Preparing GLAST LAT studies of the millisecond pulsar PSR J0218+4232 and the blazar 3C 66A
- CENBG, Universite Bordeaux 1 - CNRS - IN2P3, Chemin du Solarium, 33175 Gradignan (France)
- CESR, Universite Toulouse 3 - CNRS - IN2P3, 9 avenue du Colonel Roche, 31028 Toulouse (France)
Millisecond pulsars have weaker magnetic fields than normal pulsars, but their rapid rotation implies open field line voltages similar to those of young pulsars and they are therefore candidates for accelerating particles to the high energies required to emit in the GeV energy domain. PSR J0218+4232 was the only millisecond pulsar detected by EGRET. Its detection was rendered difficult by the powerful BL Lacertae 3C 66A a degree away, in spite of the low background (b= -16.8 degrees). Pulsations were detected at the 4.9 {sigma} level, reinforcing the expectation that millisecond pulsars are a promising class for detection by the forthcoming high-energy mission GLAST. To estimate the GLAST LAT performance for both PSR J0218+4232 and 3C 66A, we have simulated LAT data using predictions for the 'polar cap' and the 'outer gap' pulsar models along with spectral energy distribution estimates for the blazar, normalizing to the EGRET observed fluxes. We demonstrate that GLAST is able to separate unambiguously the two objects in a few weeks. The spectral parameters of the pulsar derived in this context could be used to discriminate between the polar cap and outer gap models.
- OSTI ID:
- 21064156
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 921, Issue 1; Conference: 1. GLAST symposium, Stanford, CA (United States), 5-8 Feb 2007; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2757369; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Collabortion: GLAST Mission Team; ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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