Galactic Centre Pulsars with the SKAO

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential of the SKAO to detect and study pulsars near the Galactic Centre, which could provide unprecedented tests of gravity and insights into the galactic nucleus.

Contribution

It provides updated observing strategies and expected outcomes for pulsar searches with the revised SKAO design, emphasizing the potential to discover a larger pulsar population near Sagittarius A*.

Findings

Current detections are limited to seven pulsars within 100 pc of Sagittarius A*.

SKAO observations could reveal a much larger pulsar population in the Galactic Centre.

Enhanced detection capabilities may enable new tests of relativistic gravity.

Abstract

The detection of a pulsar closely orbiting our Galaxy's supermassive black hole - Sagittarius A* - is one of the ultimate prizes in pulsar astrophysics. The relativistic effects expected in such a system could far exceed those currently observable in compact binaries such as double neutron stars and pulsar white dwarfs. In addition, pulsars offer the opportunity to study the magneto-ionic properties of Earth's nearest galactic nucleus in unprecedented detail. For these reasons, and more, a multitude of pulsar searches of the Galactic Centre have been undertaken, with the outcome of just seven pulsar detections within a projected distance of 100 pc from Sagittarius A*. It is currently understood that a larger underlying population likely exists, but it is not until observations with the SKA have started that this population can be revealed. In this paper, we look at important updates since the publication of the last SKAO science book and offer a focused view of observing strategies and likely outcomes with the updated SKAO design.