Reliability of magnetic inclination angle determinations for pulsars

M. Coleman Miller; Russell J. Hamilton

doi:10.1086/172829

Reliability of magnetic inclination angle determinations for pulsars

M. Coleman Miller, Russell J. Hamilton

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

We compare the recent estimates of the inclination angle α between the rotation and magnetic axes of 56 pulsars made by both Lyne & Manchester and Rankin. Their results agree reasonably well when α is ≲40°; however, there is no correlation between the two estimates of α if either estimate exceeds 40°. The correlation is better for pulsars with beams having more complicated core structure. Nevertheless, the differences between the two sets of estimates are large enough that use of these estimates to investigate pulsar physics is questionable. We discuss the method for determining α based on the Radhakrishnan & Cooke single-vector model, emphasizing its sensitivity to measurement errors. This method complements the approaches of Rankin and Lyne & Manchester and is preferable when accurate polarization data are available.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	298-301
Number of pages	4
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	411
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/172829
State	Published - Jul 1 1993
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Pulsars: general
Stars: neutron

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/172829

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title = "Reliability of magnetic inclination angle determinations for pulsars",

abstract = "We compare the recent estimates of the inclination angle α between the rotation and magnetic axes of 56 pulsars made by both Lyne & Manchester and Rankin. Their results agree reasonably well when α is ≲40°; however, there is no correlation between the two estimates of α if either estimate exceeds 40°. The correlation is better for pulsars with beams having more complicated core structure. Nevertheless, the differences between the two sets of estimates are large enough that use of these estimates to investigate pulsar physics is questionable. We discuss the method for determining α based on the Radhakrishnan & Cooke single-vector model, emphasizing its sensitivity to measurement errors. This method complements the approaches of Rankin and Lyne & Manchester and is preferable when accurate polarization data are available.",

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doi = "10.1086/172829",

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T1 - Reliability of magnetic inclination angle determinations for pulsars

AU - Coleman Miller, M.

AU - Hamilton, Russell J.

PY - 1993/7/1

Y1 - 1993/7/1

N2 - We compare the recent estimates of the inclination angle α between the rotation and magnetic axes of 56 pulsars made by both Lyne & Manchester and Rankin. Their results agree reasonably well when α is ≲40°; however, there is no correlation between the two estimates of α if either estimate exceeds 40°. The correlation is better for pulsars with beams having more complicated core structure. Nevertheless, the differences between the two sets of estimates are large enough that use of these estimates to investigate pulsar physics is questionable. We discuss the method for determining α based on the Radhakrishnan & Cooke single-vector model, emphasizing its sensitivity to measurement errors. This method complements the approaches of Rankin and Lyne & Manchester and is preferable when accurate polarization data are available.

AB - We compare the recent estimates of the inclination angle α between the rotation and magnetic axes of 56 pulsars made by both Lyne & Manchester and Rankin. Their results agree reasonably well when α is ≲40°; however, there is no correlation between the two estimates of α if either estimate exceeds 40°. The correlation is better for pulsars with beams having more complicated core structure. Nevertheless, the differences between the two sets of estimates are large enough that use of these estimates to investigate pulsar physics is questionable. We discuss the method for determining α based on the Radhakrishnan & Cooke single-vector model, emphasizing its sensitivity to measurement errors. This method complements the approaches of Rankin and Lyne & Manchester and is preferable when accurate polarization data are available.

KW - Pulsars: general

KW - Stars: neutron

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DO - 10.1086/172829

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

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Reliability of magnetic inclination angle determinations for pulsars

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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