In this thesis we analyse X-ray data of accretion powered low mass and high mass X-ray binaries to understand the nature of their accretion mechanisms by searching for some clues of viscous time-scales of their accretion discs, if they have, in their low frequency power density spectra created from their long-term X-ray observations, or by doing pulse timing analysis with much shorter X-ray data to detect the effects of torque fluctuations caused by the accreting material on the pulsar. The low mass and high mass X-ray binaries we analysed have breaks in their power density spectra, which are attributed to the role of viscosity in the formation of accretion discs. Although, the time-scales corresponding to these break frequencies are smaller than the predictions of the Standard theory of accretion discs, the sources give consistent results among themselves by displaying the expected correlation between their break and orbital frequencies. The correlation curve of LMXBs implies thicker appearing accretion discs than those assumed by the theory. The dichotomy of the HMXBs on this curve points out the different origins of accretion that these sources may have, and offers a way to distinguish the stellar-wind fed systems from the Roche-lobe overflow systems. The timing and spectral analysis of Swift J1626.6-5156 reveal a correlation between the spin-up rate and the luminosity of the source implying that the pulsar is accretion-powered. This correlation together with the characteristics of the X-ray spectra enables us to estimate the magnetic field and the distance of the source. The AXP 1E 2259+586 does not display any signs of viscous time-scale in its low frequency power density spectra, and its pulse timing analysis gives a much smaller torque noise value than that expected from accretion powered pulsars. In addition, the analysis results presented in this thesis reveal magnetar-like glitches which differ than those of radio pulsars, due to the presence of the strong magnetic field of the pulsar. These results eliminate the possibility that the AXP is an accretion-powered pulsar.

In this thesis, RXTE observations of 4U 1907+09 are presented. Timing analysis of these data sets have yielded quasi periodic oscillations (QPOs) at orbital phases corresponding to the two flares in every orbital period. Known continuous spin down trend and QPO behaviour at the flares strongly suggest that a transient accretion disk occurs at the flares. Our findings strongly suggested that neutron star passes through the equatorial wind of Be companion star. During these passages a transient disk forms around Be neutron star.

This thesis is composed of three published articles. Each chapter is devoted to an article. In the first part the origin of some of the single radio pulsars with relatively low magnetic fields (B &lt / 1e12 G) and with characteristic ages (tau) less than 1e7 years is questioned. We proposed that such pulsars might occur as a result of the disruption of high-mass X-ray binary systems after a second supernova explosion. In these binaries, mass accretion on to the surface of X-ray pulsars may lead to the decrease in the magnetic field from its value at birth (B similar to 1e12 &ndash / 1e13 G) down to B &lt / 1e12 G similar to the processes in low-mass X-ray binaries. In the second part we put together many observational data of SGRs and AXPs and analyzed them with the main purpose of the removal of contradiction between the real age (t) of these objects and their characteristic times of period change (tau). SGRs and AXPs are neutron stars that undergo star-quakes. Magnetic activity increases from time to time. We suggest that as a result of these processes plasma is ejected from the NS and propeller mechanism starts to work. Due to propeller effect dP/dt increases, tau decreases. Indeed, high dP/dt values are observed in SGRs and in half of the AXPs. Then, for a long time NS looses its activity, its dP/dt decreases, tau increases and rapid cooling begins. It seems that there is a possible transition between each NS stage (AXP,SGR,dim). This transient cycle may be repeated once or several times until the spin period of the neutron star becomes P &gt / 10 - 12 s. Observational data and mainly the data of AXP 1E 1048-5937 and DRQNS RX J1308.8+2127 support this idea. In the third part dependence of the X-ray luminosity (Lx) of young single pulsars, due to ejection of relativistic particles, on electric field intensity, rate of rotational energy loss (dE/dt), magnetic field, period and some other parameters of neutron stars are discussed. Influence of the magnetic field and effects of some other parameters of neutron stars on the Lx - dE/dt and the Lx - tau(characteristic time) relations are considered. Evolutionary factors also play an important role in our considerations. Only the pulsars whose X-ray luminosity in the 2 &ndash / 10 keV energy band is greater than 1033 erg/s have pulsar wind nebula around them. The pulsars from which gamma-ray radiation has been observed have low X-ray luminosity in general.

