Parkes observations for project P1039 semester 2020APRS_01

Rotating Radio Transients (RRATs) are a group of sporadically emitting neutron stars. Their erratic single-pulse emission makes them hard to detect and consequently, our knowledge of even the basic parameters of the population is lacking. Here we propose an ambitious project to systematically review the spectral and rotational parameters of a large fraction (29) of the known RRAT population in the southern hemisphere, roughly 90 per cent of those that are well localised. Our project plays to the strengths of the newly commissioned Parkes UWL receiver and backend system, its wide 3.3-GHz instantaneous frequency coverage, excellent sensitivity and ability to coherently remove the effects of dispersion in the interstellar medium. The data will enable us to measure their absolute calibrated flux densities, polarimetric profiles, spectral behaviour, detection rates, inter-pulse waiting times and rotational parameters. Our measurements are crucial to understanding whether the RRATs form a distinct class from the ordinary radio pulsars and will inform observations and RRAT yields of surveys at upcoming facilities. Additionally, they will elucidate any potential relationship with pulses from repeating Fast Radio Bursts.

旋转射电暂现源（Rotating Radio Transients, RRATs）是一类间歇性射电辐射的中子星。其单脉冲辐射具有极强的不稳定性，导致探测难度极大，因此即便该源群的基础参数，目前学界仍所知有限。本研究提出一项雄心勃勃的系统性研究计划，将对南半球已发现的29颗旋转射电暂现源展开调研；该29颗样本约占南半球所有定位精度良好的已知RRATs总数的90%。本项目将充分依托新启用的帕克斯UWL接收机及后端系统的技术优势：其具备3.3GHz的超宽瞬时频率覆盖范围、优异的探测灵敏度，以及可相干消除星际介质色散效应的能力。所得观测数据将支持我们测定这些源的绝对校准流量密度、偏振轮廓、光谱特性、探测率、脉冲间隔等待时长，以及自转参数。本次测量结果对于厘清旋转射电暂现源是否独立于常规射电脉冲星构成独特的源群至关重要，同时可为未来观测设施的巡天观测及旋转射电暂现源巡天产额估算提供关键参考。此外，本研究还将阐明旋转射电暂现源与重复快速射电暴（Fast Radio Bursts）脉冲之间可能存在的关联。