Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Scientific paper
2011-09-13
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
15 pages, 2 figures and 2 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJL
Scientific paper
PSR J1734-3333 is a radio pulsar rotating with a period P=1.17 s and slowing down with a period derivative Pdot=2.28 x 10^{-12}, the third largest among rotation-powered pulsars. These properties are midway between those of normal rotation-powered pulsars and magnetars, two populations of neutron stars that are notably different in their emission properties. Here we report on the measurement of the second period derivative of the rotation of PSR J1734-3333 and calculate a braking index n=0.9 +- 0.2. This value is well below 3, the value expected for an electromagnetic braking due to a constant magnetic dipole, and indicates that this pulsar may soon have the rotational properties of a magnetar. While there are several mechanisms which could lead to such a low braking index, we discuss this observation, together with the properties exhibited by some other high-Pdot rotation-powered pulsars, and interpret it as evidence of a possible evolutionary route for magnetars through a radio-pulsar phase, supporting a unified description of the two classes of object.
Espinoza Cristobal M.
Kaspi Victoria
Krämer Michael
Lyne Andrew
Manchester Richard N.
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