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E. V. Gotthelf

Publications and source records attributed to E. V. Gotthelf.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Discovery of X-ray Pulsations from the INTEGRAL Source IGR J11014-6103

We report the discovery of PSR J1101-6101, a 62.8 ms pulsar in IGR J11014-6103, a hard X-ray source with a jet and a cometary tail that strongly suggests it is moving away from the center of the supernova remnant (SNR) MSH 11-61A at v>1000 km/s. Two XMM-Newton observations were obtained with the EPIC pn in small window mode, resulting in the measurement of its spin-down luminosity E_dot = 1.36e36 erg/s, characteristic age Tau_c = 116 kyr, and surface magnetic field strength B_s = 7.4e11 G. In comparison to Tau_c, the 10-30 kyr age estimated for MSH 11-61A suggests that the pulsar was born in the SNR with initial period in the range 54 < P_0 < 60 ms. PSR J1101-6101 is the least energetic of the 15 rotation-powered pulsars detected by INTEGRAL, and has a high efficiency of hard X-ray radiation and jet power. We examine the shape of the cometary nebula in a Chandra image, which is roughly consistent with a bow shock at the velocity inferred from the SNR age and the pulsar's E-dot. However, its structure differs in detail from the classic bow shock, and we explore possible reasons for this.

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NuSTAR Discovery of a Young, Energetic Pulsar Associated with the Luminous Gamma-ray Source HESS J1640-465

We report the discovery of a 206 ms pulsar associated with the TeV gamma-ray source HESS J1640-465 using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) X-ray observatory. PSR J1640-4631 lies within the shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) G338.3-0.0, and coincides with an X-ray point source and putative pulsar wind nebula (PWN) previously identified in XMM-Newton and Chandra images. It is spinning down rapidly with period derivative Pdot = 9.758(44)E-13, yielding a spin-down luminosity Edot = 4.4E36 erg s-1, characteristic age = P/2Pdot = 3350 yr, and surface dipole magnetic field strength Bs = 1.4E13 G. For the measured distance of 12 kpc to G338.3-0.0, the 0.2 - 10 TeV luminosity of HESS J1640-465 is 6% of the pulsar's present Edot. The Fermi source 1FHL J1640.5-4634 is marginally coincident with PSR J1640-4631, but we find no gamma-ray pulsations in a search using 5 years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data. The pulsar energetics support an evolutionary PWN model for the broad-band spectrum of HESS J1640-465, provided that the pulsar's braking index is approximately 2, and that its initial spin period was Po ~ 15 ms.

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Timing and Flux Evolution of the Galactic Center Magnetar SGR J1745-2900

We present the X-ray timing and spectral evolution of the Galactic Center magnetar SGR J1745-2900 for the first ~4 months post-discovery using data obtained with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR)} and Swift observatories. Our timing analysis reveals a large increase in the magnetar spin-down rate by a factor of 2.60 +/- 0.07 over our data span. We further show that the change in spin evolution was likely coincident with a bright X-ray burst observed in 2013 June by Swift, and if so, there was no accompanying discontinuity in the frequency. We find that the source 3-10 keV flux has declined monotonically by a factor of ~2 over an 80-day period post-outburst accompanied by a ~20% decrease in the source's blackbody temperature, although there is evidence for both flux and kT having levelled off. We argue that the torque variations are likely to be magnetospheric in nature and will dominate over any dynamical signatures of orbital motion around Sgr A*.

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X-ray Measurement of the Spin-Down of Calvera: a Radio- and Gamma-ray-Quiet Pulsar

