Sarah Buchner (Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory)

Vela Glitch Monitoring at HartRAO-- Sarah Buchner Colloquium

Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

The Vela pulsar, like many other young pulsars, undergoes occasional sudden ''spin-ups'' in rotational frequency known as glitches. These glitches are characterized by a sudden (less than 30s) rise in the rotation frequency accompanied by a jump in the spin-down of the pulsar. This is generally followed by rapidly decaying transients in the spin-down and a gradual linear recovery. This recovery provides insight into the internal structure of the neutron star.

The 26m telescope at HartRAO, 60 km North west of Johannesburg, South Africa has been used to monitor the Vela pulsar almost daily from 1985 in order to monitor these glitches. I discuss these observations and the glitch monitoring system.

During the entire monitoring campaign 10 large glitches have been observed. The majority of the glitches show a similar recovery pattern. I discuss this pattern and the exceptions to it.