Nesta tese descrevemos as propriedades de estrelas de nêutrons e pulsares cuja matéria nuclear apresenta processo de transição de fase da matéria hadrônica pura para a matéria hadrônica com um condensado de anti-káons em estado de onda-s. A matéria nuclear da estrela de nêutrons é considerada em equilíbrio β e apresenta energia térmica desprezível comparada aos autovalores de energia dos núcleons (ET = kT << E nuclear), portanto, no tratamento formal a contribuição da temperatura será aproximada como zero. Para tal descrição utilizamos um modelo efetivo desenvolvido por Razeira e Vasconcellos, que chamamos Modelo RV, no qual são considerados acoplamentos de natureza não-linear envolvendo o octecto fundamental bariônico e os campos dos mésons σ, w, q, ς, δ, σ* e Ø, e cuja formulação lagrangiana busca exaurir o espaço de fase dos campos mesônicos por meio de um tratamento perturbativo que apresente alto grau de consistência com o conceito de naturalidade, de modo a aprimorar as predições dos tratamentos teóricos mais convencionais. O Modelo RV incorpora a predição da existência de um novo estado ressonante mesônico no setor escalar-isovetorial leve, proposto por Vasconcellos e colaboradores, deduzido com base na conservação de simetria quiral, estado este representado pelo campo ς. No presente trabalho, para incorporarmos na formulação lagrangiana os termos de interação dos anti-káons com os núcleons, utilizamos uma versão do Modelo RV que leva em conta somente os campos dos núcleons, dos elétrons, dos múons, dos anti-káons, além dos mésons σ, w, q, ς, δ, σ*, compondo matéria nuclear em equilíbrio β e temperatura nula, afim de estudarmos apenas os efeitos da transição de fase para o condensado de anti-káons e os efeitos da subsequente presença dos anti-káons na equação de estado. A imposição da ausência do octeto bariônico está baseada em resultados da literatura, com reforço do próprio Modelo RV, que mostram que a presença dos híperons desloca o limiar de surgimento do condensado de anti-káons para valores de densidade muito acima da densidade central esperada de uma estrela de nêutrons realista. Entre as predições do Modelo RV para o cenário supra citado estão o limiar de densidade bariônica para o aparecimento do condensado de anti-káons K- e ¹K0, a largura da fase mista na transição de fase hádron-condensado de anti-káons, o comportamento da equação de estado da matéria nuclear. Estes resultados mostram que o Modelo RV desloca o limiar do nascimento dos anti-káons para valores maiores de densidade do que os usualmente obtidos na literatura, mas também evidenciam a sensível dependência dos anti-káons para a profundidade do potencial ótico dos káons UK e para a intensidade do acoplamento do méson escalar-isovetorial delta com os káons. Realizamos um estudo de intensidades para a constante de acoplamento delta-káon, g&K, extrapolando alguns valores além do usual, e com eles buscamos calcular as propriedades globais de uma estrela de nêutrons como massa máxima, raio, redshift gravitacional. Encontramos que para os valores de intensidade de acoplamento escolhidos por nós, os valores dos parâmetros acima referidos da estrela de nêutrons apresentam pouca ou nenhuma diferença entre si, nos possibilitando optar por um valor original para g&K. A equação de estado da matéria nuclear evidencia efeitos antagônicos de suavização e enrijecimento conduzidos pelos anti-káons e pelos mésons escalares-isovetoriais δ e ς, respectivamente. Em um capítulo a parte utilizamos o Modelo RV para calcular o resfriamento da estrela de nêutrons via emissividade de neutrinos produzidos pelo processo URCA relativístico, enfatizando a influência da fração de assimetria entre prótons e nêutrons neste processo; e enfatizando de forma equivalente o comportamento da emissividade de neutrinos dentro da fase mista entre a matéria hadrônica ordinária e a matéria com condensado de anti-káons. Em suma, as seguintes propostas e resultados apresentados nesta tese contém elementos de originalidade: Desenvolvimento de um formalismo para a introdução dos anti-káons K¡ e K 0 na matéria nuclear de uma estrela de nêutrons baseado numa extensão da formulação da teoria quântica de campos com acoplamento derivativo, chamada de Modelo RV. Nesta formulação os espaços de fase bariônico e mesônico contemplam respectivamente os campos N, P, σ, w, q, e os mésons escalares-isovetoriais ς e o novo estado ressonante no setor dos campos dos mésons leves ς. Estudo da intensidade da constante de acoplamento entre o méson ς e os kaons g±K. Análise através dos resultados do Modelo RV do papel do condensado de antikáons K¡ e ¹K 0 na emissividade de neutrinos na estrela de nêutrons via Processo URCA Direto (relativístico), com destaque para os efeitos neste sentido da transição de fase entre a matéria hadrônica ordinária e a matéria do condensado de anti-káons. Introdução de novas equações de estado correspondentes ao Modelo RV e a um modelo com acoplamento ajustável (versão preliminar apresentado no final deste capítulo). Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho apresentam uma expressiva modificação na descrição do condensado de antikáons, em especial quanto ao seu limiar de aparecimento e à largura da fase mista da transição de fase, quando estes valores são comparados aos resultados correspondentes obtidos por outros autores. / In this thesis we describe the properties of neutron stars and pulsates whose nuclear matter presents transition of phase of the pure hadronic matter to a hadronic matter with the antikaons condensate in wave - s state. The nuclear matter of neutron star is in β equilibrium and presents thermal energy despicable compared to the eigenvalues of energy of the nucleons (εT = kT<< εnuclear). So, in formal treatment to contribution of the temperature will be brought near like zero. We use an effective model developed by Razeira and Vasconcellos, whom we call RV model, in which are considered couplings of non-linear nature with the basic barionic octet and the meson fields σ, w, q, ς, δ, σ* and δ, and whose lagrangean formulation looks to exhaust the space of phase of the meson fields through a perturbative treatment that presents high level of consistency with the concept of naturalness, in order to improve the predictions of more conventional theoretical treatments. The Model RV incorporates the predictions, based on the conservation of chiral symmetry, for a new resonant meson state in the scalar-isovectorial sector, this state represented by the symbol ς. In the present work, to incorporate in the lagrangean formulation the terms of antikaons interaction with them nucleons, we use a version of the RV model what takes into account only the fields of nucleons, electrons, muons, antikaons, besides the meson fields σ, w, q, ς, δ and ς, composing a nuclear matter in β equilibrium and null temperature, to study the pure effects of the transition of phase for the condensed of antikaons and the pure effects of the presence of the antikaons in the equation of state. The imposition of the absence of the barionic octet is based on results of the literature, with reinforcement of RV model himself, whom they show that the presence of the hiperons it moves the threshold of antikaons condensed for values of density very much above the central expected density of a realistic neutron star. Between the RV model predictions for the scenery above quoted are the threshold of barionic density for the appearance of antikaons K- and K0 condensed, the width of the mixed phase in the hadron - condensed of antikaons phase transition, the behaviour of the equation of state of nuclear matter. Our results show that the RV model moves the threshold of antikaons for density values bigger of what them usually found in the literature; the results also show the sensitive dependence of the antikaons for the depth of kaons optical potential UK and for the intensity of coupling of the scalar-isovectorial meson delta with the kaons. We carry out a magnitude sutdy for the coupling constant of the delta-kaon coupling, g&K, overstepping some values besides the usual one, and with them we calculate the global properties of a neutron star as maximum mass, radius, gravitational redshift. We find that for the intensity of g&K values chosen by us the values of the global properties of neutron star above-mentioned presents little or no difference between them, making possible to us opting for an original value for g&K. To equation of state of the nuclear matter shows antagonic effects of smoothling and stiffnnes driven for antikaons and for the scalar-isovectorial mesons δ and ς, respectively. In the final chapter we use the RV model to calculate the cooling of a neutron star by neutrino emissivity produced by the Relativistic URCA process, emphasizing the influence of the fraction of asymmetry between protons and neutrons in this process; and emphasizing too the behaviour of neutrino emissivity inside the mixed phase between the ordinary hadronic matter and the antikaons condensed hadronic matter. In summary, the following proposals and results presented in this thesis contains Development of a formalism for the introduction of antikaons K¡ and ¹K 0 in the nuclear matter of a neutron star based on an extension of the formulation of the quantum theory of fields with derivative coupling called RV model. In this formulation the baryons and mesons phase space contemplate respectively the fields N, P, σ, w, q, and the scalar-isovectorial meson δ besides the new resonant state in sector of the fields of the light mesons ς. Study of the intensity of the coupling constant between the δ meson and the kaons, g&K. Analysis, through the RV model, of the role of antikaons condensed K- and K 0 in the neutrino emissivity in the neutron star by Direct URCA Process (relativistic), with distinction for the effects in the transition of phase between the ordinary hadronic matter and the matter with antikaons condensed. The introduction of new equations of state for the RV model and also for a model with adjustable couplings (a preliminary version may be found in the conclusions of the thesis). The results obtained in this work present one expressive modification in the description of antikaons condensed when these values are compared with the results for other authors, in special the threshold of antikaons appearance and the width of the mixed phase of the transition of phase.

