The double-pulsar binary J0737–3039

A recent multibeam pulsar survey of the outer Galactic plane at Parkes has discovered the first-known double-pulsar binary, a very compact double neutron star system in which both stars are observable as radio pulsars. In this review, we briefly describe the discovery and the studies which have been enabled by the unique properties of the system. These range from the most precise confirmation yet of the theory of general relativity, with the possibility of even more new tests and the measurement of second-order post-Newtonian effects, to studies of the magnetospheres and emission properties of the two pulsars. The discovery also results in a significant increase in the expected rate of occurrence of the mergers of double neutron star systems, and hence the rate of detection of such events by the new ground-based gravitational wave detectors.     

Interplanetary spacecraft navigation using pulsars

We demonstrate how observations of pulsars can be used to help navigate a spacecraft travelling in the solar system. We make use of archival observations of millisecond pulsars from the Parkes radio telescope in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method and highlight issues, such as pulsar spin irregularities, which need to be accounted for. We show that observations of four millisecond pulsars every seven days using a realistic X-ray telescope on the spacecraft throughout a journey from Earth to Mars can lead to position determinations better than ∼20 km and velocity measurements with a precision of ∼0.1 ms⁻¹.     

毫秒脉冲星计时的多星观测

在评价脉冲星时研究发展趋势的基础上 ,讨论了基于毫秒脉冲星自转的脉冲星时间的短期特征和长期稳定度。并对影响其稳定度的因素作了初步分析。 5 0m射电望远镜计时观测的目的之一就是综合脉冲星时研究。对于 5 0m望远镜计时观测的选星和由多星观测进行综合脉冲星时研究中的数据分析问题进行了讨论。     

Production and evolution of millisecond X-ray and radio pulsars

Observations using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) have discovered dozens of accreting neutron stars with millisecond spin periods in low-mass binary star systems. Eighteen are millisecond X-ray pulsars powered by accretion or nuclear burning or both. These stars have magnetic fields strong enough for them to become millisecond rotation-powered (radio) pulsars when accretion ceases. Few, if any, accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars have spin rates higher than 750 Hz. There is strong evidence that the spin-up of some accreting neutron stars is limited by magnetic spin-equilibrium whereas the spin-up of others is halted when accretion ends. Further study will show whether the spin rates of some accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars are or were limited by emission of gravitational radiation.     

Pulsars and their nebulae as EGRET sources

At the end of the EGRET mission, only 6–8 Galactic sources had been identified as young pulsars. Since then, several energetic pulsars have been detected in EGRET error boxes along the Galactic plane, as well as several pulsar wind nebulae from which pulsations have not yet been discovered. Some of these nebulae are associated with moderately variable EGRET sources, suggesting that the γ-ray emission might be coming from the nebula rather than from the pulsar magnetosphere. There is also a population of unidentified EGRET sources at mid-Galactic latitudes which have been proposed to be either nearby middle-aged pulsars or millisecond pulsars. I review the current status of observational studies of pulsars associated with EGRET sources and what they suggest the upcoming AGILE and GLAST γ-ray missions might observe.     

A search for radio emission from the young 16-ms X-ray pulsar PSR J0537−6910

PSR J0537−6910 is a young, energetic, rotation-powered X-ray pulsar with a spin period of 16 ms located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We have searched for previously undetected radio pulsations (both giant and standard) from this pulsar in a 12-h observation taken at 1400 MHz with the Parkes 64-m radio telescope. The very large value of the magnetic field at the light cylinder radius suggests that this pulsar might be emitting giant radio pulses like those seen in other pulsars with similar field strengths. No radio emission of either kind was detected from the pulsar, and we have established an upper limit of ∼25 mJy kpc² for the average 1400-MHz radio luminosity of PSR J0537−6910. The 5σ single-pulse detection threshold was ∼750 mJy for a single 80-μs sample. These limits are likely to be the best obtainable until searches with greatly improved sensitivity can be made with next-generation radio instruments.     

基于虚拟观测值的X射线单脉冲星星光组合导航

传统的X射线脉冲星导航系统需要同时观测3~4颗脉冲星,有效载荷的质量和功耗极大。因此,单探测器脉冲星导航技术是实现航天器利用X射线脉冲星导航的关键举措。针对单探测器脉冲星导航的可观测性弱和精度低等问题提出了基于虚拟观测值的X射线单脉冲星与星光集中式组合滤波的高精度导航方法,即在X射线脉冲星的长周期内增加与星光同时刻观测的虚拟观测值,以实现高精度的集中式组合滤波算法。同时提出了利用神经网络预测虚拟观测值方法,并与利用动力学递推的方法进行比较,精度可以达到10-7量级。仿真结果表明,该方法可大大提高单探测器的导航的可靠性,补偿由于探测器误差造成的导航误差,导航位置误差为259.79 m,同时有效地减小了导航系统的重量,为X射线脉冲星导航的工程实现提供了参考依据。      

