In the standard theory of pulsar spin-up, a neutron star (NS) in a binary system accretes matter from its companion star; this serves to transfer angular momentum to the NS, increasing the spin frequency of the pulsar. Measurement of the orbital parameters and system geometry, and in particular the final system masses, thus provide important constraints for theories regarding binary evolution. We present results from an investigation of three binary pulsar systems. PSR J1802-2124 is in an intermediate-mass pulsar binary system with a massive white dwarf companion in a compact orbit with a period of 16.8 hours. We have per-formed timing analysis on almost five years of data in order to determine the amount of Shapiro delay experienced by the incoming pulsar signal as it traverses the potential well of the companion star on its way to Earth. We find the pulsar in this system to have a relatively low mass at 1.24 ± 0.11 M®, and the companion mass to be 0.79 ± 0.04111.).We argue that the full set of system properties indicates that the system underwent a common-envelope phase in its evolutionary history. The double pulsar system PSR 0737-3039A/B is a highly relativistic double neutron star (DNS) binary, with a 2.4-hour orbital period. The low mass of the second-formed NS, as well the low system eccentricity and proper motion, have suggested a different evolutionary scenario compared to other known DNS systems. We describe analysis of the pulse profile shape over six years of observations, and present the constraints this provides on the system geometry. We find the recycled pulsar in this system, PSR 0737-3039A,to have a low misalignment angle between its spin and orbital angular momentum axes, with a 95.4% upper limit of 14 °, assuming emission from both magnetic poles. This tight constraint lends credence to the idea that the supernova that formed the second pulsar was relatively symmetric, possibly involving electron captures onto an 0-Ne-Mg core. We have also conducted timing analysis of PSR J1756-2251 using four years of data, and have obtained tight constraints on the component masses and orbital parameters in this DNS system. We have measured four post-Keplerian timing parameters for this pulsar; the Shapiro delay s parameter, with a 5% measured uncertainty, is consistent at just above the la level with the predictions of general relativity. The pulsar in this system has a fairly typical NS mass of 1.312 ± O.017M®, and the companion NS to be relatively light, with a mass of 1.2581017 Mo. This, together with the somewhat low orbital eccentricity of this system (e 0.18), suggests a similar evolution to that of the double pulsar. We investigate this further, through a similar pulse profile analysis to that performed with PSR J0737-3039A, with the goal of constraining the geometry of this system.

In the standard theory of pulsar spin-up, a neutron star (NS) in a binary system accretes matter from its companion star; this serves to transfer angular momentum to the NS, increasing the spin frequency of the pulsar. Measurement of the orbital parameters and system geometry, and in particular the final system masses, thus provide important constraints for theories regarding binary evolution. We present results from an investigation of three binary pulsar systems. PSR J1802-2124 is in an intermediate-mass pulsar binary system with a massive white dwarf companion in a compact orbit with a period of 16.8 hours. We have per-formed timing analysis on almost five years of data in order to determine the amount of Shapiro delay experienced by the incoming pulsar signal as it traverses the potential well of the companion star on its way to Earth. We find the pulsar in this system to have a relatively low mass at 1.24 ± 0.11 M®, and the companion mass to be 0.79 ± 0.04111.).We argue that the full set of system properties indicates that the system underwent a common-envelope phase in its evolutionary history. The double pulsar system PSR 0737-3039A/B is a highly relativistic double neutron star (DNS) binary, with a 2.4-hour orbital period. The low mass of the second-formed NS, as well the low system eccentricity and proper motion, have suggested a different evolutionary scenario compared to other known DNS systems. We describe analysis of the pulse profile shape over six years of observations, and present the constraints this provides on the system geometry. We find the recycled pulsar in this system, PSR 0737-3039A,to have a low misalignment angle between its spin and orbital angular momentum axes, with a 95.4% upper limit of 14 °, assuming emission from both magnetic poles. This tight constraint lends credence to the idea that the supernova that formed the second pulsar was relatively symmetric, possibly involving electron captures onto an 0-Ne-Mg core. We have also conducted timing analysis of PSR J1756-2251 using four years of data, and have obtained tight constraints on the component masses and orbital parameters in this DNS system. We have measured four post-Keplerian timing parameters for this pulsar; the Shapiro delay s parameter, with a 5% measured uncertainty, is consistent at just above the la level with the predictions of general relativity. The pulsar in this system has a fairly typical NS mass of 1.312 ± O.017M®, and the companion NS to be relatively light, with a mass of 1.2581017 Mo. This, together with the somewhat low orbital eccentricity of this system (e 0.18), suggests a similar evolution to that of the double pulsar. We investigate this further, through a similar pulse profile analysis to that performed with PSR J0737-3039A, with the goal of constraining the geometry of this system.

