2021/03/02 by Jumei Yao, Weiwei Zhu, Yao, Jumei +30 · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) #Cassiopeia A #Ejecta #FOS: Physical sciences #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Millisecond pulsar #Neutron star #Physics #Proper motion #Pulsar #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Spin (aerodynamics) #Stars #Supernova #Supernova remnant #X-ray pulsar #astro-ph.GA
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2103.01839
published in arXiv (Cornell University) (Cornell University) · 33 pages, 8 figures, Accepted by Nature Astronomy
arxiv created 2021/03/02 · openalex publication_date 2021/03/02 · arxiv updated 2021/03/03 · openalex created_date 2021/03/15 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
More than 50 years after the discovery of pulsars and confirmation of their association with supernova explosions, the origin of the initial spin and velocity of pulsars remains largely a mystery. The typical space velocities of several hundred km/s have been attributed to "kicks" resulting from asymmetries either in the supernova ejecta or in the neutrino emission. Observations have shown a strong tendency for alignment of the pulsar space velocity and spin axis in young pulsars but, up to now, these comparisons have been restricted to two dimensions. We report here the first evidence for three-dimensional alignment between the spin and velocity vectors, largely based on observations made with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope of the pulsar PSR~J0538+2817 and its associated supernova remnant S147. Analysis of these and related observations has enabled us to determine the location of the pulsar within the supernova remnant and hence its radial velocity. Current simulations of supernova explosions have difficulty producing such three-dimensional alignment. Our results, which depend on the unprecedented sensitivity of the new observations, add another dimension to the intriguing correlation between pulsar spin-axis and birth-kick directions, thus deepening the mysteries surrounding the birth of neutron stars.