Nesta tese descrevemos as propriedades de estrelas de nêutrons e pulsares cuja matéria nuclear apresenta processo de transição de fase da matéria hadrônica pura para a matéria hadrônica com um condensado de anti-káons em estado de onda-s. A matéria nuclear da estrela de nêutrons é considerada em equilíbrio β e apresenta energia térmica desprezível comparada aos autovalores de energia dos núcleons (ET = kT << E nuclear), portanto, no tratamento formal a contribuição da temperatura será aproximada como zero. Para tal descrição utilizamos um modelo efetivo desenvolvido por Razeira e Vasconcellos, que chamamos Modelo RV, no qual são considerados acoplamentos de natureza não-linear envolvendo o octecto fundamental bariônico e os campos dos mésons σ, w, q, ς, δ, σ* e Ø, e cuja formulação lagrangiana busca exaurir o espaço de fase dos campos mesônicos por meio de um tratamento perturbativo que apresente alto grau de consistência com o conceito de naturalidade, de modo a aprimorar as predições dos tratamentos teóricos mais convencionais. O Modelo RV incorpora a predição da existência de um novo estado ressonante mesônico no setor escalar-isovetorial leve, proposto por Vasconcellos e colaboradores, deduzido com base na conservação de simetria quiral, estado este representado pelo campo ς. No presente trabalho, para incorporarmos na formulação lagrangiana os termos de interação dos anti-káons com os núcleons, utilizamos uma versão do Modelo RV que leva em conta somente os campos dos núcleons, dos elétrons, dos múons, dos anti-káons, além dos mésons σ, w, q, ς, δ, σ*, compondo matéria nuclear em equilíbrio β e temperatura nula, afim de estudarmos apenas os efeitos da transição de fase para o condensado de anti-káons e os efeitos da subsequente presença dos anti-káons na equação de estado. A imposição da ausência do octeto bariônico está baseada em resultados da literatura, com reforço do próprio Modelo RV, que mostram que a presença dos híperons desloca o limiar de surgimento do condensado de anti-káons para valores de densidade muito acima da densidade central esperada de uma estrela de nêutrons realista. Entre as predições do Modelo RV para o cenário supra citado estão o limiar de densidade bariônica para o aparecimento do condensado de anti-káons K- e ¹K0, a largura da fase mista na transição de fase hádron-condensado de anti-káons, o comportamento da equação de estado da matéria nuclear. Estes resultados mostram que o Modelo RV desloca o limiar do nascimento dos anti-káons para valores maiores de densidade do que os usualmente obtidos na literatura, mas também evidenciam a sensível dependência dos anti-káons para a profundidade do potencial ótico dos káons UK e para a intensidade do acoplamento do méson escalar-isovetorial delta com os káons. Realizamos um estudo de intensidades para a constante de acoplamento delta-káon, g&K, extrapolando alguns valores além do usual, e com eles buscamos calcular as propriedades globais de uma estrela de nêutrons como massa máxima, raio, redshift gravitacional. Encontramos que para os valores de intensidade de acoplamento escolhidos por nós, os valores dos parâmetros acima referidos da estrela de nêutrons apresentam pouca ou nenhuma diferença entre si, nos possibilitando optar por um valor original para g&K. A equação de estado da matéria nuclear evidencia efeitos antagônicos de suavização e enrijecimento conduzidos pelos anti-káons e pelos mésons escalares-isovetoriais δ e ς, respectivamente. Em um capítulo a parte utilizamos o Modelo RV para calcular o resfriamento da estrela de nêutrons via emissividade de neutrinos produzidos pelo processo URCA relativístico, enfatizando a influência da fração de assimetria entre prótons e nêutrons neste processo; e enfatizando de forma equivalente o comportamento da emissividade de neutrinos dentro da fase mista entre a matéria hadrônica ordinária e a matéria com condensado de anti-káons. Em suma, as seguintes propostas e resultados apresentados nesta tese contém elementos de originalidade: Desenvolvimento de um formalismo para a introdução dos anti-káons K¡ e K 0 na matéria nuclear de uma estrela de nêutrons baseado numa extensão da formulação da teoria quântica de campos com acoplamento derivativo, chamada de Modelo RV. Nesta formulação os espaços de fase bariônico e mesônico contemplam respectivamente os campos N, P, σ, w, q, e os mésons escalares-isovetoriais ς e o novo estado ressonante no setor dos campos dos mésons leves ς. Estudo da intensidade da constante de acoplamento entre o méson ς e os kaons g±K. Análise através dos resultados do Modelo RV do papel do condensado de antikáons K¡ e ¹K 0 na emissividade de neutrinos na estrela de nêutrons via Processo URCA Direto (relativístico), com destaque para os efeitos neste sentido da transição de fase entre a matéria hadrônica ordinária e a matéria do condensado de anti-káons. Introdução de novas equações de estado correspondentes ao Modelo RV e a um modelo com acoplamento ajustável (versão preliminar apresentado no final deste capítulo). Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho apresentam uma expressiva modificação na descrição do condensado de antikáons, em especial quanto ao seu limiar de aparecimento e à largura da fase mista da transição de fase, quando estes valores são comparados aos resultados correspondentes obtidos por outros autores. / In this thesis we describe the properties of neutron stars and pulsates whose nuclear matter presents transition of phase of the pure hadronic matter to a hadronic matter with the antikaons condensate in wave - s state. The nuclear matter of neutron star is in β equilibrium and presents thermal energy despicable compared to the eigenvalues of energy of the nucleons (εT = kT<< εnuclear). So, in formal treatment to contribution of the temperature will be brought near like zero. We use an effective model developed by Razeira and Vasconcellos, whom we call RV model, in which are considered couplings of non-linear nature with the basic barionic octet and the meson fields σ, w, q, ς, δ, σ* and δ, and whose lagrangean formulation looks to exhaust the space of phase of the meson fields through a perturbative treatment that presents high level of consistency with the concept of naturalness, in order to improve the predictions of more conventional theoretical treatments. The Model RV incorporates the predictions, based on the conservation of chiral symmetry, for a new resonant meson state in the scalar-isovectorial sector, this state represented by the symbol ς. In the present work, to incorporate in the lagrangean formulation the terms of antikaons interaction with them nucleons, we use a version of the RV model what takes into account only the fields of nucleons, electrons, muons, antikaons, besides the meson fields σ, w, q, ς, δ and ς, composing a nuclear matter in β equilibrium and null temperature, to study the pure effects of the transition of phase for the condensed of antikaons and the pure effects of the presence of the antikaons in the equation of state. The imposition of the absence of the barionic octet is based on results of the literature, with reinforcement of RV model himself, whom they show that the presence of the hiperons it moves the threshold of antikaons condensed for values of density very much above the central expected density of a realistic neutron star. Between the RV model predictions for the scenery above quoted are the threshold of barionic density for the appearance of antikaons K- and K0 condensed, the width of the mixed phase in the hadron - condensed of antikaons phase transition, the behaviour of the equation of state of nuclear matter. Our results show that the RV model moves the threshold of antikaons for density values bigger of what them usually found in the literature; the results also show the sensitive dependence of the antikaons for the depth of kaons optical potential UK and for the intensity of coupling of the scalar-isovectorial meson delta with the kaons. We carry out a magnitude sutdy for the coupling constant of the delta-kaon coupling, g&K, overstepping some values besides the usual one, and with them we calculate the global properties of a neutron star as maximum mass, radius, gravitational redshift. We find that for the intensity of g&K values chosen by us the values of the global properties of neutron star above-mentioned presents little or no difference between them, making possible to us opting for an original value for g&K. To equation of state of the nuclear matter shows antagonic effects of smoothling and stiffnnes driven for antikaons and for the scalar-isovectorial mesons δ and ς, respectively. In the final chapter we use the RV model to calculate the cooling of a neutron star by neutrino emissivity produced by the Relativistic URCA process, emphasizing the influence of the fraction of asymmetry between protons and neutrons in this process; and emphasizing too the behaviour of neutrino emissivity inside the mixed phase between the ordinary hadronic matter and the antikaons condensed hadronic matter. In summary, the following proposals and results presented in this thesis contains Development of a formalism for the introduction of antikaons K¡ and ¹K 0 in the nuclear matter of a neutron star based on an extension of the formulation of the quantum theory of fields with derivative coupling called RV model. In this formulation the baryons and mesons phase space contemplate respectively the fields N, P, σ, w, q, and the scalar-isovectorial meson δ besides the new resonant state in sector of the fields of the light mesons ς. Study of the intensity of the coupling constant between the δ meson and the kaons, g&K. Analysis, through the RV model, of the role of antikaons condensed K- and K 0 in the neutrino emissivity in the neutron star by Direct URCA Process (relativistic), with distinction for the effects in the transition of phase between the ordinary hadronic matter and the matter with antikaons condensed. The introduction of new equations of state for the RV model and also for a model with adjustable couplings (a preliminary version may be found in the conclusions of the thesis). The results obtained in this work present one expressive modification in the description of antikaons condensed when these values are compared with the results for other authors, in special the threshold of antikaons appearance and the width of the mixed phase of the transition of phase.

