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 ∼30 arcsec (∼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 localize the turbulence.
We present Faraday rotation measure (RM) values derived at L and P bands as well as some 60 Stokes-parameter profiles, both determined from our long-standing Arecibo dual-frequency pulsar polarimetry programmes. Many of the RM measurements were carried out towards the inner Galaxy and the anticentre on pulsars with no previous determination, while others are remeasurements intended to confirm or improve the accuracy of existing values. Stokes-parameter profiles are displayed for the 58 pulsars for which no meaningful Stokes profile at lower frequency is available and 4 without a high-frequency pair. This is a population that includes many distant pulsars in the inner Galaxy. A number of these polarized pulse profiles exhibit clear interstellar-scattering tails; none the less, we have attempted to interpret the associated emission-beam structures and to provide morphological classifications and geometrical models where possible.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10436195
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Volume:
- 524
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0035-8711
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 5042-5049
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
more » « less
ABSTRACT -
Abstract We consider the propagation of polarization in the inner parts of pair-symmetric magnetar winds, close to the light cylinder. Pair plasmas in magnetic field is birefringent, a ∝ B 2 effect. As a result, such plasmas work as phase retarders: Stokes parameters follow a circular trajectory on the Poincare sphere. In the highly magnetized regime, ω , ω p ≪ ω B , the corresponding rotation rates are independent of the magnetic field. A plasma screen with dispersion measure DM ∼ 10 −6 pc cm −3 can induce large polarization changes, including large effective rotation measures (RMs). The frequency scaling of the (generalized) RM, ∝ λ α , mimics the conventional RM with α = 2 for small phase shifts, but can be as small as α = 1. In interpreting observations, the frequency scaling of polarization parameters should be fitted independently. The model offers explanations for (i) the large circular polarization component observed in FRBs, with right–left switching; (ii) large RM, with possible sign changes (when the observation bandwidth is small); and (iii) time-dependent variable polarization. A relatively dense and slow wind is needed—the corresponding effect in regular pulsars is small.more » « less
-
more » « less
ABSTRACT We present the first 2.5 yr of data from the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array (MPTA), part of MeerTime, a MeerKAT Large Survey Project. The MPTA aims to precisely measure pulse arrival times from an ensemble of 88 pulsars visible from the Southern hemisphere, with the goal of contributing to the search, detection, and study of nanohertz-frequency gravitational waves as part of the International Pulsar Timing Array. This project makes use of the MeerKAT telescope and operates with a typical observing cadence of 2 weeks using the L-band receiver that records data from 856 to 1712 MHz. We provide a comprehensive description of the observing system, software, and pipelines used and developed for the MeerTime project. The data products made available as part of this data release are from the 78 pulsars that had at least 30 observations between the start of the MeerTime programme in February 2019 and October 2021. These include both sub-banded and band-averaged arrival times and the initial timing ephemerides, noise models, and the frequency-dependent standard templates (portraits) used to derive pulse arrival times. After accounting for detected noise processes in the data, the frequency-averaged residuals of 67 of the pulsars achieved a root-mean-square residual precision of $\lt 1 \, \mu \rm {s}$. We also present a novel recovery of the clock correction waveform solely from pulsar timing residuals and an exploration into preliminary findings of interest to the international pulsar timing community. The arrival times, standards, and full Stokes parameter-calibrated pulsar timing archives are publicly available.
-
more » « less
ABSTRACT We report on a likelihood-stacking search for γ-ray pulsars at 362 high-latitude locations that coincide with known radio pulsar positions. We observe a stacked signal conservatively 2.5σ over the background. Stacking their likelihood profiles in spectral parameter space implies a pulsar-like spectral index and a characteristic flux a factor of 2 below the Fermi Large Area Telescope point-source sensitivity, assuming isotropic/unbeamed emission from all sample pulsars. The same procedures performed on empty control fields indicate that the pulsars as a population can be distinguished from the background with a Δ(TS) = 28, where TS refers to test statistic, at the peak location (or 4.8σ), and the stacked spectra of the control fields are distinctly softer than those of the pulsars. This study also probes a unique region of parameter space populated by low $\dot{E}$ pulsars, most of which have no γ-ray ephemeris available, and is sensitive to high duty cycles. We also discuss the possible γ-ray emission mechanism from such pulsars.
-
n/a (Ed.)more » « less
ABSTRACT This paper continues our study of radio pulsar emission-beam configurations with the primary intent of extending study to the lowest possible frequencies. Here, we focus on a group of 133 more recently discovered pulsars, most of which were included in the (100–200 MHz) LOFAR High-Band Survey, observed with Arecibo at 1.4 GHz and 327 MHz, and some observed at decametre wavelengths. Our analysis framework is the core/double-cone beam model, and we took opportunity to apply it as widely as possible, both conceptually and quantitatively, while highlighting situations where modelling is difficult, or where its premises may be violated. In the great majority of pulsars, beam forms consistent with the core/double-cone model were identified. Moreover, we found that each pulsar’s beam structure remained largely constant over the frequency range available; where profile variations were observed, they were attributable to different component spectra and in some instances to varying conal beam sizes. As an Arecibo population, many or most of the objects tend to fall in the Galactic anticenter region and/or at high Galactic latitudes, so overall it includes a number of nearer, older pulsars. We found a number of interesting or unusual characteristics in some of the pulsars that would benefit from additional study. The scattering levels encountered for this group are low to moderate, apart from a few pulsars lying in directions more towards the inner Galaxy.