We measure spin-down of the 59 ms X-ray pulsar Calvera by comparing the XMM-Newton discovery data from 2009 with new Chandra timing observations taken in 2013. Its period derivative is P-dot = (3.19+/-0.08)e-15, which corresponds to spin-down luminosity E-dot = 6.1e35 erg/s, characteristic age tau_c = P/2P-dot = 2.9e5 yr, and surface dipole magnetic field strength B_s = 4.4e11 G. These values rule out a mildly recycled pulsar, but Calvera could be an orphaned central compact object (anti-magnetar), with a magnetic field that was initially buried by supernova debris and is now reemerging and approaching normal strength. We also performed unsuccessful searches for high-energy gamma-rays from Calvera in both imaging and timing of >100 MeV Fermi photons. Even though the distance to Calvera is uncertain by an order of magnitude, an upper limit of d < 2 kpc inferred from X-ray spectra implies a gamma-ray luminosity limit of < 3.3e32 erg/s, which is less than that of any pulsar of comparable E-dot. Calvera shares some properties with PSR J1740+1000, a young radio pulsar that we show by virtue of its lack of proper motion was born outside of the Galactic disk. As an energetic, high-Galactic-latitude pulsar, Calvera is unique in being undetected in both radio and gamma-rays to faint limits, which should place interesting constraints on models for particle acceleration and beam patterns in pulsar magnetospheres.

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The Einstein@Home search for radio pulsars and PSR J2007+2722 discovery

Einstein@Home aggregates the computer power of hundreds of thousands of volunteers from 193 countries, to search for new neutron stars using data from electromagnetic and gravitational-wave detectors. This paper presents a detailed description of the search for new radio pulsars using Pulsar ALFA survey data from the Arecibo Observatory. The enormous computing power allows this search to cover a new region of parameter space; it can detect pulsars in binary systems with orbital periods as short as 11 minutes. We also describe the first Einstein@Home discovery, the 40.8 Hz isolated pulsar PSR J2007+2722, and provide a full timing model. PSR J2007+2722's pulse profile is remarkably wide with emission over almost the entire spin period. This neutron star is most likely a disrupted recycled pulsar, about as old as its characteristic spin-down age of 404 Myr. However there is a small chance that it was born recently, with a low magnetic field. If so, upper limits on the X-ray flux suggest but can not prove that PSR J2007+2722 is at least ~ 100 kyr old. In the future, we expect that the massive computing power provided by volunteers should enable many additional radio pulsar discoveries.

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X-ray Observations of Disrupted Recycled Pulsars: No Refuge for Orphaned Central Compact Objects

We present a Chandra X-ray survey of the disrupted recycled pulsars (DRPs), isolated radio pulsars with P > 20 ms and B_s < 3E10 G. These observations were motivated as a search for the immediate descendants of the approx. 10 central compact objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants, three of which have similar timing and magnetic properties as the DRPs, but are bright, thermal X-ray sources consistent with minimal neutron star cooling curves. Since none of the DPRs were detected, there is no evidence that they are "orphaned" CCOs, neutron stars whose supernova remnants has dissipated. Upper limits on their thermal X-ray luminosities are in the range log Lx[erg/s] = 31.8-32.8, which implies cooling ages > 1E4 - 1E5 yr, roughly 10 times the ages of the approximately 10 known CCOs in a similar volume of the Galaxy. The order of a hundred CCO descendants that could be detected by this method are thus either intrinsically radio quiet, or occupy a different region of (P,B_s) parameter space from the DRPs. This motivates a new X-ray search for orphaned CCOs among radio pulsars with larger B-fields, which could verify the theory that their fields are buried by fall-back of supernova ejecta, but quickly regrow to join the normal pulsar population.

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Discovery of TeV Gamma-ray Emission Toward Supernova Remnant SNR G78.2+2.1

