the determination of pulsar distances and luminosities.

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arXiv2003

Yet MORE PM Survey Discoveries....?

The Parkes Multibeam (PM) survey has found nearly 50% of the >1400 known pulsars and detected 20% of the pulsars in binary systems (75% within the survey area), few of these are millisecond pulsars with orbits of less than one day. It is known that the normal search techniques used in the PM Survey have selected against finding binary pulsars, due to the long integration times used. The relative performance of the search techniques used and the improvements made prior to the complete reprocessing of the data currently being undertaken are discussed. The processing is being done on COBRA - the new supercomputer at Jodrell Bank. The results of the reprocessing, as well as adding more solitary pulsars, will give more confidence on the population and types of binaries in the Galactic plane. However, it can be shown that for millisecond pulsars in binary orbits of between 20min and a few hours, the search techniques are still relatively insensitive.

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arXiv2003

Recent discoveries of energetic young radio pulsars

The observed population of young radio pulsars has grown substantially in recent years due to a combination of large-scale surveys and deep targeted searches. Many of the pulsars are associated with supernova remnants and/or unidentified gamma-ray sources. This review summarises the state of play and looks ahead to likely advances in the near future.

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arXiv2002

New Pulsars from Arecibo Drift-Scan Searches

We report new pulsars discovered in drift-scan data taken by two collaborations (Berkeley/Cornell and STScI/NAIC) during the latter stages of the Arecibo upgrade period. The data were taken with the Penn State Pulsar Machine and are being processed on the COBRA cluster at Jodrell Bank. Processing is roughly 70% complete and has resulted in the detection of 10 new and 31 known pulsars, in addition to a number of pulsar candidates. The 10 new pulsars include one pulsar with a spin-period of 55 ms and another with a spin period of 5.8 ms. At the completion of the processing, we expect to have discovered roughly 20 new pulsars. All new pulsars are being subjected to a program of followup observations at Arecibo to determine spin and astrometric parameters.

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arXiv2002

Recent Globular Cluster Searches with Arecibo and the Green Bank Telescope

We report the discovery of seven new millisecond pulsars during 20 cm searches of 19 globular clusters using the recently upgraded Arecibo Telescope and the new Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Five of the pulsars are in compact binaries, three of which are eclipsing. One of the systems is in an eccentric orbit which is almost certainly highly relativistic. Additional searches and timing observations are underway.

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arXiv2002

Millisecond Radio Pulsars in 47 Tucanae

We review the properties of the 22 millisecond radio pulsars currently known in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, and their implications for the mass and gas content of the cluster. Further details can be found in the publications from this project to date (Camilo et al. 2000; Freire 2000; Freire et al. 2001a,b; Freire et al. 2003). Throughout the review, we look ahead to the future results anticipated from this fascinating cluster.

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arXiv2002

The Probability Distribution of Binary Pulsar Coalescence Rates. I. Double Neutron Star Systems in the Galactic Field

Estimates of the Galactic coalescence rate (R) of close binaries with two neutron stars (NS-NS) are known to be uncertain by large factors (about two orders of magnitude) mainly due to the small number of systems detected as binary radio pulsars. We present an analysis method that allows us to estimate the Galactic NS-NS coalescence rate using the current observed sample and, importantly, to assign a statistical significance to these estimates and to calculate the allowed ranges of values at various confidence levels. The method involves the simulation of selection effects inherent in all relevant radio pulsar surveys and a Bayesian statistical analysis for the probability distribution of the rate. The most likely values for the total Galactic coalescence rate (R_peak) lie in the range 2-60 per Myr depending on different pulsar population models. For our reference model 1, where the most likely estimates of pulsar population properties are adopted, we obtain R_tot = 8_{-5}^{+9} per Myr at a 68% statistical confidence level. The corresponding range of expected detection rates of NS-NS inspiral are 3_{-2}^{+4}x10^{-3} per yr for the initial LIGO and 18_{-11}^{+21} per yr for the advanced LIGO.

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arXiv2002

Heartbeat of the Mouse: a young radio pulsar associated with the axisymmetric nebula G359.23-0.82

We report the discovery of PSR J1747-2958, a radio pulsar with period P = 98 ms and dispersion measure DM = 101 pc/cc, in a deep observation with the Parkes telescope of the axially-symmetric "Mouse" radio nebula (G359.23-0.82). Timing measurements of the newly discovered pulsar reveal a characteristic age Pdt/2dP = 25 kyr and spin-down luminosity dE/dt = 2.5e36 erg/s. The pulsar (timing) position is consistent with that of the Mouse's "head". The distance derived from the DM, ~2 kpc, is consistent with the Mouse's distance limit from HI absorption, < 5.5 kpc. Also, the X-ray energetics of the Mouse are compatible with being powered by the pulsar. Therefore we argue that PSR J1747-2958, moving at supersonic speed through the local interstellar medium, powers this unusual non-thermal nebula. The pulsar is a weak radio source, with period-averaged flux density at 1374 MHz of 0.25 mJy and luminosity ~1 mJy kpc^2.