No description available.

In the standard theory of pulsar spin-up, a neutron star (NS) in a binary system accretes matter from its companion star; this serves to transfer angular momentum to the NS, increasing the spin frequency of the pulsar. Measurement of the orbital parameters and system geometry, and in particular the final system masses, thus provide important constraints for theories regarding binary evolution. We present results from an investigation of three binary pulsar systems. PSR J1802-2124 is in an intermediate-mass pulsar binary system with a massive white dwarf companion in a compact orbit with a period of 16.8 hours. We have per-formed timing analysis on almost five years of data in order to determine the amount of Shapiro delay experienced by the incoming pulsar signal as it traverses the potential well of the companion star on its way to Earth. We find the pulsar in this system to have a relatively low mass at 1.24 ± 0.11 M®, and the companion mass to be 0.79 ± 0.04111.).We argue that the full set of system properties indicates that the system underwent a common-envelope phase in its evolutionary history. The double pulsar system PSR 0737-3039A/B is a highly relativistic double neutron star (DNS) binary, with a 2.4-hour orbital period. The low mass of the second-formed NS, as well the low system eccentricity and proper motion, have suggested a different evolutionary scenario compared to other known DNS systems. We describe analysis of the pulse profile shape over six years of observations, and present the constraints this provides on the system geometry. We find the recycled pulsar in this system, PSR 0737-3039A,to have a low misalignment angle between its spin and orbital angular momentum axes, with a 95.4% upper limit of 14 °, assuming emission from both magnetic poles. This tight constraint lends credence to the idea that the supernova that formed the second pulsar was relatively symmetric, possibly involving electron captures onto an 0-Ne-Mg core. We have also conducted timing analysis of PSR J1756-2251 using four years of data, and have obtained tight constraints on the component masses and orbital parameters in this DNS system. We have measured four post-Keplerian timing parameters for this pulsar; the Shapiro delay s parameter, with a 5% measured uncertainty, is consistent at just above the la level with the predictions of general relativity. The pulsar in this system has a fairly typical NS mass of 1.312 ± O.017M®, and the companion NS to be relatively light, with a mass of 1.2581017 Mo. This, together with the somewhat low orbital eccentricity of this system (e 0.18), suggests a similar evolution to that of the double pulsar. We investigate this further, through a similar pulse profile analysis to that performed with PSR J0737-3039A, with the goal of constraining the geometry of this system. / Science, Faculty of / Physics and Astronomy, Department of / Graduate

Studying the properties of newborn neutron stars is a complicated matter since they cannot be directly observed. Neutron stars are born when some massive stars go supernova (SN), where the expelled material from the explosion goes on to shield the young neutron star from our view by absorbing its radiation. To estimate properties such as their flux, luminosity and magnetic field strength, upper limits can be found by modeling the emission and absorption and then performing spectral fitting. The assumptions made when modeling can cause the results to differ, this thesis investigates which parameters in the model have the most impact by analysing an X-ray observation of SN 1909A. The varied model parameters are the photon index of the neutron star emission, the density of the SN ejecta, and the composition of the ejecta material. The density can vary depending on the line of sight since SN explosions are asymmetrical, and it is found that this parameter carries most significance, with maximal result variations of about 55% for most ejecta compositions. The least significant parameter is the assumed photon index of the emission from the neutron star, this is found to only cause maximal variations of around 24%. Furthermore, the upper limits on the total luminosity computed by assuming different model parameters, differ by a factor 2.5 at most. The minimum upper limit to the total luminosity of the neutron star of SN 1909A is found to be L_min = 3.6 * 10^6 L⊙ and the corresponding relation between its rotational period and magnetic field is B < 1.88 * 10^20 P^2 G s^-1.

