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S. M. Ransom

Publications and source records attributed to S. M. Ransom.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A 350-MHz Green Bank Telescope Survey of Unassociated Fermi LAT Sources: Discovery and Timing of Ten Millisecond Pulsars

We have searched for radio pulsations towards 49 Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) 1FGL Catalog $γ$-ray sources using the Green Bank Telescope at 350 MHz. We detected 18 millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in blind searches of the data; 10 of these were discoveries unique to our survey. Sixteen are binaries, with eight having short orbital periods $P_B < 1$ day. No radio pulsations from young pulsars were detected, although three targets are coincident with apparently radio-quiet $γ$-ray pulsars discovered in LAT data. Here, we give an overview of the survey and present radio and $γ$-ray timing results for the 10 MSPs discovered. These include the only isolated MSP discovered in our survey and six short-$P_B$ binary MSPs. Of these, three have very low-mass companions ($M_c$ $\ll$ 0.1M$_{\odot}$) and hence belong to the class of black widow pulsars. Two have more massive, non-degenerate companions with extensive radio eclipses and orbitally modulated X-ray emission consistent with the redback class. Significant $γ$-ray pulsations have been detected from nine of the discoveries. This survey and similar efforts suggest that the majority of Galactic $γ$-ray sources at high Galactic latitudes are either MSPs or relatively nearby non-recycled pulsars, with the latter having on average a much smaller radio/$γ$-ray beaming ratio as compared to MSPs. It also confirms that past surveys suffered from an observational bias against finding short-$P_B$ MSP systems.

astro-ph.HE↗

Searching for continuous Gravitational Waves in the second data release of the International Pulsar Timing Array

The International Pulsar Timing Array 2nd data release is the combination of datasets from worldwide collaborations. In this study, we search for continuous waves: gravitational wave signals produced by individual supermassive black hole binaries in the local universe. We consider binaries on circular orbits and neglect the evolution of orbital frequency over the observational span. We find no evidence for such signals and set sky averaged 95% upper limits on their amplitude h 95 . The most sensitive frequency is 10nHz with h 95 = 9.1 10-15 . We achieved the best upper limit to date at low and high frequencies of the PTA band thanks to improved effective cadence of observations. In our analysis, we have taken into account the recently discovered common red noise process, which has an impact at low frequencies. We also find that the peculiar noise features present in some pulsars data must be taken into account to reduce the false alarm. We show that using custom noise models is essential in searching for continuous gravitational wave signals and setting the upper limit.

gr-qc↗

PSR~J1910$-$5959A: A rare gravitational laboratory for testing white dwarf models

PSRJ1910-5959A (J1910A) is a binary millisecond pulsar in a 0.837 day circular orbit around a helium white dwarf (HeWD) companion. This pulsar is located 6.3 arcmin away from the centre of the globular cluster NGC6752. Given the large offset, the association of the pulsar to NGC6752 has been debated. We have made use of two decades of archival Parkes 64-m "Murriyang" telescope data and recently carried out observations with the MeerKAT telescope. We obtained Pulse times of arrival using standard data reduction techniques and analysed using Bayesian pulsar timing techniques. We analysed the pulsar's total intensity and polarisation profile, to study the interstellar scattering along the line of sight, and the pulsar's geometry by applying the rotating vector model. We obtain precise measurements of several post-Keplerian parameters: the range $r=0.202(6)T_\odot$ and shape s=0.999823(4) of the Shapiro delay, from which we infer the orbital inclination to be $88.9^{+0.15}_{-0.14}°$ and the masses of both the pulsar and the companion to be $1.55(7)M_{\odot}$ and $0.202(6)M_{\odot}$ respectively; a secular change in the orbital period $\dot{P}_{\rm b}=-53^{+7.4}_{-6.0}\times 10^{-15}$\,s\,s$^{-1}$ that proves the association to NGGC6752 and a secular change in the projected semi-major axis of the pulsar $\dot{x}= -40.7^{+7.3}_{-8.2}\times10^{-16}$\,s\,s$^{-1}$ that is likely caused by the spin-orbit interaction from a misaligned HeWD spin, at odds with the likely isolated binary evolution of the system. We also discuss some theoretical models for the structure and evolution of WDs in NS-WD binaries by using J1910A's companion as a test bed. J1910A is a rare system for which several parameters of both the pulsar and the HeWD companion can be accurately measured. As such, it is a test bed to discriminate between alternative models for HeWD structure and cooling.

astro-ph.HE↗

Neutron star mass estimates from gamma-ray eclipses in spider millisecond pulsar binaries