We report the discovery of an unidentified, extended source of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission, VER J2019+407, within the radio shell of the supernova remnant SNR G78.2+2.1, using 21.4 hours of data taken by the VERITAS gamma-ray observatory in 2009. These data confirm the preliminary indications of gamma-ray emission previously seen in a two-year (2007-2009) blind survey of the Cygnus region by VERITAS. VER J2019+407, which is detected at a post-trials significance of 7.5 standard deviations in the 2009 data, is localized to the northwestern rim of the remnant in a region of enhanced radio and X-ray emission. It has an intrinsic extent of 0.23^{\circ} \pm 0.03^{\circ} (stat)+0.04^{\circ}_{-0.02}^{\circ}(sys) and its spectrum is well-characterized by a differential power law (dN/dE = N_0 \times (E/TeV)^{-Γ}) with a photon index of Γ = 2.37 \pm 0.14 (stat) \pm 0.20 (sys) and a flux normalization of N0 = 1.5 \pm 0.2 (stat) \pm 0.4(sys) \times 10^-12 ph TeV^{-1} cm^{-2} s^{-1}. This yields an integral flux of 5.2 \pm 0.8 (stat) \pm 1.4 (sys) \times 10^-12 ph cm^{-2} s^{-1} above 320 GeV, corresponding to 3.7% of the Crab Nebula flux. We consider the relationship of the TeV gamma-ray emission with the GeV gamma-ray emission seen from SNR G78.2+2.1 as well as that seen from a nearby cocoon of freshly accelerated cosmic rays. Multiple scenarios are considered as possible origins for the TeV gamma-ray emission, including hadronic particle acceleration at the supernova remnant shock.

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The Spin-down of PSR J0821-4300 and PSR J1210-5226: Confirmation of Central Compact Objects as Anti-Magnetars

Using XMM-Newton and Chandra, we measure period derivatives for the second and third known pulsars in the class of Central Compact Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants, proving that these young neutron stars have exceptionally weak dipole magnetic field components. For the 112 ms PSR J0821-4300 in Puppis A, Pdot = (9.28 +/- 0.36)E-18. Its proper motion, mu = 61 +/- 9 mas/yr, was also measured using Chandra. This contributes a kinematic term to the period derivative via the Shklovskii effect, which is subtracted from Pdot to derive dipole Bs = 2.9E10 G, a value similar to that of first measured CCO PSR J1852+0040 in Kes 79, which has Bs = 3.1E10 G. Antipodal surface hot spots with different temperatures and areas are deduced from the X-ray spectrum and pulse profiles. Paradoxically, such nonuniform surface temperature appears to require strong crustal magnetic fields, probably toroidal or quadrupolar components much stronger than the external dipole. A spectral feature, consisting of either an emission line at approximately 0.75 keV or absorption at approximately 0.46 keV, is modulated in strength with the rotation. It may be due to a cyclotron process in a magnetic field on the surface that is slightly stronger than the dipole deduced from the spin-down. We also timed anew the 424 ms PSR J12010-5226, resolving previous ambiguities about its spin-down rate. Its Pdot = (2.22 +/- 0.02)E-17, corresponding to Bs = 9.8E10 G. This is compatible with a cyclotron resonance interpretation of its prominent absorption line at 0.7 keV and harmonics. These results deepen the mystery of the origin and evolution of CCOs: why are their numerous descendants not evident?

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Discovery of TeV Gamma-ray Emission from CTA 1 by VERITAS

We report the discovery of TeV gamma-ray emission coincident with the shell-type radio supernova remnant (SNR) CTA 1 using the VERITAS gamma-ray observatory. The source, VER J0006+729, was detected as a 6.5 standard deviation excess over background and shows an extended morphology, approximated by a two-dimensional Gaussian of semi-major (semi-minor) axis 0.30 degree (0.24 degree) and a centroid 5' from the Fermi gamma-ray pulsar PSR J0007+7303 and its X-ray pulsar wind nebula (PWN). The photon spectrum is well described by a power-law dN/dE = N_0 (E/3 TeV)^(-Γ), with a differential spectral index of Γ= 2.2 +- 0.2_stat +- 0.3_sys, and normalization N_0 = (9.1 +- 1.3_stat +- 1.7_sys) x 10^(-14) cm^(-2) s^(-1) TeV^(-1). The integral flux, F_γ= 4.0 x 10^(-12) erg cm^(-2) s^(-1) above 1 TeV, corresponds to 0.2% of the pulsar spin-down power at 1.4 kpc. The energetics, co-location with the SNR, and the relatively small extent of the TeV emission strongly argue for the PWN origin of the TeV photons. We consider the origin of the TeV emission in CTA 1.

