An optical pulsar is a pulsar which can be detected in the visible spectrum. There are very few of these known: the Crab Pulsar was detected by stroboscopic techniques in 1969, shortly after its discovery in radio waves, at the Steward Observatory. The Vela Pulsar was detected in 1977 at the Anglo-Australian Observatory, and was the faintest star ever imaged at that time.
As of 2018, there are 13 recognized optical pulsars:
| Name of pulsar | Magnitude (B) |
|---|---|
| Crab Pulsar (CM Tauri, PSR B0531+21) | 16.5 |
| Vela Pulsar | 24 |
| PSR B0540-69 (in the Large Magellanic Cloud) | 23 |
| PSR B0656+14 | 26 |
| PSR B0633+17 (Geminga) | 25.5 |
| PSR B1509-58 (*) | 25.7 |
| PSR J1023+0038 | 22 |
| PSR B1055−52 | 24.9 |
| PSR B1929+10 | 25.6 |
| PSR B1133+16 | 28 |
| PSR B0950+08 | 27.1 |
| PSR J0108−1431 | 26.4 |
| PSR J0437−4715 | 20.98±0.09 |
| *Source included but not discussed in paper by source paper. | |
6References
External links
- "A Pulsar Discovery: First Optical Pulsar." Moments of Discovery, American Institute of Physics, 2007 (Includes audio and teachers guides).
References
COCKE, W. J.; DISNEY, M. J.; TAYLOR, D. J. (February 1969). "Discovery of Optical Signals from Pulsar NP 0532". Nature. 221 (5180): 525–527. Bibcode:1969Natur.221..525C. doi:10.1038/221525a0. S2CID 4296580. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier) ↩
NATHER, R. E.; WARNER, B.; MACFARLANE, M. (February 1969). "Optical Pulsations in the Crab Nebula Pulsar". Nature. 221 (5180): 527–529. Bibcode:1969Natur.221..527N. doi:10.1038/221527a0. S2CID 4295264. /wiki/Ed_Nather ↩
Proceedings of the 270. WE-Heraeus Seminar on Neutron Stars, Pulsars, and Supernova Remnants. MPE Report 278.; "Why study pulsars optically?"; Shearer, A. & Golden, A.; 2002; Bibcode:2002nsps.conf...44S, arxiv /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier) ↩
Shearer, Andrew; Connor, Eoin O’ (June 2018). "Optical pulsars and polarimetry". Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. 13 (S337): 191–194. doi:10.1017/S174392131700998X. ISSN 1743-9213 – via Astrophysics Data Service. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-international-astronomical-union/article/optical-pulsars-and-polarimetry/1B5AEC4B8F82A98F358D9892872C5E6F ↩
Bell, J. F.; Bailes, M.; Bessell, M. S. (August 1993). "Optical detection of the companion of the millisecond pulsar J0437-4715". Nature. 364 (6438): 603–605. doi:10.1038/364603a0. ISSN 0028-0836. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Natur.364..603B ↩
Bell, J. F.; Bailes, M.; Bessell, M. S. (August 1993). "Optical detection of the companion of the millisecond pulsar J0437-4715". Nature. 364 (6438): 603–605. doi:10.1038/364603a0. ISSN 0028-0836. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Natur.364..603B ↩