Precise γ-ray timing and radio observations of 17 Fermi γ-ray pulsars

P. S. Ray, M. Kerr, D. Parent, A. A. Abdo, L. Guillemot, S. M. Ransom, N. Rea, M. T. Wolff, A. Makeev, M. S.E. Roberts, F. Camilo, M. Dormody, P. C.C. Freire, J. E. Grove, C. Gwon, A. K. Harding, S. Johnston, M. Keith, M. Kramer, P. F. MichelsonR. W. Romani, P. M.Saz Parkinson, D. J. Thompson, P. Weltevrede, K. S. Wood, M. Ziegler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present precise phase-connected pulse timing solutions for 16 γ-ray-selected pulsars recently discovered using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope plus one very faint radio pulsar (PSR J1124-5916) that is more effectively timed with the LAT. We describe the analysis techniques including a maximum likelihood method for determining pulse times of arrival from unbinned photon data. A major result of this work is improved position determinations, which are crucial for multiwavelength follow-up. For most of the pulsars, we overlay the timing localizations on X-ray images from Swift and describe the status of X-ray counterpart associations. We report glitches measured in PSRs J0007+7303, J1124-5916, and J1813-1246. We analyze a new 20ks Chandra ACIS observation of PSR J0633+0632 that reveals an arcminute-scale X-ray nebula extending to the south of the pulsar. We were also able to precisely localize the X-ray point source counterpart to the pulsar and find a spectrum that can be described by an absorbed blackbody or neutron star atmosphere with a hard power-law component. Another Chandra ACIS image of PSR J1732-3131 reveals a faint X-ray point source at a location consistent with the timing position of the pulsar. Finally, we present a compilation of new and archival searches for radio pulsations from each of the γ-ray-selected pulsars as well as a new Parkes radio observation of PSR J1124-5916 to establish the γ-ray to radio phase offset.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number17
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume194
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011

Keywords

  • X-rays: stars
  • gamma rays: stars
  • pulsars: general
  • radio continuum: stars

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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