Near-infrared observations of PSR J1357-6429

TL;DR

This study reports near-infrared imaging of PSR J1357-6429, identifying a candidate counterpart that aligns with X-ray spectral extrapolation, suggesting high near-infrared efficiency similar to other middle-aged pulsars.

Contribution

First near-infrared imaging detection of PSR J1357-6429's candidate counterpart using VLT/NaCo adaptive optics.

Findings

Detected a faint near-infrared source at the pulsar's position in J and Ks bands.

Source fluxes are consistent with X-ray spectrum extrapolation.

Pulsar exhibits high near-infrared efficiency relative to X-ray efficiency.

Abstract

PSR J1357$-$6429 is a young radio pulsar that was detected in X-rays and $\gamma$-rays. We present the high spatial resolution near-infrared imaging of the pulsar field in $J$, $H$ and $K_s$ bands obtained with the VLT/NaCo using the Adaptive Optic system. We found a faint source at the most precise pulsar radio position which we propose as the pulsar near-infrared counterpart candidate. It is confidently detected in the $J$ and $K_s$ bands, with $J$ = 23.51$\pm$0.24 and $K_s$ = 21.82$\pm$0.25. There is a hint of the source in the $H$ band with an upper limit $H$ $>$ 22.8. The dereddened source fluxes are compatible with the extrapolation of the pulsar X-ray spectrum towards the near-infrared. If the candidate is the true counterpart, by this property PSR J1357$-$6429 would be similar to the nearby middle-age pulsar PSR B0656+14. In this case, both pulsars demonstrate an unusually high near-infrared efficiency relative to the X-ray efficiency as compared to other pulsars detected in both ranges.