Reliable neutron star mass measurements are key to determining the equation-of-state of cold nuclear matter, but these are rare. "Black Widows" and "Redbacks" are compact binaries consisting of millisecond pulsars and semi-degenerate companion stars. Spectroscopy of the optically bright companions can determine their radial velocities, providing inclination-dependent pulsar mass estimates. While inclinations can be inferred from subtle features in optical light curves, such estimates may be systematically biased due to incomplete heating models and poorly-understood variability. Using data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope, we have searched for gamma-ray eclipses from 49 spider systems, discovering significant eclipses in 7 systems, including the prototypical black widow PSR B1957$+$20. Gamma-ray eclipses require direct occultation of the pulsar by the companion, and so the detection, or significant exclusion, of a gamma-ray eclipse strictly limits the binary inclination angle, providing new robust, model-independent pulsar mass constraints. For PSR B1957$+$20, the eclipse implies a much lighter pulsar ($M_{\rm psr} = 1.81 \pm 0.07\,M_{\odot}$) than inferred from optical light curve modelling.

astro-ph.HE↗

MeerKAT discovery of 13 new pulsars in Omega Centauri

The most massive globular cluster in our Galaxy, Omega Centauri, is an interesting target for pulsar searches, because of its multiple stellar populations and the intriguing possibility that it was once the nucleus of a galaxy that was absorbed into the Milky Way. The recent discoveries of pulsars in this globular cluster and their association with known X-ray sources was a hint that, given the large number of known X-ray sources, there is a much larger undiscovered pulsar population. We used the superior sensitivity of the MeerKAT radio telescope to search for pulsars in Omega Centauri. In this paper, we present some of the first results of this survey, including the discovery of 13 new pulsars; the total number of known pulsars in this cluster currently stands at 18. At least half of them are in binary systems and preliminary orbital constraints suggest that most of the binaries have light companions. We also discuss the ratio between isolated and binaries pulsars and how they were formed in this cluster.

astro-ph.HE↗

A MeerKAT look at the polarization of 47 Tucanae pulsars: magnetic field implications

We present the polarization profiles of 22 pulsars in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae using observations from the MeerKAT radio telescope at UHF-band (544-1088 MHz) and report precise values of dispersion measure (DM) and rotation measure (RM). We use these measurements to investigate the presence of turbulence in electron density and magnetic fields. The structure function of DM shows a break at $\sim 30$ arcsec ($\sim 0.6$ pc at the distance of 47 Tucanae) that suggests the presence of turbulence in the gas in the cluster driven by the motion of wind-shedding stars. On the other hand, the structure function of RM does not show evidence of a break. This non-detection could be explained either by the limited number of pulsars or by the effects of the intervening gas in the Galaxy along the line of sight. Future pulsar discoveries in the cluster could help confirm the presence and localise the turbulence.

astro-ph.HE↗

Upgraded GMRT survey for pulsars in globular clusters. I: Discovery of a millisecond binary pulsar in NGC 6652

Globular clusters contain a unique pulsar population, with many exotic systems that can form only in their dense stellar environments. The leap in sensitivity of the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) in India, especially at low radio frequencies ($<$ 1 GHz) has motivated a new search for radio pulsars in a group of eight Southern globular clusters. We discovered PSR J1835$-$3259B, a 1.83-ms pulsar in NGC 6652; this is in a near-circular wide orbit of 28.7 hr with a low-mass ($ \sim 0.2 \, M_{\rm \odot}$) companion, likely a Helium white dwarf. We derived a 10-year timing solution for this system. We also present measurements of scattering, flux densities and spectral indices for some of the previously known pulsars in these GCs. A significant fraction of the pulsars in these clusters have steep spectral indices. Additionally, we detected eight radio point sources not associated with any known pulsar positions in the radio images. There are four newly identified sources, three in NGC 6652 and one in NGC 6539, and one previously identified source each in NGC 1851, NGC 6440, NGC 6544, and Terzan 5. Surprisingly, our images show that our newly discovered pulsar, PSR J1835$-$3259B, is the brightest pulsar in all GCs we have imaged; like other pulsars with broad profiles (Terzan 5 C and O), its flux density in the radio images is much larger than in its pulsations. This indicates that their pulsed emission is only a fraction of their total emission. The detection of radio sources outside the core radii but well within the tidal radii of these clusters show that future GC surveys should complement the search analysis by using the imaging capability of interferometers, and preferentially synthesize large number of search beams in order to obtain a larger field of view.

