A 2.14 ms Candidate Optical Pulsar in SN1987A

TL;DR

This paper reports the detection of a candidate 2.14 ms pulsar in SN1987A, with evidence of modulation and gravitational radiation, suggesting a highly energetic neutron star remnant.

Contribution

First detection of a potential pulsar in SN1987A with evidence of gravitational wave emission and precession, indicating a highly energetic neutron star remnant.

Findings

Detected a 2.14 ms pulsar candidate over four years.

Observed modulation consistent with neutron star precession.

Implied gravitational luminosity exceeds Crab pulsar's by tenfold.

Abstract

We have monitored Supernova 1987A in optical/near-infrared bands from a few weeks following its birth until the present time in order to search for a pulsar remnant. We have found an apparent pattern of emission near the frequency of 467.5 Hz - a 2.14 ms pulsar candidate, first detected in data taken on the remnant at the Las Campanas Observatory (LCO) 2.5-m Dupont telescope during 14-16 Feb. 1992 UT. We detected further signals near the 2.14 ms period on numerous occasions over the next four years in data taken with a variety of telescopes, data systems and detectors, at a number of ground- and space-based observatories. The sequence of detections of this signal from Feb. `92 through August `93, prior to its apparent subsequent fading, is highly improbable (< 1.e-10) for any noise source). We also find evidence for modulation of the 2.14 ms period with a ~1,000 s period which, when taken with the high spindown of the source (2-3e-10 Hz/s), is consistent with precession and spindown via gravitational radiation of a neutron star with a non-axisymmetric oblateness of ~1e-6, and an implied gravitational luminosity exceeding that of the Crab Nebula pulsar by an order of magnitude.