Parkes observations for project P885 semester 2018OCTS_10

We propose to observe PSR J1622-4950 and 1E1547.0-5408 weekly, two
of three magnetars known to currently emit radio pulsations, to
track their rotation, flux density, and polarisation. Less frequently
we will monitor XTE J1810-197, which used to emit radio pulsations,
to be on the lookout for its revival - as recently happened with PSR
J1622-4950, which turned on in 2017 after more than 2 years dormant!
These observations yield a continuous record of torque, illuminating
the continued release of magnetic energy. Our broader aims are to
develop a better understanding of the dynamical behaviour of magnetar
magnetospheres, and to establish the conditions under which radio
emission takes place therein, in addition to characterising their
variable radio emission in order to place constraints on the emission
mechanisms, which in at least some respects differ from those of
ordinary pulsars.

我们计划对目前已知的三颗可发射射电脉冲的磁星（magnetar）中的两颗——PSR J1622-4950与1E1547.0-5408开展每周观测，以追踪它们的自转周期、流量密度与偏振特性。我们将以更低频次监测曾发射射电脉冲的XTE J1810-197，以警惕其射电脉冲的重新激活——正如PSR J1622-4950近期的表现：它在休眠超过两年后，于2017年重新开启射电脉冲发射！此类观测将获得连续的自转力矩记录，从而揭示磁能的持续释放过程。我们的整体研究目标包括：更深入地理解磁星磁层（magnetosphere）的动力学行为，明确其中射电辐射产生的条件；此外还将对其可变射电辐射进行特征刻画，以约束辐射机制——这类机制在至少某些方面与普通脉冲星（pulsar）的辐射机制存在差异。