Data from pulsars - light curves?

In summary, the conversation is about a person seeking help in finding data on pulsars, specifically a precise light curve and power spectrum of the crab pulsar and other pulsars. They are inexperienced with the software related to HEASARC and are unsure which telescope is capable of measuring the desired data. They are also looking for the data's source and the year/date it was measured. Suggestions for sources are provided, including the VizieR catalogue and the Pulsar Handbook. The conversation ends with the person expressing doubt that the suggested sources will provide the needed data.
  • #1
rnielsen25
25
1
Poster has been reminded to post schoolwork in the Homework Help forums
Hi everybody,

I hope some of you have worked with pulsars before or other x-ray data from NASA Heasarc.
I need some data showing a very precise light curve of the crab pulsar and some other pulsar.

It should be something like this: http://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso9948i.jpg
Where the time is in milliseconds ranging to 200 ms.

Or something like this:
http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/pulsar/Education/Sounds/0531_seq.mp4
The goal is to see the individual pulses, but hopefully in x-rays instead.

Then i should get a related power spectrum to the data, where i can determine the period/which frequency the pulsar pulsates.
Something like this graph:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v394/n6691/images/394344aa.tif.0.gif
I know these data i linked are unrelated, it's just to get an idea of what I'm looking for.

I'm quite unexperienced with the software related to HEASARC and I'm not familiar with their data archive or different kind telescopes. I have succeeded by installing the HEASOFT package. But since it is a jungle out there, i hoped some of you could help telling me what to do.
Which telescope is capable of measuring so precise, that you can graph the individual pulses on a graph, like with the crab pulsar, which pulsates around 30 times a second. Is it the RXTE?
Where should i find the data in the HEASARC archive, and what files should i look for?
It doesn't matter if it's pre-processed or finished processed data. I should just be able to determine the pulse period, the change in pulse period (dp), and knowing which telescope and what software used to data processing. Off course i should be able to show the graphs too, and i should know which year/date the data was measured.

Or is there no telescope which measure that precise, when it comes to x-ray data, and should i instead be looking for data in the radiowaves.
 
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  • #2
  • #3
Chronos said:
The data you are looking for might be included in the VizieR catalogue at http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR. That is probably the best source I can think of off hand.

Sorry. But I don't think they provide the data i need. I couldn't find any though.
 
  • #4
I'm not a pulsar specialist, but for the first did you look into

http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/pulsarhandbook
(D.R. Lorimer, M. Kramer, 2005, 2012)

In here (Appendix 3) some other recources are listed
 
  • #5
Based on another (now deleted) thread by the OP, this appears to be for schoolwork. The OP must show the bulk of the work from now on in this thread.
 

Related to Data from pulsars - light curves?

1. What are pulsars?

Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. They were first discovered in 1967 by astronomers Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish.

2. How are light curves used to study data from pulsars?

Light curves are plots that show the change in brightness of a pulsar over time. By analyzing these curves, scientists can study the pulsar's rotation rate, magnetic field strength, and other properties.

3. What is the significance of studying pulsar light curves?

Studying pulsar light curves can provide valuable insights into the physics of these extreme objects, as well as the properties of the interstellar medium through which their radiation passes.

4. Are there any potential applications of pulsar light curve data?

Yes, pulsar light curve data has been used in various applications such as navigation systems, precision timing for spacecraft, and detection of gravitational waves.

5. What challenges do scientists face in analyzing data from pulsar light curves?

One of the main challenges is dealing with the vast amount of data that pulsars produce, as well as understanding the complex physical processes that govern their emission. Additionally, pulsars can exhibit unpredictable behavior, making it difficult to accurately interpret their light curves.

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