Contributions from nearby pulsars to the local cosmic ray electron spectrum

PSR J0437-4715 is one of the closest millisecond pulsars (MSPs) to Earth, lying at a distance of ∼140 pc. This pulsar has a characteristic age of 4.9 Gyr and a relatively low spindown power of ∼10³⁴ ergs/s. During its rather long lifetime, a large fraction of the energy output has been in the form of multi-TeV electrons. In this paper, we investigate the possible contribution of this nearby MSP to the local interstellar electron spectrum (LIS). The old age of the system justifies a steady-state evaluation of the contribution from this pulsar to the LIS. We calculate the electron spectrum at the light cylinder in the framework of a General Relativistic polar cap (PC) model, and use this as an injection spectrum in a diffusion model. The younger Geminga pulsar is also very close to Earth and warrants investigation. A steady-state approach is however no longer justified, so we use an impulsive injection model. We will present results of a study of the contribution from these pulsars to the cosmic ray (CR) LIS. Our calculations show that pulsars like Geminga can make a non-negligible contribution to the LIS.     

Optical, X-ray and γ-ray observations of compact objects in globular clusters

In the past three years, a new era of study of globular clusters has begun with multiwavelength observations from the current generation of astronomical telescopes in space. We review the recent results obtained from our studies of compact binaries and x-ray sources in globulars with ROSAT and HST as well as our balloon-borne hard x-ray telescope EXITE and ground-based observations (CTIO). With ROSAT, we have obtained the most sensitive high resolution soft x-ray images of clusters which show multiple low luminosity sources in cluster cores that are likely indicative of the long-sought population of cataclysmic variables (CVs). We have obtained deep H images of two clusters with HST and found CV candidates for 3 of the ROSAT sources in the core of NGC 6397. New CTIO imaging and spectroscopy of two ‘dim source’ fields in ω-Cen are also described. With EXITE we carried out the first hard x-ray imaging observations of the cluster 47 Tuc; such studies can ultimately limit the populations of millisecond pulsars and pulsar emission mechanisms. A long ROSAT exposure on 47 Tuc also shows probable cluster diffuse emission, possibly due to hot gas from ablating millisecond pulsars. Multiwavelength studies of globular clusters may provide new constraints on problems as diverse as the origin of CVs and LMXBs and the origin of hot gas in globulars.     

Neutron star masses derived from relativistic measurements of radio pulsars

Radio telescope observations of relativistic phenomena in binary pulsar systems yield straightforward and robust determinations of the masses of pulsars and their companion stars. This paper summarizes masses measured by this means.     

Possible radio JETS in GX 1+4

GX 1+4 is an X-ray pulsar with a nominal period of 2 or 4 min. and has the highest of 0.22 yr⁻¹ among the X-ray pulsars. The source is identified with an optical counterpart V2116 Oph, however no binary period has been reported so far. There are several features of the source like , variable pulse shape, period history and the spectral changes which do not fit well with our present understanding of the source.

The radio observation of the galactic center region were made using Molonglo observatory Synthesis Telescope operating at a frequency of 843 MHz. A 12 hr observation was made with the field center at the position coordinates of the optical counterpart. No significant radio emission was seen corresponding to the center position.

The synthesis map however, showed the presence of two regions of radio enhancements almost equidistant from the optical source in the diametrically opposite directions/1/. The data is interpreted as due to synchrotron emission produced by the expanding jets of GX 1+4, similar to the radio jets observed in galaxies. Radio jets have been inferred for three galactic X-ray binary sources namely, Sco X-1, Cyg X-3, and SS 433. However, for all these sources no X-ray pulsation has been detected so far. The present observations if confirmed will be the first case of radio jets in a stellar system containing an X-ray pulsar.     

脉冲星导航的天体测量考虑

X射线脉冲星导航是基于X射线脉冲星观测,经过信号处理得到脉冲到达时刻序列,进而分析该时间序列提供导航相关信息的技术。为了分析脉冲星导航的可行性和依赖条件,从概念上描述了脉冲星的观测模型,并比较了射电脉冲星观测和X射线脉冲星观测数据处理过程;进而从天体测量的角度论述了脉冲星导航可行性的相关问题,主要包含观测量的获取、整周模糊度和应用范围3个问题。经分析可知:观测量的获取与观测者的速度有关,该速度可通过最大化观测轮廓法确定;对于深空和超深空导航,整周模糊度是首先需要解决的问题,脉冲星的位置精度也是需要考虑的因素。理论上X射线脉冲星导航可以应用于近地和深空探测。     

分时段实时观测脉冲星的单探测器导航方法

传统的X射线脉冲星导航系统需要同时观测3~4颗脉冲星,有效载荷的质量和功耗极大。针对航天器环地飞行中受地球遮挡、探测器可探测范围等因素影响,导致脉冲星并非所有时刻均可见的现象,提出了单探测器分时段实时观测脉冲星的导航方法。根据航天器的实际飞行情况,系统分析探测器在不同探测范围下对脉冲星实时的可见性状况,从每时段的可见星中选取单星进行导航。仿真表明,该方法可大大提高单探测器的导航性能,导航位置误差达到337m,同时有效地减小了导航系统的重量,为X射线脉冲星导航的工程实现提供了参考依据。     

On the electrodynamics of counter stream in pulsar’s inner annular cap region

The electric properties of pulsar’s inner annular gap are explored in this paper. Under two main assumptions, (1) the pulsar is alive, (2) the total charge of pulsar should not vary with time, the condition for the acceleration of negative particle in the annular region is derived. The acceleration condition is j₋ ? 0.5j₊, i.e., the current carried by negative particles is greater than or equal to 0.5 times of the current carried by positive particles. This condition holds even when the backward flow of positive particles exists in the annular region. It is noted that the outflow of negative particles offers good opportunities to understand the current closure problem of pulsar as well as wide radiation beam of pulsar observed at high energy band.     

