High energy observations of pulsars

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5925158

Kanbach, G

High energy emissions have so far only been definitely observed from two pulsars: Crab (PSR 0531 + 21) and Vela (PSR 0833-45). In these sources, however, the luminosity at ..gamma..-ray energies surpasses the radio luminosity by approximately 10/sup 6/ which demonstrates the basic importance of this emission for the pulsar radiation budget. Deep observations performed with the COS-B instrument in the 0.1 to 1 GeV ..gamma..-ray energy range have revealed several previously unknown details: the Vela pulsar ..gamma..-ray spectrum changes with light-curve phase such that the second peak of emission exhibits a harder spectrum than the first peak. In the Crab pulsar a secular change of the relative strength of the two peaks of emission has been detected with high probability in the course of observations spread over 5 years. It is remarkable that concurrent observations of the X-ray (2-12 keV) pulse profile of Crab do not show this variation. The search for ..gamma..-ray emission from further radio pulsars has up to now been inconclusive. From the estimated flux limits it is however possible to derive limits to the contribution of pulsars to the high energy luminosity of the Galaxy. It is expected that the next generation of telescopes on board the Gamma Ray Observatory will discern several more ..gamma..-ray pulsars. 33 references, 7 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Garching, West Germany
• OSTI ID: 5925158
• Report Number(s): CONF-830136-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 101
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GALAXIES
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SPECTRA
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUMINOSITY
MILKY WAY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PULSARS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SATELLITES
SPECTRA
X RADIATION