A supernova remnant association for the fast-moving pulsar PSR J0908-4913

TL;DR

This paper presents evidence linking the fast-moving pulsar PSR J0908-4913 to a newly identified supernova remnant, suggesting a much younger age for the pulsar than previously estimated, and analyzing its motion and environment.

Contribution

It provides the first association between PSR J0908-4913 and a supernova remnant, refining the pulsar's age and understanding its motion and orientation.

Findings

Pulsar is located at the edge of SNR G270.4-1.0.

Pulsar's velocity points away from the remnant's center.

The pulsar's age is estimated at ~12 kyr, younger than its characteristic age.

Abstract

A recent measurement of the proper motion of PSR J0908-4913 shows that it is a fast moving object at a distance of some 3 kpc. Here we present evidence that the pulsar is located at the edge of a previously unknown, filled-centre supernova remnant, G270.4-1.0. The velocity vector of the pulsar points directly away from the centre of the remnant. The putative association of the pulsar with SNR G270.4-1.0 implies the pulsar is ~12kyr old, significantly less than its characteristic age of 110kyr. We show that the rotation axis of the pulsar points in the direction of the proper motion. Rotation measure and dispersion measure variations are seen over time, likely indicating the pulsar is passing behind a filament of the remnant.