脉冲星导航在高精度卫星轨道修正中的应用

X射线脉冲星导航系统(XNAV,X-ray Pulsar Based Navigation)能够为航天器提供自主的定位服务,但是XNAV存在精度较差,且受航天器钟差和脉冲星时间模型误差的影响而产生近似常值偏差的缺点.分析与仿真指出,在采用XNAV单独导航时需要2颗脉冲星可达到完全观测,而采用XNAV和星间观测的组合导航时仅需要1颗脉冲星即可达到完全观测,同时组合导航能够将轨道修正的精度提高10倍以上,并将由于常值偏差造成的估计误差抑制在0.2 m以内.在现实的噪声设定下,采用标准XNAV单独进行轨道修正,仅需要两颗脉冲星即可取得50 m以内的估计精度;而采用组合导航时,在单脉冲星的导航方案下,系统的估计精度为5 m以内.分析结果表明:基于单脉冲星导航的组合导航,是一种高精度、低需求,容易实现的卫星轨道估计方案.      

Improved orbital parameters of accreting millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658

We analyze the three outbursts of the X-ray millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 that occurred in 1998, 2000, and 2002 observed with RXTE. With a technique based on epoch folding search we find an unique orbital solution valid over the five years of high temporal resolution data available. We revise the estimate of the orbital period, P_orb = 7249.1569(1) s and of its error, which we decrease by one order of magnitude. We also give the first constraint on the orbital period derivative, . We find that in 2002 the pulse profile shape is clearly asymmetric, showing a secondary peak at about 145° from the main pulse, which is different from the sinusoidal shape reported at the beginning of the 1998 outburst.     

北斗卫星导航系统X射线脉冲星可见性分析

X射线脉冲星可以为深空乃至近地航天器提供全源、自主、高精度的导航服务.对近地航天器而言，由于中心天体的遮挡，脉冲星信号并非全程可见，所以X射线脉冲星的可见性成为近地导航应用中挑选脉冲星的关键因素，也是脉冲星导航的首要工作.本文对挑选出的30颗X射线脉冲星在北斗系统7个轨道面上的可见性进行了仿真分析，得出了一天内可见脉冲星数量的变化情况以及一年内太阳、地球和月球遮挡的仿真结果,总结了影响脉冲星可见性的天体的遮挡规律，为利用脉冲星对北斗卫星进行自主定轨和守时提供了数据支持.     

利用X射线源实现航天器相对定位

利用X 射线源实现航天器相对定位, 突破了X 射线脉冲星绝对定位中需要选取具有稳定周期脉冲星的限制, 通过周期脉冲信号及非周期时变信号互相关时差测量仿真试算, 得出信号变化幅度是影响时延测量精度的重要因素. 在分析测距和星历误差对相对定位精度影响的基础上, 利用脉冲星数据库中提供的脉冲星参数, 对同时观测3~6 颗脉冲星的相对定位精度进行了试算.      

Optical,ultraviolet, and infrared observations of isolated neutron stars

Forty years passed since the optical identification of the first isolated neutron star (INS), the Crab pulsar. 25 INSs have been now identified in the optical (O), near-ultraviolet (nUV), or near-infrared (nIR), hereafter UVOIR, including rotation-powered pulsars (RPPs), magnetars, and X-ray-dim INSs (XDINSs), while deep investigations have been carried out for compact central objects (CCOs), Rotating RAdio transients (RRATs), and high-magnetic field radio pulsars (HBRPs). In this review I describe the status of UVOIR observations of INSs, their emission properties, and I present the results from recent observations.     

基于扩展卡尔曼滤波的XPNAV-1卫星自主定轨算法研究

X射线脉冲星导航1号（XPNAV-1）是全球首颗脉冲星导航专用试验卫星。利用该卫星观测的单颗脉冲星数据，采用几何约束方法，能够有效抑制轨道误差增长，但存在长时间定轨发散问题。针对XPNAV-1卫星拓展试验任务及脉冲星导航后续发展需求，利用多颗脉冲星的观测数据，研究基于扩展卡尔曼滤波（EKF）的卫星自主定轨算法。首先，建立该卫星的轨道力学模型和观测方程；然后，详细论述EKF滤波算法和分段式定常系统（PWCS）的可观测性分析方法；最后，通过综合分析XPNAV-1卫星的观测数据、脉冲星对该卫星轨道的覆盖性以及系统状态的可观测性，进行自主定轨算法试验。试验结果表明，基于EKF的自主定轨算法滤波过程收敛，验证了该算法的合理性和有效性。