astro-ph.HE↗

TRAPUM discovery of thirteen new pulsars in NGC 1851 using MeerKAT

We report the discovery of 13 new pulsars in the globular cluster NGC 1851 by the TRAPUM Large Survey Project using the MeerKAT radio telescope. The discoveries consist of six isolated millisecond pulsars (MSPs) and seven binary pulsars, of which six are MSPs and one is mildly recycled. For all the pulsars, we present the basic kinematic, astrometric, and orbital parameters, where applicable, as well as their polarimetric properties, when these are measurable. Two of the binary MSPs (PSR J0514-4002D and PSR J0514-4002E) are in wide and extremely eccentric (e > 0.7) orbits with a heavy white dwarf and a neutron star as their companion, respectively. With these discoveries, NGC 1851 is now tied with M28 as the cluster with the third largest number of known pulsars (14). Its pulsar population shows remarkable similarities with that of M28, Terzan 5 and other clusters with comparable structural parameters. The newly-found pulsars are all located in the innermost regions of NGC 1851 and will likely enable, among other things, detailed studies of the cluster structure and dynamics.

astro-ph.HE↗

Is the black-widow pulsar PSR J1555-2908 in a hierarchical triple system?

The 559 Hz black-widow pulsar PSR J1555-2908, originally discovered in radio, is also a bright gamma-ray pulsar. Timing its pulsations using 12 yr of Fermi-LAT gamma-ray data reveals long-term variations in its spin frequency that are much larger than is observed from other millisecond pulsars. While this variability in the pulsar rotation rate could be intrinsic "timing noise", here we consider an alternative explanation: the variations arise from the presence of a very-low-mass third object in a wide multi-year orbit around the neutron star and its low-mass companion. With current data, this hierarchical-triple-system model describes the pulsar's rotation slightly more accurately than the best-fitting timing-noise model. Future observations will show if this alternative explanation is correct.

astro-ph.HE↗

The International Pulsar Timing Array second data release: Search for an isotropic Gravitational Wave Background

We searched for an isotropic stochastic gravitational wave background in the second data release of the International Pulsar Timing Array, a global collaboration synthesizing decadal-length pulsar-timing campaigns in North America, Europe, and Australia. In our reference search for a power law strain spectrum of the form $h_c = A(f/1\,\mathrm{yr}^{-1})^α$, we found strong evidence for a spectrally-similar low-frequency stochastic process of amplitude $A = 3.8^{+6.3}_{-2.5}\times10^{-15}$ and spectral index $α= -0.5 \pm 0.5$, where the uncertainties represent 95\% credible regions, using information from the auto- and cross-correlation terms between the pulsars in the array. For a spectral index of $α= -2/3$, as expected from a population of inspiralling supermassive black hole binaries, the recovered amplitude is $A = 2.8^{+1.2}_{-0.8}\times10^{-15}$. Nonetheless, no significant evidence of the Hellings-Downs correlations that would indicate a gravitational-wave origin was found. We also analyzed the constituent data from the individual pulsar timing arrays in a consistent way, and clearly demonstrate that the combined international data set is more sensitive. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this combined data set produces comparable constraints to recent single-array data sets which have more data than the constituent parts of the combination. Future international data releases will deliver increased sensitivity to gravitational wave radiation, and significantly increase the detection probability.

astro-ph.HE↗

Modeling Fast Radio Burst Dispersion and Scattering Properties in the First CHIME/FRB Catalog

We present a Monte Carlo-based population synthesis study of fast radio burst (FRB) dispersion and scattering focusing on the first catalog of sources detected with the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment Fast Radio Burst (CHIME/FRB) project. We simulate intrinsic properties and propagation effects for a variety of FRB population models and compare the simulated distributions of dispersion measures (DMs) and scattering timescales with the corresponding distributions from the CHIME/FRB catalog. Our simulations confirm the results of previous population studies, which suggested that the interstellar medium of the host galaxy alone (simulated based on the NE2001 model) cannot explain the observed scattering timescales of FRBs. We therefore consider additional sources of scattering, namely, the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of intervening galaxies and the circumburst medium whose properties are modeled based on typical Galactic plane environments. We find that a population of FRBs with scattering contributed by these media is marginally consistent with the CHIME/FRB catalog. In this scenario, our simulations favor a population of FRBs offset from their galaxy centers over a population which is distributed along the spiral arms. However, if the models proposing the CGM as a source of intense scattering are incorrect, then we conclude that FRBs may inhabit environments with more extreme properties than those inferred for pulsars in the Milky Way.

