Parkes observations for project P602 semester 2011APRS_01

We propose to continue studying 1E 1547.0-5408, one of the two magnetars \r\nknown to currently emit radio pulsations. The aim is to develop a more\r\nspecific understanding of the dynamical behavior of their magnetospheres\r\nand ultra-strong magnetic fields, which are responsible for X-ray and\r\ngamma-ray outbursts, magnetospheric currents and particle acceleration,\r\nand heating of the neutron star surface. 1E 1547.0-5408, which cannot \r\nbe observed with northern telescopes, has been remarkably active over\r\nthe past 2 years: following a large X-ray outburst in October 2008, radio\r\nemission ceased, recommencing sporadically in December. In January 2009,\r\na much larger X-ray outburst occurred, and since then there have been huge\r\nvariations in its radio flux. The X-ray flux is gradually decaying,\r\nand meanwhile the torque on the star continues to vary enormously.\r\nAt Parkes we request weekly timing to track its rotation and radio flux,\r\nwhile we monitor its X-ray flux with the Swift satellite.