arXiv subjects

F. Camilo

Publications and source records attributed to F. Camilo.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

A Very Large Glitch in PSR J1806-2125

PSR J1806-2125 is a pulsar discovered in the Parkes multibeam pulsar survey with a rotational period of 0.4s and a characteristic age of 65kyr. Between MJDs 51462 and 51894 this pulsar underwent an increase in rotational frequency of $Δν/ν\approx 16 \times 10^{-6}$. The magnitude of this glitch is approximately 2.5 times greater than any previously observed in any pulsar and 16 times greater than the mean glitch size. This letter gives the parameters of the glitch and compares its properties to previously observed events. The existence of such large and rare glitches offers new hope for attempts to observe thermal X-ray emission from the internal heat released following a glitch, and suggests that pulsars which previously have not been observed to glitch may do so on long timescales.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Timing of Millisecond Pulsars in NGC 6752: Evidence for a High Mass-to-Light Ratio in the Cluster Core

Using pulse timing observations we have obtained precise parameters, including positions with about 20 mas accuracy, of five millisecond pulsars in NGC 6752. Three of them, located relatively close to the cluster center, have line-of-sight accelerations larger than the maximum value predicted by the central mass density derived from optical observation, providing dynamical evidence for a central mass-to-light ratio >~ 10, much higher than for any other globular cluster. It is likely that the other two millisecond pulsars have been ejected out of the core to their present locations at 1.4 and 3.3 half-mass radii, respectively, suggesting unusual non-thermal dynamics in the cluster core.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

The Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey -- II. Discovery and Timing of 120 Pulsars

The Parkes multibeam pulsar survey is a sensitive survey of a strip of the Galactic plane with $|b|<5\degr$ and $260\degr < l < 50\degr$ at 1374 MHz. Here we report the discovery of 120 new pulsars and subsequent timing observations, primarily using the 76-m Lovell radio telescope at Jodrell Bank. The main features of the sample of 370 published pulsars discovered during the multibeam survey are described. Furthermore, we highlight two pulsars: PSR J1734$-$3333, a young pulsar with the second highest surface magnetic field strength among the known radio pulsars, $B_s = 5.4\times10^{13}$ G, and PSR J1830$-$1135, the second slowest radio pulsar known, with a 6-s period.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Chandra on Millisecond Pulsars in Globular Clusters

We summarize the x-ray properties of the complete samples of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) detected in our Chandra observations of the globular clusters 47 Tuc and NGC 6397. The 47 Tuc MSPs are predominantly soft sources suggestive of thermal emission from the neutron star polar cap and have x-ray luminosities in a surprisingly narrow range (Lx ~--4 x 10^{30} erg/s). The single MSP in NGC 6397 is both hard and apparently extended, probably due to shocked hot gas evaporating from its main sequence companion. In contrast to MSPs in the field and the cluster M28, which show correlation between x-ray luminosity and spindown luminosity Lx \propto \Edot^β with β~1 - 1.4, the 47 Tuc (and NGC 6397) sample display a relatively tight correlation with β= 0.5 +/-0.15. The correlations of Lx vs. P/2P-dot and light cylinder magnetic field values are also different. It is possible the magnetic field configuration has been altered (by episodic accretion) for old MSPs in dense cluster cores.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Young Pulsars from the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey and their Associations

The Parkes multibeam pulsar survey is covering a 10deg-wide strip of the southern Galactic plane from l=260deg to l=50deg. It utilizes a 13-beam receiver operating in the 20-cm band on the Parkes 64-m radio telescope and is much more sensitive than any previous large-scale survey. Most of the 608 pulsars discovered so far are relatively distant and many are young, with 37 having a characteristic age of less than 10^5 years. At least one of these is associated with a supernova remnant and four other probable associations are suggested. Several multibeam pulsars have high values of the parameter Edot/d^2 and are within the position error contours of unidentified EGRET gamma-ray sources. These possible associations will be tested with the advent of new gamma-ray telescopes.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

The New Gamma-ray Pulsar PSR J2229+6114, its Pulsar Wind Nebula, and Comparison with the Vela Pulsar

With a period of 51.6 ms and spin-down power 2.2x10^{37} erg s^{-1}, PSR J2229+6114 is a compelling identification for the EGRET source 3EG J2227+6122 in which error circle it resides. Striking features of the Chandra X-ray image are an incomplete elliptical arc and a possible jet, similar to the structures that dominate the appearance of the Vela PWN. Approximately 70% of the 2-10 keV X-ray emission comes from a centrally peaked, diffuse nebula of radius 100" with a power-law spectrum of photon index 1.45 +/- 0.19. The pulsar itself has a marginally harder spectrum with photon index 0.99 +/- 0.27. For an assumed distance of 3 kpc the ratio of X-ray luminosity to spin-down power of PSR J2229+6114 is only 8 x 10^{-5}. We discuss a model in which such inefficient X-ray emission is the signature of a highly magnetized pulsar wind that prevents an internal MHD shock, at the location of the X-ray arc, from strongly compressing the flow. The incomplete X-ray arc is consistent with beaming from a relativistic equatorial outflow, while a surrounding radio shell is probably the forward shock in the surrounding ISM. An MeV source at this location was previously detected by the COMPTEL experiment on CGRO. This, plus the flat X-ray spectrum in the 2-10 keV band, suggests that PSR J2229+6114 is one of the brightest pulsars at 1 MeV, even while it is inconspicuous at radio through X-ray wavelengths, and as steep as the Crab above 100 MeV. The apparent variety of broad-band spectra displayed by high-energy pulsars bolsters the theory that rotation-powered pulsars dominate the unidentified Galactic EGRET source population.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