This thesis outlines the design and implementation of a single channel, dual polarization pulsar timing instrument for the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO). The new timer is designed to be an improved, temporary replacement for the existing device which has been in operation for over 20 years. The existing device is no longer reliable and is di±cult to maintain. The new pulsar timer is designed to provide improved functional- ity, higher sampling speed, greater pulse resolution, more °exibility and easier maintenance over the existing device. The new device is also designed to keeping changes to the observation system to a minimum until a full de-dispersion timer can be implemented at theobservatory. The design makes use of an 8-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) micro-processor with external Random Access Memory (RAM). The instrument includes an IEEE-488 subsystem for interfacing the pulsar timer to the observation computer system. The microcontroller software is written in assembler code to ensure optimal loop execution speed and deterministic code execution for the system. The design path is discussed and problems encountered during the design process are highlighted. Final testing of the new instrument indicates an improvement in the sam- pling rate of 13.6 times and a significant reduction in 60Hz interference over the existing instrument.

This thesis concerns with the study of X-ray binaries which are gravitationally bound systems consisting of a compact object (either a neutron star or a black hole) and usually a non degenerate companion star, both rotating around the common centre of mass. The compact star shines brightly in the X-ray regime. Emission from these systems are powered by accretion which is the most radioactively efficient mechanism known in the universe by the release of gravitational potential energy when matter from the companion star falls on the compact object. Accretion onto high magnetic field neutron stars are special as the magnetic field plays a crucial role in governing the dynamics of gas flow and the flow of the matter close to the compact object. The radiation emitted from these systems are anisotropic and for a distant observer, the intensity is modulated at the spin period of the neutron star, hence these objects are called accretion powered pulsars. The angular pattern of the emitted radiation is also highly anisotropic and depends on the mass accreted and hence the luminosity. The beaming pattern commonly known as the pulse profiles exhibit a wide variety in the pulse shape and pulse fraction and vary with energy as well as intensity. They also exhibit cyclotron absorption features in their energy spectrum which are a direct probe to the magnetic field geometry of these systems. This thesis is dedicated to the study of the magnetic field and emission geometry of accretion powered pulsars through the pulse phase resolved studies of the cyclotron absorption features which are a direct probe of the magnetized plasma. In order to study these features in detail broadband continuum modeling of the energy spectrum is done, taking care of all other factors which may smear the pulse phase dependence. Another prerequisite for detailed continuum modeling is accounting for the low absorption dips in the pulse profiles of many these sources. The dips are presumably formed by phase locked accretion stream causing partial covering absorption when the stream is along our line of sight towards the emission region. Studying the pulse phase dependence of this partial covering absorber also provides us with important clues on the local environment of the neutron star and the structure of the accretion stream. All of these studies are performed with data from the broadband and most sensitive instruments onboard the Japanese satellite Suzuki. Lastly we provide estimates of the polarization expected to be detected from these sources by a Thomson scattering polarimeter being developed to observe the polarization of X-rays in the energy range of 5--30 keV. Along with the X-ray pulsars, we also make an estimate of the likelihood of detection of X-ray polarization from black hole X-ray binaries in different spectral states. This is a particularly interesting topic as it will play a crucial role in providing additional handles on the magnetic field geometry in accretion powered pulsars as well as constrain the fundamental parameters of a black hole like its spin.

