Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-01-26
Astron.Astrophys.406:245-252,2003
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Contains 5 figures. Submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysics. E-mail contact: akr@tifr.res.in
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361:20030703
We report on deep VLT observations of the fields of two nearby, isolated millisecond pulsars PSR J1744-1134 and PSR J1024-0719. Both objects are old neutron stars with characteristic age $\tau \ge 10^9$ yr and have relatively high spin-down flux. They have been detected earlier as X-ray sources by ROSAT HRI observations and were considered good candidates for non-thermal emission in the optical bands. Our observations set an upper limit of $B=26.9$, $V=26.3$ and $R=26.0$ for PSR J1744-1134. In the case of PSR J1024-0719, we find two faint objects near the radio position of the pulsar. Using multi-band photometry from the VLT and spectroscopy carried out with the Magellan I telescope, we discuss the nature of the brighter object and the possibility of the fainter one being the optical counterpart of PSR J1024-0719. We consider the implications of our findings for both pulsars in the context of theoretical models of high-energy emission from old pulsars.
Hertling Gisela
Quintana Hernan
Ray Asok
Reisenegger Andreas
Sutaria Firoza K.
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