Related papers: The first evidence for three-dimensional spin-velo…
We use recent information on geodetic precession of the binary pulsar B1913+16 along with measurements of its orbital parameters and proper motion to derive new constraints on the immediate progenitor of this double neutron star system. As…
Most neutron stars are expected to be born in supernovae, but only about half of supernova remnants (SNRs) are associated with a compact object. In many cases, a supernova progenitor may have resulted in a black hole. However, there are…
In previous papers, we presented the discovery of a 12-s X-ray pulsar in the supernova remnant Kes 73, providing the first direct evidence for an ultramagnetized neutron star, a magnetar, with an equivalent dipole field of nearly twenty…
We present estimates of initial spin periods, $P_0$, for radio pulsars associated with supernova remnants. By using the published data on 30 objects, we were able to derive a reliable estimate for the initial spin period, assuming standard…
We report on VLBA astrometry and CXO imaging of PSR J0538+2817 in the supernova remnant S147. We measure a parallax distance of $1.47^{+0.42}_{-0.27}$kpc along with a high-precision proper motion, giving a transverse velocity…
One of the primary goals when studying stellar systems with neutron stars has been to reveal the physical properties of progenitors and understand how neutron star spins and birth kicks are determined. Over the years a consensus…
We study the effect of the neutron star spin -- kick velocity alignment observed in young radio pulsars on the coalescence rate of binary neutron stars. Two scenarios of the neutron star formation are considered: when the kick is always…
We revisit the formation of PSR J0737-3039, taking into account the most recent observational constraints. We show that the most likely kick velocity and progenitor parameters depend strongly on the consideration of the full…
We explore the enigmatic population of long-period, apparently non-recycled pulsars in globular clusters, building on recent work by Boyles et al (2011). This population is difficult to explain if it formed through typical core collapse…
We present and analyse a catalogue of 233 pulsars with proper motion measurements. The sample contains a wide variety of pulsars including recycled objects and those associated with globular clusters or supernova remnants. After taking the…
Millisecond pulsars are neutron stars (NSs) that are thought to have been spun-up by mass accretion from a stellar companion. It is unknown whether there is a natural brake for this process, or if it continues until the centrifugal breakup…
Neutrino oscillations in a core-collapse supernova may be responsible for the observed rapid motions of pulsars. Given the present bounds on the neutrino masses, the pulsar kicks require a sterile neutrino with mass 2-20 keV and a small…
We investigate the birth and evolution of Galactic isolated radio pulsars. We begin by estimating their birth space velocity distribution from proper motion measurements of Brisken et al. (2002, 2003). We find no evidence for multimodality…
Supernovae, the explosive deaths of massive stars, create heavy elements and form black holes and neutron stars. These compact objects often receive a velocity at formation, a "kick" whose physical origin remains debated. We investigate…
Observations of binary pulsars and pulsars in globular clusters suggest that at least some pulsars must receive weak natal kicks at birth. If all pulsars received strong natal kicks above \unit[50]{\kms}, those born in globular clusters…
The birth properties of neutron stars yield important information on the still debated physical processes that trigger the explosion and on intrinsic neutron-star physics. These properties include the high space velocities of young neutron…
The origin of high velocities of pulsars is studied by considering the spin-flip conversion of neutrinos propagating in a gravitational field of a protoneutron star. For a rotating gravitational source (such as pulsars) with angular…
Current prescriptions for supernova natal kicks in rapid binary population synthesis simulations are based on fits of simple functions to single pulsar velocity data. We explore a new parameterization of natal kicks received by neutron…
It is believed that millisecond pulsars attain their fast spins by accreting matter and angular momentum from companion stars. Theoretical modelling of the accretion process suggests a spin-up line in the period-period derivative…
The loss of angular momentum due to unstable r-modes in hot young neutron stars has been proposed as a mechanism for achieving the spin rates inferred for young pulsars. One factor that could have a significant effect on the action of the…