PSR J1906+0746: From relativistic spin-precession to beam modeling

TL;DR

This paper reports the observation of relativistic spin-precession in PSR J1906+0746, using pulse profile and polarimetric data to model the pulsar's geometry and magnetic beam structure.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed beam modeling of PSR J1906+0746 based on relativistic precession measurements and polarimetric analysis.

Findings

PSR J1906+0746 is likely an orthogonal rotator.

The pulsar exhibits a wide misalignment angle with large uncertainty.

Beam maps of both magnetic poles were constructed.

Abstract

Shortly after the discovery of PSR J1906+0746, some hints of profile variations were already interpreted as first signs of relativistic spin-precession occuring. Using observations from the Nan\c{c}ay, Arecibo and Green Bank Radio Observatories, we report here the measurement of pulse profile and polarimetric variations. Using the Rotating Vector Model, we show that PSR J1906+0746 is likely to be an orthogonal rotator ($\alpha \simeq 80^\circ$). Fitting our polarimetric data to a precession model, we determined the geometry of the pulsar and found a wide misalignment angle ($\delta = 89_{-44}^{+85}$ deg, 95% C.L.), although the uncertainty is large. Assuming this geometry, we constructed the beam maps of both magnetic poles.