DISCOVERY OF NEW GAMMA-RAY PULSARS WITH AGILE
Pellizzoni, A. ; Pilia, M. ; Possenti, A. ; Giommi, P. ; Salotti, L. ; et al.
Apr - 2009
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/695/1/L115
ISSN : 0004-637X ;
journal : The Astrophysical Journal

Issue : 1
type: Article Journal

Abstract
Using gamma-ray data collected by the Astro-rivelatore Gamma ad Immagini LEggero ( AGILE ) satellite over a period of almost one year (from 2007 July to 2008 June), we searched for pulsed signals from 35 potentially interesting radio pulsars, ordered according to F \gamma ∝ √ ̇ Ed − 2 and for which contemporary or recent radio data were available. AGILE detected three new top-ranking nearby and Vela-like pulsars with good confidence both through timing and spatial analysis. Among the newcomers we find pulsars with very high rotational energy losses, such as the remarkable PSR B1509 − 58 with a magnetic field in excess of 10 13 Gauss, and PSR J2229+6114 providing a reliable identification for the previously unidentified EGRET source 3EG 2227+6122. Moreover, the powerful millisecond pulsar B1821 − 24, in the globular cluster M28, is detected during a fraction of the observations. Four other promising gamma-ray pulsar candidates, among which is the notable J2043+2740 with an age in excess of 1 million years, show a possible detection in the timing analysis only and deserve confirmation

keywords : gamma rays: observations; pulsars: general; pulsars: individual (PSR J2229 + 6114, PSR B1509 – 58, PSR B1821 – 24); stars: neutron