Parkes observations for project P834 semester 2013OCTS

We propose to search for a pulsar in the remnant of SN1987A. The existence of a neutron star formed after the explosion of the progenitor, Sk ?69?202, is predicted by stellar evolution theory. Early neutrino detection by three separate ground-based detectors appears to confirm the formation of neutrons. Moreover, recent Compact Array observations hint at the presence of a flat-spectrum component near the centre of the remnant, possibly the result of synchrotron emission from a pulsar-powered nebula. However, the initial mass of the SN1987A progenitor is close to the limit where collapse into a black hole is predicted. It is therefore possible that fallback of matter onto the neutron star resulted in later formation of a black hole, or even a quark star. Detection or otherwise of the SN1987A pulsar would make a powerful contribution to stellar evolution theory.

本研究提议在1987A超新星（SN1987A）遗迹中搜寻脉冲星（pulsar）。恒星演化理论预言，其前身星Sk−69−202爆发后将形成中子星（neutron star）。早期由三台独立地面探测器开展的中微子（neutrino）探测结果，似乎证实了中子的生成。此外，近期紧凑阵列（Compact Array）的观测显示，遗迹中心附近存在一处平谱成分，其可能源自脉冲星驱动星云的同步辐射（synchrotron emission）。不过，1987A超新星前身星的初始质量接近理论预言的坍缩为黑洞（black hole）的临界质量。因此存在如下可能：物质回落至中子星后，后续形成了黑洞，甚至是夸克星（quark star）。无论能否探测到1987A超新星的脉冲星，该研究都将对恒星演化理论做出重要贡献。