astro-ph.HE↗

First discovery of new pulsars and RRATs with CHIME/FRB

We report the discovery of seven new Galactic pulsars with the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment's Fast Radio Burst backend (CHIME/FRB). These sources were first identified via single pulses in CHIME/FRB, then followed up with CHIME/Pulsar. Four sources appear to be rotating radio transients (RRATs), pulsar-like sources with occasional single pulse emission with an underlying periodicity. Of those four sources, three have detected periods ranging from 220 ms to 2.726 s. Three sources have more persistent but still intermittent emission and are likely intermittent or nulling pulsars. We have determined phase-coherent timing solutions for the latter three. These seven sources are the first discovery of previously unknown Galactic sources with CHIME/FRB and highlight the potential of fast radio burst detection instruments to search for intermittent Galactic radio sources.

astro-ph.HE↗

Study of 72 pulsars discovered in the PALFA survey: Timing analysis, glitch activity, emission variability, and a pulsar in an eccentric binary

We present new discoveries and results from long-term timing of 72 pulsars discovered in the Arecibo PALFA survey, including precise determination of astrometric and spin parameters, and flux density and scatter broadening measurements at 1.4 GHz. Notable discoveries include two young pulsars (characteristic ages $\sim$30 kyr) with no apparent supernova remnant associations, three mode changing, 12 nulling and two intermittent pulsars. We detected eight glitches in five pulsars. Among them is PSR J1939+2609, an apparently old pulsar (characteristic age $\sim$1 Gy), and PSR J1954+2529, which likely belongs to a newly-emerging class of binary pulsars. The latter is the only pulsar among the 72 that is clearly not isolated: a non-recycled neutron star with a 931-ms spin period in an eccentric ($e\,=\,0.114$) wide ($P_b\,=\,82.7\,$d) orbit with a companion of undetermined nature having a minimum mass of $\sim0.6\,M_{\odot}$. Since operations at Arecibo ceased in 2020 August, we give a final tally of PALFA sky coverage, and compare its 207 pulsar discoveries to the known population. On average, they are 50% more distant than other Galactic plane radio pulsars; PALFA millisecond pulsars (MSP) have twice the dispersion measure per unit spin period than the known population of MSP in the Plane. The four intermittent pulsars discovered by PALFA more than double the population of such objects, which should help to improve our understanding of pulsar magnetosphere physics. The statistics for these, RRATS, and nulling pulsars suggest that there are many more of these objects in the Galaxy than was previously thought.

astro-ph.HE↗

Search for fast radio transients using Arecibo drift-scan observations at 1.4 GHz

We conducted a drift-scan observation campaign using the 305-m Arecibo telescope in January and March 2020 when the observatory was temporarily closed during the intense earthquakes and the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. The primary objective of the survey was to search for fast radio transients, including Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and Rotating Radio Transients (RRATs). We used the 7-beam ALFA receiver to observe different sections of the sky within the declination region $\sim$(10$-$20) deg on 23 nights and collected 160 hours of data in total. We searched our data for single-pulse transients, covering up to a maximum dispersion measure of 11 000 pc cm$^{-3}$ at which the dispersion delay across the entire bandwidth is equal to the 13 s transit length of our observations. The analysis produced more than 18 million candidates. Machine learning techniques sorted the radio frequency interference and possibly astrophysical candidates, allowing us to visually inspect and confirm the candidate transients. We found no evidence for new astrophysical transients in our data. We also searched for emission from repeated transient signals, but found no evidence for such sources. We detected single pulses from two known pulsars in our observations and their measured flux densities are consistent with the expected values. Based on our observations and sensitivity, we estimated the upper limit for the FRB rate to be $<$2.8$\times10^5$ sky$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ above a fluence of 0.16 Jy ms at 1.4 GHz, which is consistent with the rates from other telescopes and surveys.

astro-ph.HE↗

A repeating fast radio burst source in a globular cluster

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are exceptionally luminous flashes of unknown physical origin, reaching us from other galaxies (Petroff et al. 2019). Most FRBs have only ever been seen once, while others flash repeatedly, though sporadically (Spitler et al. 2016, CHIME/FRB Collaboration et al. 2021). Many models invoke magnetically powered neutron stars (magnetars) as the engines producing FRB emission (Margalit & Metzger 2018, CHIME/FRB Collaboration et al. 2020). Recently, CHIME/FRB announced the discovery (Bhardwaj et al. 2021) of the repeating FRB 20200120E, coming from the direction of the nearby grand design spiral galaxy M81. Four potential counterparts at other observing wavelengths were identified (Bhardwaj et al. 2021) but no definitive association with these sources, or M81, could be made. Here we report an extremely precise localisation of FRB 20200120E, which allows us to associate it with a globular cluster (GC) in the M81 galactic system and to place it ~2pc offset from the optical center of light of the GC. This confirms (Bhardwaj et al. 2021) that FRB 20200120E is 40 times closer than any other known extragalactic FRB. Because such GCs host old stellar populations, this association strongly challenges FRB models that invoke young magnetars formed in a core-collapse supernova as powering FRB emission. We propose, instead, that FRB 20200120E is a highly magnetised neutron star formed via either accretion-induced collapse of a white dwarf or via merger of compact stars in a binary system (Margalit et al. 2019). Alternative scenarios involving compact binary systems, efficiently formed inside globular clusters, could also be responsible for the observed bursts.

