The Vela pulsar in the ultraviolet

Roger W. Romani; Oleg Kargaltsev; George G. Pavlov

doi:10.1086/430269

The Vela pulsar in the ultraviolet

Roger W. Romani, Oleg Kargaltsev, George G. Pavlov

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe time-tagged observations of the Vela pulsar (PSR B0833-45) with the HST STIS MAMA UV detectors. Using an optimal extraction technique, we obtain an NUV light curve and crude FUV phase-resolved spectra. The pulse is dominated by complex nonthermal emission at all phases. We obtain approximate spectral indices for the brightest pulse components, relate these to pulsations observed in other wave bands, and constrain the thermal surface emission from the neutron star. An upper limit on the Rayleigh-Jeans component at UV pulse minimum suggests a rather low mean surface temperature T_eff ^∞ < 4.6 × 10⁵ (d₃₀₀/R _14.2)² K. If confirmed by improved phase-resolved spectroscopy, this observation has significant impact on our understanding of neutron star interiors.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	383-389
Number of pages	7
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	627
Issue number	1 I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/430269
State	Published - Jul 1 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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title = "The Vela pulsar in the ultraviolet",

abstract = "We describe time-tagged observations of the Vela pulsar (PSR B0833-45) with the HST STIS MAMA UV detectors. Using an optimal extraction technique, we obtain an NUV light curve and crude FUV phase-resolved spectra. The pulse is dominated by complex nonthermal emission at all phases. We obtain approximate spectral indices for the brightest pulse components, relate these to pulsations observed in other wave bands, and constrain the thermal surface emission from the neutron star. An upper limit on the Rayleigh-Jeans component at UV pulse minimum suggests a rather low mean surface temperature Teff ∞ < 4.6 × 105 (d300/R 14.2)2 K. If confirmed by improved phase-resolved spectroscopy, this observation has significant impact on our understanding of neutron star interiors.",

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AU - Romani, Roger W.

AU - Kargaltsev, Oleg

AU - Pavlov, George G.

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N2 - We describe time-tagged observations of the Vela pulsar (PSR B0833-45) with the HST STIS MAMA UV detectors. Using an optimal extraction technique, we obtain an NUV light curve and crude FUV phase-resolved spectra. The pulse is dominated by complex nonthermal emission at all phases. We obtain approximate spectral indices for the brightest pulse components, relate these to pulsations observed in other wave bands, and constrain the thermal surface emission from the neutron star. An upper limit on the Rayleigh-Jeans component at UV pulse minimum suggests a rather low mean surface temperature Teff ∞ < 4.6 × 105 (d300/R 14.2)2 K. If confirmed by improved phase-resolved spectroscopy, this observation has significant impact on our understanding of neutron star interiors.

AB - We describe time-tagged observations of the Vela pulsar (PSR B0833-45) with the HST STIS MAMA UV detectors. Using an optimal extraction technique, we obtain an NUV light curve and crude FUV phase-resolved spectra. The pulse is dominated by complex nonthermal emission at all phases. We obtain approximate spectral indices for the brightest pulse components, relate these to pulsations observed in other wave bands, and constrain the thermal surface emission from the neutron star. An upper limit on the Rayleigh-Jeans component at UV pulse minimum suggests a rather low mean surface temperature Teff ∞ < 4.6 × 105 (d300/R 14.2)2 K. If confirmed by improved phase-resolved spectroscopy, this observation has significant impact on our understanding of neutron star interiors.

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

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The Vela pulsar in the ultraviolet

Abstract

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