<p> To determine the detectability of thermal radiation from the surface of a neutron star, the surface temperature as a function of time is needed. To find this, the surface temperature as a function of core temperature is found; this ratio depending on temperature, stellar mass, and magnetic field strength. The energy loss rates from photon emission and neutrino emission are calculated, along with the specific heat of the star; the latter two quantities depending on the core temperature. The surface temperature as a function of time is then calculated for various combinations of the variable parameters: stellar mass, equation of state, magnetic field, superfluidity, and pion cutoff density. Finally, a calculation of the detectability (distance vs. age) of a typical neutron star is made, using the estimated capabilities of the X-ray telescope on the Einstein Observatory.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We consider the ferromagnetic phase in pure neutron matter as well as charge neutral, betaequilibrated nuclear matter. We employ Quantum Hadrodynamics, a relativistic field theory description of nuclear matter with meson degrees of freedom, and include couplings between the baryon (proton and neutron) magnetic dipole moment as well as between their charge and the magnetic field in the Lagrangian density describing such a system. We vary the strength of the baryon magnetic dipole moment till a non-zero value of the magnetic field, for which the total energy density of the magnetised system is at a minimum, is found. The system is then assumed to be in the ferromagnetic state. The ferromagnetic equation of state is employed to study matter in the neutron star interior. We find that as the density increases the ferromagnetic field does not increase continuously, but exhibit sudden rapid increases. These sudden increases in the magnetic field correspond to shifts between different configurations of the charged particle’s Landau levels and can have significant observational consequences for neutron stars. We also found that although the ferromagnetic phase softens the neutron star equation of state it does not significantly alter the star’s massradius relationship. The properties of magnetised symmetric nuclear matter were also studied. We confirm that magnetised matter tends to be more proton-rich but become more weakly bound for stronger magnetic fields. We show that the behaviour of the compressibility of nuclear matter is influenced by the Landau quantisation and tends to have an oscillatory character as it increases with the magnetic field. The symmetry energy also exhibits similar behaviour. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie het ons die ferromagnetiese fase in suiwer neutronmaterie, sowel as in ladingsneutrale, beta-ge¨ekwilibreerde neutronstermaterie, ondersoek. Vir die doeleindes het ons die Kwantum Hadrodinamika-model van kernmaterie gebruik. Dit is ’n relatiwistiese, veldteoretiese model wat mesone inspan om die interaksies tussen die protone en neutrone te bemiddel. Om die impak van die magneetveld te bestudeer, sluit ons ’n koppeling tussen die barioonlading en die magneetveld, asook barioondipoolmoment en die magneetveld, in by die Lagrange digtheid wat ons sisteem beskryf. Om die ferromagnetiese fase te ondersoek, varieer ons die sterkte van die barioondipoolmoment om ’n nie-nul waarde van die magneetveld wat energie digtheid sal minimeer te vind. Die ferromagnetiese toestandsvergelyking word toegepas op materie aan die binnekant van die neutronster en die impak hiervan op die waarneembare eienskappe van die ster word ondersoek. Ons vind dat die ferromagnetiese magneetveld nie kontinu toeneem soos die digtheid verhoog nie. Die skielike toenames in die magneetveld is die gevolg van die sisteem wat die konfigurasie van die gelaaide deeltjies se Landau-vlakke skielik verander en dit kan beduidende waarneembare gevolge vir die ster inhou. Ons vind ook dat die ferromagnetiese fase die toestandsvergelyking versag, maar dat die versagting die massa-radius verhouding van die ster nie grootliks beïnvloed nie. Die eienskappe van gemagnetiseerde kernmaterie word ook ondersoek. Ons bevestig dat gemagnetiseerde materie meer proton-ryk, maar minder sterk gebind word. Ons wys dat die saampersbaarheid van kernmaterie deur die teenwoordigheid van Landau-vlakke beïnvloed word en ossilerend saam met die magneetveld toeneem. Die simmetrie-energie manifesteer ook soortgelyke gedrag.

