Parkes observations for project P1034 semester 2019OCTS_02

We recently discovered two millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in the globular cluster, Omega Centauri, the first pulsar discovery in this globular cluster. The discovery of these MSPs will enable us to study the stellar population and dynamics in the core of Omega Centauri, and to probe the ionised interstellar medium in Omega Centauri. These two MSPs are potentially in extreme eclipsing systems, and are useful for us to understand the formation of such systems. More importantly, our discoveries, for the first time, allow us to carry out a deep, coherently de-dispersed, high time resolution survey of pulsars in Omega Centauri, which might lead to exciting discoveries. We propose to carry out follow-up timing observations of the new discoveries, and a new coherently de-dispersed, high time resolution survey of Omega Centauri.

我们近期在球状星团（globular cluster）欧米茄半人马座（Omega Centauri）中发现两颗毫秒脉冲星（millisecond pulsars, MSPs），这是该球状星团内首次发现脉冲星。此次毫秒脉冲星的发现，将助力我们研究欧米茄半人马座核心区域的恒星族群与动力学特性，同时可用于探测该星团内的电离星际介质（ionised interstellar medium）。这两颗毫秒脉冲星极有可能处于极端掩食系统中，有助于我们理解此类系统的形成机制。更为重要的是，本次发现首次为我们开展欧米茄半人马座内脉冲星的深场、相干去色散（coherently de-dispersed）高时间分辨率巡天（high time resolution survey）提供了可能，该巡天或有望带来突破性新发现。我们提议对此次新发现的脉冲星开展后续计时观测，并针对欧米茄半人马座启动一项全新的相干去色散高时间分辨率脉冲星巡天项目。