We use VLBA+VLA observations to measure the sizes of the scatter-broadened images of six of the most heavily scattered known pulsars: three within the Galactic Centre (GC) and three elsewhere in the inner Galactic plane (Delta l < 20 degrees). By combining the measured sizes with temporal pulse broadening data from the literature and using the thin-screen approximation, we locate the scattering medium along the line of sight to these six pulsars. At least two scattering screens are needed to explain the observations of the GC sample. We show that the screen inferred by previous observations of SGR J1745-2900 and Sgr A*, which must be located far from the GC, falls off in strength on scales less than or similar to 0 degrees.2. A second scattering component closer to (Delta < 2 kpc) or even (tentatively) within (Delta < 700 pc) the GC produces most or all of the temporal broadening observed in the other GC pulsars. Outside the GC, the scattering locations for all three pulsars are similar or equal to 2 kpc from Earth, consistent with the distance of the Carina-Sagittarius or Scutum spiral arm. For each object the 3D scattering origin coincides with a known H II region (and in one case also a supernova remnant), suggesting that such objects preferentially cause the intense interstellar scattering seen towards the Galactic plane. We show that the H II regions should contribute greater than or similar to 25 per cent of the total dispersion measure (DM) towards these pulsars, and calculate reduced DM distances. Those distances for other pulsars lying behind H II regions may be similarly overestimated.

The high time-resolution radio sky represents unexplored astronomical territory where the discovery potential is high. In this thesis I have studied the transient radio sky, focusing on millisecond scales. As such, this work is concerned primarily with neutron stars, the most populous member of the radio transient parameter space. In particular, I have studied the well known radio pulsars and the recently identified group of neutron stars which show erratic radio emission, known as RRATs, which show radio bursts every few minutes to every few hours. When RRATs burst onto the scene in 2006, it was thought that they represented a previously unknown, distinct class of sporadically emitting sources. The difficulty in their identification implies a large underlying population, perhaps larger than the radio pulsars. The first question investigated in this thesis was whether the large projected population of RRATs posed a problem, i.e. could the observed supernova rate account for so many sources. In addition to pulsars and RRATs, the various other known neutron star manifestations were considered, leading to the conclusion that distinct populations would result in a 'birthrate problem'. Evolution between the classes could solve this problem - the RRATs are not a distinct population of neutron stars. Alternatively, perhaps the large projected population of RRATs is an overestimate. To obtain an improved estimate, the best approach is to find more sources. The Parkes Multi-beam Pulsar Survey, wherein the RRATs were initially identified, offered an opportunity to do just this. About half of the RRATs showing bursts during the survey were thought to have been missed, due to the deleterious effects of impulsive terrestrial interference signals. To remove these unwanted signals, so that we could identify the previously shrouded RRATs, we developed new interference mitigation software and processing techniques. Having done this, the survey was completely re-processed, resulting in the discovery of 19 new sources. Of these, 12 have been re-detected on multiple occasions, whereas the others have not been seen to re-emit since the initial discovery observations, and may be very low burst-rate RRATs, or, isolated burst events. These discoveries suggest that the initial population estimate was not over-estimated - RRATs, though not a distinct population, are indeed numerous. In addition to finding new sources, characterisation of their properties is vital. To this end, a campaign of regular radio observations of the newly discovered sources, was mounted, at the Parkes Observatory, in Australia. In addition, some of the initially identified RRATs were observed with the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. These have revealed glitches in J1819-1458, with anomalous post-glitch recovery of the spin-down rate. If such glitches were common, it would imply that the source was once a magnetar, neutron stars with the strongest known magnetic fields of up to 10¹⁵ gauss. The observations have also been used to perform 'timing' observations of RRATs, i.e. determination of their spin-down characteristics. At the beginning of this thesis, 3 of the original sources had 'timing solutions' determined. This has since risen to 7, and furthermore, 7 of the newly discovered sources now also have timing solutions. With this knowledge, we can see where RRATs lie in period-period derivative space. The Parkes RRATs seem to be roughly classifiable into three groupings, with high observed nulling fractions - normal pulsars, high magnetic field pulsars and old, 'dying' pulsars. It seems that RRATs and pulsars are one and the same. When a pulsar is more easily detected in searches for single bright pulses, as opposed to in periodicity searches, we label it a RRAT. Such searches impart a selection effect on the parameter space of possible sources, in both nulling fraction and rotation period. In this sense, an observational setup could be designed to make any pulsar appear as a RRAT. For realistic survey parameters however, this is not the case, and the groups mentioned above seem to be the most likely to appear as RRATs. In fact, we can utilise RRAT searches to identify neutron stars, difficult to find by other means, in particular high-magnetic field pulsars, and pulsars approaching the pulsar "death valley". Some of the RRATs are well explained as being distant/weak pulsars with a high modulation index, others seem to be nulling pulsars. This highlights the incomplete knowledge of nulling behaviour in the pulsar population. It seems that there may be a continuum of nulling durations, under a number of guises, from 'nulling pulsars' to 'RRATs' to 'intermittent pulsars'. In fact this nulling may fit into the emerging picture, whereby pulsar magnetospheres switch between stable configurations.