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arXiv2002

Discovery of a 136 millisecond radio and X-ray pulsar in SNR G54.1+0.3

We report the discovery of a pulsar with period P = 136 ms and dispersion measure 308 pc/cc in a deep observation of the supernova remnant (SNR) G54.1+0.3 with the Arecibo radio telescope. Timing measurements of the new pulsar, J1930+1852, reveal a characteristic age of Pdt/2dP = 2900 yr and spin-down luminosity dE/dt = 1.2e37 erg/s. We have subsequently searched archival ASCA X-ray data of this SNR, and detect pulsations with a consistent period. These findings ensure that PSR J1930+1852 is the pulsar that powers the "Crab-like" SNR G54.1+.3. Together with existing Chandra observations of the SNR, we derive an X-ray pulsed fraction (2-10 keV) of ~27%. We also find that the cooling efficiency of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) is intermediate between those of the Vela and Crab PWNe: Lx (2-10 keV) ~0.002 dE/dt. PSR J1930+1852 is a very weak radio source, with period-averaged flux density at 1180 MHz of 60 microJy. For a distance of 5 kpc, its luminosity, ~1 mJy kpc^2, is among the lowest for known young pulsars.

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arXiv2002

Discovery of radio pulsations from the X-ray pulsar J0205+6449 in supernova remnant 3C58 with the Green Bank Telescope

We report the discovery with the 100 m Green Bank Telescope of 65 ms radio pulsations from the X-ray pulsar J0205+6449 at the center of supernova remnant 3C58, making this possibly the youngest radio pulsar known. From our observations at frequencies of 820 and 1375 MHz, the free electron column density to PSR J0205+6449 is found to be 140.7 +- 0.3 pc/cc. The barycentric pulsar period P and period derivative determined from a phase-coherent timing solution are consistent with the values previously measured from X-ray observations. The averaged radio profile of PSR J0205+6449 consists of one sharp pulse of width ~ 3 ms ~ 0.05 P. The pulsar is an exceedingly weak radio source, with pulse-averaged flux density in the 1400 MHz band of 0.045 mJy and a spectral index of ~ -2.1. Its radio luminosity of ~ 0.5 mJy kpc^2 at 1400 MHz is lower than that of ~ 99% of known pulsars and is the lowest among known young pulsars.

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arXiv2002

PSR J1124-5916: discovery of a young, energetic pulsar in the supernova remnant G292.0+1.8

We report the discovery with the Parkes radio telescope of a pulsar associated with the ~ 1700 yr-old oxygen-rich composite supernova remnant G292.0+1.8. PSR J1124-5916 has period 135 ms and period derivative 7.4e-13, implying characteristic age 2900 yr, spin-down luminosity 1.2e37 erg/s, and surface magnetic field strength 1.0e13 G. Association between the pulsar and the synchrotron nebula previously identified with Chandra within this supernova remnant is confirmed by the subsequent detection of X-ray pulsations by Hughes et al. The pulsar's flux density at 1400 MHz is very small, S ~ 0.08 mJy, but the radio luminosity of Sd^2 ~ 2 mJy kpc^2 is not especially so, although it is one order of magnitude smaller than that of the least luminous young pulsar previously known. This discovery suggests that very deep radio searches should be done for pulsations from pulsar wind nebulae in which the central pulsed source is yet to be detected and possibly other more exotic neutron stars.

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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

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

PSR J1740+1000: A Young Pulsar Well Out Of The Galactic Plane

We discuss PSR J1740+1000, one of five pulsars recently discovered in a search of 470 square degrees at 430 MHz during the upgrade of the 305-m Arecibo telescope. The period of 154 ms and period derivative of 2.1 x 10^-14 s/s imply a spin-down age of 114 kyr that is smaller than 95% of all known pulsars. The youth and proximity of this pulsar make it a good candidate for detection at X-ray and gamma-ray energies. Its high Galactic latitude of 20.4 degrees suggests a very high velocity if the pulsar was born in the midplane of the Galaxy and if its kinematic age equals its spindown age. Interstellar scintillations, however, suggest a much lower velocity. We discuss possible explanations for this discrepancy, taking into account (a) possible birth sites away from the midplane; (b) contributions from the unmeasured radial velocity; (c) a kinematic age different from the spin-down age; and (d) biasing of the scintillation velocity by enhanced scattering from the North Polar Spur.

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arXiv2001

Binary and Millisecond Pulsars at the New Millennium

We review the properties and applications of binary and millisecond pulsars. Our knowledge of these exciting objects has greatly increased in recent years, mainly due to successful surveys which have brought the known pulsar population to over 1300. There are now 56 binary and millisecond pulsars in the Galactic disk and a further 47 in globular clusters. This review is concerned primarily with the results and spin-offs from these surveys which are of particular interest to the relativity community.

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