On the initial spin period distribution of neutron stars

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Du, Shen-Shi, Liu, Xiao-Jin, Chen, Zu-Cheng, You, Zhi-Qiang, Zhu, Xing-Jiang, Zhu, Zong-Hong
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Du, Shen-Shi
Liu, Xiao-Jin
Chen, Zu-Cheng
You, Zhi-Qiang
Zhu, Xing-Jiang
Zhu, Zong-Hong
author_facet Du, Shen-Shi
Liu, Xiao-Jin
Chen, Zu-Cheng
You, Zhi-Qiang
Zhu, Xing-Jiang
Zhu, Zong-Hong
contents We derive the initial spin period distribution of neutron stars by studying the population of young pulsars associated with supernova remnants. Our hierarchical Bayesian approach accounts for the measurement uncertainties of individual observations and selection effects. Without correcting for selection effects, as done in previous studies, we find that pulsar initial spin periods follow a Weibull distribution, peaking at 40~ms, which is favoured against the log-normal distribution with a Bayes factor of 200. The known selection effects in radio pulsar surveys, including pulse broadening and a period-dependent beaming fraction, have been quantitatively investigated. We show that, based on measurements of pulsar luminosity and spin period from the ATNF Pulsar Catalogue, the impact of pulse broadening on the inference of pulsar period distribution is likely to be insignificant. Correcting for the beaming selection effect, a Weibull distribution remains to be the preferred model, while its peak slightly shifts to longer periods at 50~ms. Our method will prove useful in constraining the birth properties of neutron stars in the Square Kilometre Array era.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_14030
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle On the initial spin period distribution of neutron stars
Du, Shen-Shi
Liu, Xiao-Jin
Chen, Zu-Cheng
You, Zhi-Qiang
Zhu, Xing-Jiang
Zhu, Zong-Hong
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
We derive the initial spin period distribution of neutron stars by studying the population of young pulsars associated with supernova remnants. Our hierarchical Bayesian approach accounts for the measurement uncertainties of individual observations and selection effects. Without correcting for selection effects, as done in previous studies, we find that pulsar initial spin periods follow a Weibull distribution, peaking at 40~ms, which is favoured against the log-normal distribution with a Bayes factor of 200. The known selection effects in radio pulsar surveys, including pulse broadening and a period-dependent beaming fraction, have been quantitatively investigated. We show that, based on measurements of pulsar luminosity and spin period from the ATNF Pulsar Catalogue, the impact of pulse broadening on the inference of pulsar period distribution is likely to be insignificant. Correcting for the beaming selection effect, a Weibull distribution remains to be the preferred model, while its peak slightly shifts to longer periods at 50~ms. Our method will prove useful in constraining the birth properties of neutron stars in the Square Kilometre Array era.
title On the initial spin period distribution of neutron stars
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.14030