Evaluating the high-energy gamma ray emission from the Vela pulsar as curvature or synchro-curvature emission.

Project Description:

Pulsars are rapidly rotating, highly magnetised neutron stars that emit pulsed radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Despite advances in space-based and ground-based Cherenkov instruments operating in the high to very-high energy bands, our understanding of the local environments of these extreme astrophysical objects, i.e., specifically their magnetospheres, electrodynamics, and particle physics, remains incomplete. This study investigates the high-energy curved spectrum of the Vela pulsar using observational data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and H.E.S.S. II. It will contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the dominant mechanism responsible for pulsed GeV gamma-ray emission from pulsars by comparing curvature and synchro-curvature (SC) radiation mechanisms that may operate in the equatorial current sheet. We will conduct a comparative analysis of these emission mechanisms that depend on the local magnetic and electric field structure, as well as the particle trajectory’s radius of curvature. Starting with the single-particle case and later moving to an ensemble of particles, we will predict energy-dependent light curves and phase-averaged spectra within a global force-free magnetic field configuration, for different pulsar geometries. By fitting the available data, we will be able to comment on the most realistic and practical formulation of the high-energy pulsar emission mechanism, thereby contributing to a better understanding of pulsar magnetospheres.

Research Area:

Astrophysics

Project Level:

Honours

This Project Is Offered At The Following Node(s):

(NWU)

Special Requirements:

The student is expected to do the project independently, i.e., a background study, generating results using a C++ code, report writing, presenting the project, and planning their time wisely. The supervisor is available during the course of the project to assist with planning, having discussions for explaining material or answer questions related to the project, and preparing the student for the presentation. The student should have a B.Sc. degree in physics, mathematics, programming, or other related fields, as well as a basic knowledge of programming in any language (preferably Python / C / C++), or be willing to learn. Timeline for project: Background study / preparation for analysis: 2 week. Actual analysis: 4 weeks. Preparation of oral presentation and written report: ~4 weeks. Oral presentation: 15 min on project and answer questions. Written project: not more than 20 pages of text, excluding figures and references.