A short review on the pulsar magnetic inclination angles

TL;DR

This review summarizes recent research on pulsar magnetic inclination angles, their evolution, and observational implications, highlighting the importance of inclination angle studies for understanding pulsar physics.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of pulsar inclination angle evolution, including new observational data and analysis of high-braking index pulsars using the vacuum alignment rotator model.

Findings

Inclination angles influence pulse beam width and braking index.

Analysis of 12 high-braking index pulsars shows inclination angle change rates.

Future polarimetric observations will enhance understanding of pulsar magnetic configurations.

Abstract

The inclination angle $\chi$ between magnetic and rotation axes of pulsars is an important parameter in pulsar physics. The changes in the inclination angle of a pulsar would lead to observable effects, such as changes in the pulse beam width and braking index of the star. In this paper, we perform a short review on the evolution of pulsar's magnetic inclination angle, as well as the latest research progress. Using an alignment rotator model in vacuum, we investigate the magnetic inclination angle change rates for 12 high-braking index pulsars without glitch, whose timing observations are obtained using the Nanshan 25-m Radio Telescope at Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory. For our purpose, three representative pulsars J0157+6212, J1743-3150 and J1857+0526 are chosen and their rotation and inclination angle evolutions are further investigated. In the future, radio and X-ray polarimetric observations will provide more information about the inclination angles of pulsars, which could help us understand the origin of the variations in $\chi$ of pulsars and shed light on the range of possibilities of pulsar magnetic field configuration. A continuous study of the pulsar inclination angle will provide an important window into additional physical processes at work in the young and highly magnetized pulsars.