Is the Birth of PSR J0538+2817 Accompanied by a Gamma-ray Burst?

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the high velocity and spin alignment of pulsar PSR J0538+2817 can produce a relativistic jet that potentially generated a gamma-ray burst, aligning with observed supernova remnant properties.

Contribution

It introduces the electromagnetic rocket mechanism as an explanation for pulsar velocity and spin alignment, linking it to possible gamma-ray burst production.

Findings

Jet expansion matches observed supernova remnant size.

Predicted jet velocity aligns with observed remnant velocity.

The model explains pulsar kick and gamma-ray burst connection.

Abstract

Recently, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) measured the three-dimensional velocity of PSR J0538+2817 in its associated supernova remnant S147 and found a possible spin-velocity alignment in this pulsar. Here we show that the high velocity and the spin-velocity alignment in this pulsar can be explained by the so-called electromagnetic rocket mechanism. In this framework, the pulsar is kicked in the direction of the spin axis, which naturally explains the spin-velocity alignment. We scrutinize the evolution of this pulsar and show that the pulsar kick can create a highly relativistic jet at the opposite direction of the kick velocity. The lifetime and energetics of the jet is estimated. It is argued that the jet can generate a Gamma-ray Burst (GRB). The long term dynamical evolution of the jet is calculated. It is found that the shock radius of the jet should expand to about 32 pc at present, which is well consistent with the observed radius of the supernova remnant S147 ($32.1\pm4.8$ pc). Additionally, our calculations indicate that the current velocity of the GRB remnant should be about 440 km s$^{-1}$, which is also consistent with the observed blast wave velocity of the remnant of S147 (500 km s$^{-1}$).