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Spin-Down Measurement of PSR J1813-1749: The Energetic Pulsar Powering HESS J1813-178

Two new X-ray timing observations of the 44.7 ms pulsar in G12.82-0.02/HESS J1813-178 were obtained with Chandra and XMM-Newton to determine its precise spin-down rate. With a period derivative of dP/dt = 1.265E-13, PSR J1813-1749 is the third most energetic pulsar in the Galaxy, having spin-down luminosity dE/dt = 5.6E37 erg/s. Lack of pulsed detection in a deep radio search from the Green Bank Telescope, and in gamma-rays from Fermi, are reported. We reconsider the distance to PSR J1813-1749/G12.82-0.02 in view of its large X-ray measured column density, N(H) = 10.E22 cm^-2, which exceeds the visual extinction A(V) = 9.1 to a young stellar cluster at d = 4.8 kpc that has been associated with it. Although the distance may well be larger, existing data do not constrain it further. The small radiative output of PSR J1813-1749/G12.82-0.02 in all bands would not exceed its spin-down power at any distance in the Galactic disk.

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Observations of Energetic High Magnetic Field Pulsars with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

We report the detection of gamma-ray pulsations from the high-magnetic-field rotation-powered pulsar PSR J1119-6127 using data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope. The gamma-ray light curve of PSR J1119-6127 shows a single, wide peak offset from the radio peak by 0.43 pm 0.02 in phase. Spectral analysis suggests a power law of index 1.0 pm 0.3 with an energy cut-off at 0.8 pm 0.2 GeV. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. We discuss the emission models of PSR J1119-6127 and demonstrate that despite the object's high surface magnetic field---near that of magnetars---the field strength and structure in the gamma-ray emitting zone are apparently similar to those of typical young pulsars. Additionally, we present upper limits on the \gam-ray pulsed emission for the magnetically active PSR J1846-0258 in the supernova remnant Kesteven 75 and two other energetic high-B pulsars, PSRs J1718-3718 and J1734-3333. We explore possible explanations for the non-detection of these three objects, including peculiarities in their emission geometry.

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Discovery of an Energetic Pulsar Associated with SNR G76.9+1.0

We report the discovery of PSR J2022+3842, a 24 ms radio and X-ray pulsar in the supernova remnant G76.9+1.0, in observations with the Chandra X-ray telescope, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Radio Telescope, and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The pulsar's spin-down rate implies a rotation-powered luminosity Edot = 1.2 x 10^{38} erg/s, a surface dipole magnetic field strength B_s = 1.0 x 10^{12} G, and a characteristic age of 8.9 kyr. PSR J2022+3842 is thus the second-most energetic Galactic pulsar known, after the Crab, as well as the most rapidly-rotating young, radio-bright pulsar known. The radio pulsations are highly dispersed and broadened by interstellar scattering, and we find that a large (delta-f / f ~= 1.9 x 10^{-6}) spin glitch must have occurred between our discovery and confirmation observations. The X-ray pulses are narrow (0.06 cycles FWHM) and visible up to 20 keV, consistent with magnetospheric emission from a rotation-powered pulsar. The Chandra X-ray image identifies the pulsar with a hard, unresolved source at the midpoint of the double-lobed radio morphology of SNR G76.9+1.0 and embedded within faint, compact X-ray nebulosity. The spatial relationship of the X-ray and radio emissions is remarkably similar to extended structure seen around the Vela pulsar. The combined Chandra and RXTE pulsar spectrum is well-fitted by an absorbed power-law model with column density N_H = (1.7\pm0.3) x 10^{22} cm^{-2} and photon index Gamma = 1.0\pm0.2; it implies that the Chandra point-source flux is virtually 100% pulsed. For a distance of 10 kpc, the X-ray luminosity of PSR J2022+3842 is L_X(2-10 keV) = 7.0 x 10^{33} erg s^{-1}. Despite being extraordinarily energetic, PSR J2022+3842 lacks a bright X-ray wind nebula and has an unusually low conversion efficiency of spin-down power to X-ray luminosity, L_X/Edot = 5.9 x 10^{-5}.