Neutron stars are amongst the most exotic objects known in the universe; more than a solar mass of material is squeezed into an object the size of a city, leading to a density comparable to that of an atomic nucleus. They have a surface magnetic field which is typically around a trillion times stronger than the magnetic field here on Earth, and we have observed them to spin up to around 700 times per second. The existence of neutron stars was first proposed by Baade and Zwicky in 1934 but later graduated from theory to fact in 1967 as the first pulses were detected by Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, a then graduate student at the University of Cambridge. There are now well over 2000 neutron stars whose radio emission beams point at, and have been detected on Earth. We call these objects pulsars. Because of their remarkable properties, pulsars are very useful to physicists, who can employ them as precision timing tools due to the unwavering nature of their emission and of their rotation. Having an array of ultra-accurate clocks scattered throughout our galaxy is very useful for performing astrophysical experiments. In particular, precise pulsar timing measurements and the models that explain them, will permit the direct detection of gravitational radiation; a stochastic background initially, and potentially the individual signals from supermassive black hole binaries. Our models of pulsar behaviour are so precise that we are now able to notice even slight departures from them; we are starting to see that unmodelled variability in pulsars occurs over a broad range of timescales, both in emission and in rotation. Any unmodelled variability is, of course, detrimental to the pulsar's utility as a precision timing tool, and presents a problem when looking for the faint effects of a passing gravitational wave. We are hoping that pulsar timing arrays will detect gravitational radiation in the coming decade, but this depends, in part, on our ability to understand and mitigate the effects of the unmodelled intrinsic instabilities that we are observing. One important clue as to the nature of the variability in pulsar emission and rotation, is the emerging relationship between the two; we sometimes observe correlation on timescales of months and years. We have been observing pulsars for almost fifty years and our expanding datasets now document decades of pulsar behaviour. This gives us the ability to investigate pulsar variability on a range of timescales and to gain an insight into the physical processes that govern these enigmatic objects. In this thesis I describe new techniques to detect and analyse the emission and rotational variability of radio pulsars. We have employed these techniques on a 24 year pulsar dataset to unearth a striking new example of a dramatic and simultaneous shift in a pulsar's emission and rotation. We hypothesise that this event was caused by an asteroid interaction, although other explanations are also possible. Our variability techniques have also been used to analyse data from 168 young, energetic pulsars. In this thesis we present results from the nine most interesting. Of these, we have found some level of correlated variability in seven, one of which displays it very strongly. We have also assessed the emission stability of the NANOGrav millisecond pulsars and have found differing degrees of variability, due to both instrumental and astrophysical causes. Finally, we propose a method of probing the relationship between emission and rotation on short-timescales and, using a simulation, we have shown the conditions under which this is possible. Throughout the work, we address the variability in pulsar emission, rotation and links between the two, with the aim of improving pulsar timing, attaining a consolidated understanding of the diverse variable phenomena observed and elucidating the evolutionary path taken by pulsars.

iPTF15dtg is a supernova (SN) Type Ic (lacking hydrogen and helium in its spectrum) with a light curve indicating that it is the result of a massive star explosion. Taddia et al. (2016) suggested that the progenitor star was a Wolf-Rayet (WR) star that previously suffered strong mass loss. More recent observations show that the SN light curve did not decline as expected, indicating the existence of an additional power source. One possibility is a magnetar, a hyper-magnetic neutron star capable of injecting its rotational energy into the light curve during relevant time scales. This bachelor thesis adds previously unpublished data to the iPTF15dtg light curve and compares simple semi-analytical models to rule out a radioactive scenario and discuss the possibility of a magnetar as the primary source of luminosity.

Neutron stars are stellar objects of extreme properties. The dense core enables usto study nuclear matter beyond saturation density. The exact composition of matterat such densities is not yet established, but the thermodynamic states of the matteris theoreticized by the Equation of State (EOS). The EOS cannot be derived analyt-ically and is dependent on constraints from neutron stars and nuclear experiments inlaboratories on earth. Recent advances in astrophysical experiments have probed newconstraints on the EOS by studying properties such as mass, radius and tidal deformabil-ity of neutron stars. Especially the possibility to detect gravitational waves from mergingbinary systems by the LIGO/VIRGO collaboration and the mass-radius measurementsby NICER have contributed a great deal. Constraints from terrestrial experiments havebeen derived by studying matter at supra saturation density in Heavy Ion Collisions andby determining the neutron skin thickness. In this work, an overview of neutron stars,dense matter and the EOS is presented. Further, results of studies aiming to determineand constrain the EOS are reviewed. Even though there is consensus about some neutronstar properties among different research groups, there are still major uncertainties as allresult depend on a relatively small set of observational data. Therefore, the EOS can stillbe considered to be far from precise and the knowledge of the true neutron star matterremains undisclosed.