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Gamma-Ray Observations of Pulsars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

M. P. Ulmer
M. P. Ulmer*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208

Abstract

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We report on Compton Gamma Ray Observatory observations of six detected pulsars: the Crab, Vela, Geminga, PSR B1509-58, PSR B1706-44, and PSR B1055-52. We combine these data with radio data and X-ray data to provide an overview of what is known about gamma-ray pulsars. We discuss light curves, spectra, and radio/gamma-ray phase offsets, and present several tentative patterns in the data. These include constant phase with γ-ray energy; a correlation between gamma-ray and X-ray luminosity; an anticorrelation between the gamma-ray luminosity and the efficiency in converting rotational energy loss into gamma-ray flux; and a correlation between the pulsar period and radio/gamma-ray phase offset. We also suggest that the emission models that have been proposed to date cannot explain the similarities of the average gamma-ray light curves observed over a wide range of energies. Further, unless a narrow beam is assumed, pulsars such as PSR B1055-52 and Geminga appear to be radiating a significant fraction of their rotational energy loss in the form of gamma rays.

Subject headings: gamma rays: observations — pulsars: general — radio continuum: stars — X-rays: stars

Type
Pulsars, Supernovae, and Supernova Remnants
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 142: Particle Acceleration Phenomena in Astrophysical Plasmas , 1994 , pp. 789 - 795
Copyright
Copyright © The American Astronomical Society 1994

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