astro-ph.HE↗

PSR J2222--0137. I. Improved physical parameters for the system

The PSR J2222-0137 binary system is a unique laboratory for testing gravity theories. To fully exploit its potential for the tests, we aim to improve the measurements of its physical parameters: spin, orbital orientation, and post-Keplerian parameters which quantify the observed relativistic effects. We present improved analysis of archival VLBI data, using a coordinate convention in full agreement with that used in timing. We also obtain much improved polarimetry with FAST. We provide an analysis of significantly extended timing data taken with Effelsberg, Nancay, Lovell and Green Bank telescopes. From VLBI analysis we obtain a new estimate of the position angle of ascending node, Omega=189(19) deg, and a new position of the pulsar with more conservative uncertainty. The FAST polarimetry and in particular the detection of an interpulse, yield much improved estimate for the spin geometry of the pulsar, in particular an inclination of the spin axis of 84 deg. From the timing we obtain a new 1% test of general relativity (GR) from the agreement of the Shapiro delay and the advance rate of periastron. Assuming GR in a self-consistent analysis of all effects, we obtain much improved mass: 1.831(10) M_sun for the pulsar and 1.319(4) M_sun for the companion; the total mass, 3.150(14) M_sun confirms it as the most massive double degenerate binary known in the Galaxy. This analysis also yields the orbital orientation: the orbital inclination is 85.27(4) deg, indicating a close alignment between the spin of the pulsar and the orbital angular momentum; Omega = 188(6) deg, matching our VLBI result. We also obtain precise value of the orbital period derivative, 0.251(8)e-12 s s^-1, consistent with the expected variation of Doppler factor plus the orbital decay caused by emission of gravitational wave (GW) predicted by GR. This agreement introduces stringent constraint on the emission of dipolar GW.

astro-ph.HE↗

The CHIME Pulsar Project: System Overview

We present the design, implementation and performance of a digital backend constructed for the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) that uses accelerated computing to observe radio pulsars and transient radio sources. When operating, the CHIME correlator outputs 10 independent streams of beamformed data for the CHIME/Pulsar backend that digitally track specified celestial positions. Each of these independent streams are processed by the CHIME/Pulsar backend system which can coherently dedisperse, in real-time, up to dispersion measure values of 2500 pc/cm$^{-3}$ . The tracking beams and real-time analysis system are autonomously controlled by a priority-based algorithm that schedules both known sources and positions of interest for observation with observing cadences as small as one day. Given the distribution of known pulsars and radio-transient sources, the CHIME/Pulsar system can monitor up to 900 positions once per sidereal day and observe all sources with declinations greater than $-20^\circ$ once every $\sim$2 weeks. We also discuss the science program enabled through the current modes of data acquisition for CHIME/Pulsar that centers on timing and searching experiments.

astro-ph.IM↗

Radio Detection of PSR J1813-1749 in HESS J1813-178: The Most Scattered Pulsar Known

The 44.7 ms X-ray pulsar in the supernova remnant G12.82-0.02/HESS J1813-178 has the second highest spin-down luminosity of known pulsars in the Galaxy, with E-dot=5.6e37 erg/s. Using the Green Bank Telescope, we have detected radio pulsations from PSR J1813-1749 at 4.4-10.2 GHz. The pulse is highly scattered, with an exponential decay timescale τlonger than that of any other pulsar at these frequencies. A point source detected at this position by Dzib et al. in several observations with the Jansky Very Large Array can be attributed to the pulsed emission. The steep dependence of τon observing frequency explains why all previous pulsation searches at lower frequencies failed (τ~0.25 s at 2 GHz). The large dispersion measure, DM=1087 pc/cc, indicates a distance of either 6.2 or 12 kpc according to two widely used models of the electron density distribution in the Galaxy. These disfavor a previously suggested association with a young stellar cluster at the closer distance of 4.8 kpc. The high X-ray measured column density of ~1e23/cm^2 also supports a large distance. If at d~12 kpc, HESS J1813-178 would be one of the most luminous TeV sources in the Galaxy.

astro-ph.HE↗