Pulsar studies with GRO-COMPTEL

Pulsar measurements performed by the experiment COMPTEL, aboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, are described. The main results refer to the Crab and Vela pulsars whose pulse shape characteristics are given in some detail and light curves are compared with those above 50 MeV, as observed by the COS-B satellite. No other gamma-ray pulsars have been detected to date by COMPTEL, the upper limit on the pulsed signal from Geminga being compatible with indications by other experiments.     

The problem of period detection in sources of hard gamma-ray emission

Thanks to the efforts of several research groups on high energy gamma-ray astronomy, the analysis techniques for periodicity searches in this field have improved noticeably over recent years. A brief review of the main problems involved in the analysis and of the technologies now available is given in this paper with an eye to what can be achieved by the planned gamma-ray satellite experiments.