2017/09/30 by Zhi‐Fu Gao, Zhi-Fu Gao, Na Wang +4
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics #Atomic physics #Condensed matter physics #Dipole #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #High-pressure geophysics and materials #Magnetic dipole #Magnetic field #Magnetic moment #Physics #Pulsar #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Quantum mechanics #astro-ph.HE
paper · pdf · doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aa8f49
Correspoding to the publication version: 2017, ApJ, 849, 19 (12pp)
openalex publication_date 2017/10/26 · arxiv created 2017/11/09 · arxiv updated 2017/11/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract In this work, we interpreted the high braking index of PSR J1640−4631 with a combination of the magneto-dipole radiation and dipole magnetic field decay models. By introducing a mean rotation energy conversion coefficient , the ratio of the total high-energy photon energy to the total rotation energy loss in the whole life of the pulsar, and combining the pulsar’s high-energy and timing observations with a reliable nuclear equation of state, we estimate the pulsar’s initial spin period, ms, corresponding to the moment of inertia g cm 2 . Assuming that PSR J1640−4631 has experienced a long-term exponential decay of the dipole magnetic field, we calculate the true age , the effective magnetic field decay timescale , and the initial surface dipole magnetic field at the pole of the pulsar to be 2900−3100 yr, yr, and G, respectively. The measured braking index of for PSR J1640−4631 is attributed to its long-term dipole magnetic field decay and a low magnetic field decay rate, G yr −1 . Our model can be applied to both the high braking index ( ) and low braking index ( ) pulsars, tested by the future polarization, timing, and high-energy observations of PSR J1640−4631.