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Post-outburst Observations of the Magnetically Active Pulsar J1846-0258: a new braking index, increased timing noise, and radiative recovery

The ~800 yr-old pulsar J1846-0258 is a unique transition object between rotation-powered pulsars and magnetars: though behaving like a rotation-powered pulsar most of the time, in 2006 it exhibited a distinctly magnetar-like outburst accompanied by a large glitch. Here we present X-ray timing observations taken with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer over a 2.2-yr period after the X-ray outburst and glitch had recovered. We observe that the braking index of the pulsar, previously measured to be n=2.65+/-0.01, is now n=2.16+/-0.13, a decrease of 18+/-5%. We also note a persistent increase in the timing noise relative to the pre-outburst level. Despite the timing changes, a 2009 Chandra X-ray Observatory observation shows that the X-ray flux and spectrum of the pulsar and its wind nebula are consistent with the quiescent levels observed in 2000.

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Discovery of an Energetic 38.5 ms Pulsar Powering the Gamma-ray Source IGR J18490-0000/HESS J1849-000

We report the discovery of a 38.5 ms X-ray pulsar in observations of the soft gamma-ray source IGR J18490-0000 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). PSR J1849-0001 is spinning down rapidly with period derivative 1.42E-14 s/s, yielding a spin-down luminosity 9.8E36 erg/s, characteristic age 42.9 kyr, and surface dipole magnetic field strength 7.5E11 G. Within the INTEGRAL/IBIS error circle lies a point-like XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray source that shows evidence of faint extended emission consistent with a pulsar wind nebula (PWN). The XMM-Newton spectrum of the point source is well fitted by an absorbed power-law model with photon index Gamma(PSR) = 1.1 +/- 0.2, N_H = (4.3+/-0.6)E22 cm^-2, and F(PSR;2-10keV) = (3.8+/-0.3)E-12 erg/s/cm^2, while the spectral parameters of the extended emission are Gamma(PWN) = 2.1 and F(PWN;2-10 keV) = 9E-13 erg/s/cm^2. IGR J18490-0000 is also coincident with the compact TeV source HESS J1849-000. For an assumed distance of 7 kpc in the Scutum arm tangent region, the 0.35-10 TeV luminosity of HESS J1849-000 is 0.13% of the pulsar's spin down energy, while the ratio F(0.35-10 TeV)/F(PWN; 2-10 keV) of approx. 2. These properties are consistent with leptonic models of TeV emission from PWNe, with PSR J1849-0001 in a stage of transition from a synchrotron X-ray source to an inverse Compton gamma-ray source.

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An Energetic Magnetar in HESS J1713-381/CTB 37B

We obtained a second Chandra timing measurement of the 3.82 s pulsar CXOU J171405.7-381031 in the supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 37B, which shows that it is spinning down rapidly. The average period derivative of (5.88+/-0.08)E-11 over the 1 year time span corresponds to a dipole magnetic field strength B = 4.8E14 G, well into the magnetar range. The spin-down power E-dot = 4.2E34 erg/s is among the largest for magnetars, and the corresponding characteristic age Tau = P/2P-dot = 1030 years is comparable to estimates of the age of the SNR. The period derivative enables us to recover probable pulsations in an ASCA observation taken in 1996, which yields a mean characteristic age of 860 years over the longer 13 year time span. The source is well detected up to 10 keV, and its composite spectrum is typical of a magnetar. CTB 37B hosts HESS J1713-381, the first TeV source that is coincident with a magnetar. While the TeV emission has been attributed to the SNR shell, it is possibly centrally peaked, and we hypothesize that this particularly young, energetic magnetar may contribute to the HESS source. We also searched for pulsations from another source in a HESS SNR, XMMU J173203.3-344518 in HESS J1731-347/G353.6-0.7 but could not confirm pulsations or long-term flux variability, making it more likely that this source is a weakly magnetized central compact object.