This dissertation deals with the following topics related to the magnetic activity of neutron stars and black holes: (I) Magnetic field evolution of neutron stars: We develop a numerical code which models the internal magnetic field evolution of neutron stars in axisymmetry. Our code includes the Hall drift and Ohmic effects in the crust, and the drift of superconducting flux tubes and superfluid vortices inside the liquid core. We enforce the correct hydromagnetic equilibrium in the core. We also model the elastic deformation of the crust and its feedback on the magnetic field evolution. We find that (i) The Hall attractor found by Gourgouliatos and Cumming in the crust also exists for B-fields which penetrate the core. (ii) If the flux tube drift is fast in the core, the pulsar magnetic fields are depleted on the Ohmic timescale (~150 Myr for hot neutron stars, or ~1.8 Gyr for cold neutron stars such as recycled pulsars, depending on impurity levels). (iii) The outward motion of superfluid vortices during the rapid spin-down of a young highly magnetized pulsar, can partially expel magnetic flux from the core when 𝐵 ≲ 10¹³ G. (II) Neutron star quakes and glitches: We develop a theoretical model to explain the remarkable null pulse coincident with the 2016 glitch in Vela rotation. We propose that a crustal quake associated with the glitch strongly disturbed the Vela magnetosphere and thus interrupted its radio emission. We develop the first numerical code which models the global dynamics of a neutron star quake. Our code resolves the elasto-dynamics of the entire crust and follows the evolution of Alfven waves excited in the magnetosphere. We find that Alfven waves launched by the quake become de-phased in the magnetosphere, and generate strong electric currents, capable of igniting electric discharge. Most likely, the discharge floods the magnetosphere with electron-positron plasma, quenching the pulsar radio emission. The observed ~0.2 s duration of the disturbance indicates that the crust is magnetically coupled to the superconducting core of the neutron star. (III) Pulsar magnetospheres and radio emission: We present an extreme high resolution kinetic plasma simulation of a pulsar magnetosphere using the Pigeon code. The simulation shows from first-principles how and where radio emission can be produced in pulsar magnetospheres. We observe the self-consistent formation of electric gaps which periodically ignite electron-positron discharge. The gaps form above the polar-cap, and in the bulk return-current. Discharge of the gaps excites electromagnetic modes which share several features with the radio emission of real pulsars. We also observe the excitation of plasma waves and charge bunches by streaming instabilities in the outer magnetosphere. (IV) Black hole magnetospheres and no-hair theorem: We explore the evolution of highly magnetized magnetospheres on Kerr black holes by performing general relativistic kinetic plasma simulations with the GRZeltron code, and general relativistic resistive magnetohydrodynamics simulations with the BHAC code. We show that a dipole magnetic field on the event horizon opens into a split-monopole and reconnects in a plasmoid-unstable current-sheet. The plasmoids are ejected from the magnetosphere, or swallowed by the black hole. The no-hair theorem is satisfied, in the sense that all components of the stress-energy tensor decay exponentially in time. We measure the decay time of magnetic flux on the event horizon for plasmoid-dominated reconnection in collisionless and collisional plasma.