Optical timing studies of isolated neutron stars: Current Status

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current state of high-time resolution optical observations of isolated neutron stars across various classes, highlighting their timing properties and scientific potential.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of optical timing studies of different types of INSs, emphasizing recent advancements and future prospects.

Findings

Detection of optical pulsations in multiple INS classes

Insights into neutron star rotation and magnetic field properties

Potential for new discoveries with high-time resolution observations

Abstract

Being fast rotating objects, Isolated Neutron Stars (INSs) are natural targets for high-time resolution observations across the whole electromagnetic spectrum. With the number of objects detected at optical (plus ultraviolet and infrared) wavelengths now increased to 24, high-time resolution observations of INSs at these wavelengths are becoming more and more important. While classical rotation-powered radio pulsars, like the Crab and Vela pulsars, have been the first INSs studied at high-time resolution in the optical domain, observations performed in the last two decades have unveiled potential targets in other types of INSs which are not rotation powered, although their periodic variability is still related to the neutron star rotation. In this paper I review the current status of high-time resolution observations of INSs in the optical domain for different classes of objects: rotation-powered pulsars, magnetars, thermally emitting neutron stars, and rapid radio transients, I describe their timing properties, and I outline the scientific potentials of their optical timing studies.