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Modeling the Surface X-ray Emission and Viewing Geometry of PSR J0821-4300 in Puppis A

We show that a pair of thermal, antipodal hot-spots on the neutron star surface is able to fully account for the pulsar's double blackbody spectrum and energy-dependent pulse profile, including the observed 180 degree phase reversal at approximately 1.2 keV. By comparing the observed pulse modulation and phase to the model predictions, we strongly constrain the hot-spot pole (xi) and the line-of-sight (psi) angles with respect to the spin axis. For a nominal radius of R = 12 km and distance D = 2.2 kpc, we find (xi,psi) = (86d,6d), with 1-sigma error ellipse of (2d,1d); this solution is degenerate in the two angles. The best-fit spectral model for this geometry requires that the temperatures of the two emission spots differ by a factor of 2 and their areas by a factor of ~ 20. Including a cosine-beamed pattern for the emitted intensity modifies the result, decreasing the angles to (84d,3d); however this model is not statistically distinguishable from the isotropic emission case. We also present a new upper limit on the period derivative of Pdot < 3.5E-16 (2-sigma), which limits the global dipole magnetic field to B_s < 2.0E11 G, confirming PSR J0821-4300 as an "anti-magnetar." We discuss the results in the context of observations and theories of nonuniform surface temperature on isolated NSs of both weak and strong magnetic field. To explain the nonuniform temperature of PSR J0821-4300 may require a crustal field that is much stronger than the external, global dipole field.

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Discovery of VHE $γ$-ray emission from the SNR G54.1+0.3

We report the discovery of very high energy gamma-ray emission from the direction of the SNR G54.1+0.3 using the VERITAS ground-based gamma-ray observatory. The TeV signal has an overall significance of 6.8$σ$ and appears point-like given the 5$^{arcminute}$ resolution of the instrument. The integral flux above 1 TeV is 2.5% of the Crab Nebula flux and significant emission is measured between 250 GeV and 4 TeV, well described by a power-law energy spectrum dN/dE $\sim$ E$^{-Γ}$ with a photon index $Γ= 2.39\pm0.23_{stat}\pm0.30_{sys}$. We find no evidence of time variability among observations spanning almost two years. Based on the location, the morphology, the measured spectrum, the lack of variability and a comparison with similar systems previously detected in the TeV band, the most likely counterpart of this new VHE gamma-ray source is the PWN in the SNR G54.1+0.3. The measured X-ray to VHE gamma-ray luminosity ratio is the lowest among all the nebulae supposedly driven by young rotation-powered pulsars, which could indicate a particle-dominated PWN.

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Discovery of a highly energetic pulsar associated with IGR J14003-6326 in a young uncataloged Galactic supernova remnant G310.6-1.6

We report the discovery of 31.18 ms pulsations from the INTEGRAL source IGR J14003-6326 using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). This pulsar is most likely associated with the bright Chandra X-ray point source lying at the center of G310.6-1.6, a previously unrecognised Galactic composite supernova remnant with a bright central non-thermal radio and X-ray nebula, taken to be the pulsar wind nebula (PWN). PSR J1400-6325 is amongst the most energetic rotation-powered pulsars in the Galaxy, with a spin-down luminosity of Edot = 5.1E+37 erg.s-1. In the rotating dipole model, the surface dipole magnetic field strength is B_s = 1.1E+12 G and the characteristic age tau_c = P/2Pdot = 12.7 kyr. The high spin-down power is consistent with the hard spectral indices of the pulsar and the nebula of 1.22 +/- 0.15 and 1.83 +/- 0.08, respectively, and a 2-10 keV flux ratio F_PWN/F_PSR ~ 8. Follow-up Parkes observations resulted in the detection of radio emission at 10 and 20 cm from PSR J1400-6325 at a dispersion measure of ~ 560 cm-3 pc, which implies a relatively large distance of 10 +/- 3 kpc. However, the resulting location off the Galactic Plane of ~ 280 pc would be much larger than the typical thickness of the molecular disk, and we argue that G310.6-1.6 lies at a distance of ~ 7 kpc. There is no gamma-ray counterpart to the nebula or pulsar in the Fermi data published so far. A multi-wavelength study of this new composite supernova remnant, from radio to very-high energy gamma-rays, suggests a young (< 1000 yr) system, formed by a sub-energetic (~ 1E+50 ergs), low ejecta mass (M_ej ~ 3 Msun) SN explosion that occurred in a low-density environment (n_0 ~ 0.01 cm-3).

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