A search for radio pulsars in southern supernova remnants
V. M. Kaspi (IPAC/JPL/Caltech, USA),
R. N. Manchester (ATNF, CSIRO, Australia),
Simon Johnston (RCfTA, University of Sydney, Australia),
A. G. Lyne, (NRAL, Jodrell Bank, UK)
N. D'Amico, (University of Palermo and IRA-CNR, Italy)
Abstract We have searched 40 southern galactic supernova remnants for radio pulsars at 436, 660 and 1520 MHz. Our survey covered each target remnant in its entirety and was sensitive to pulsars with minimum luminosities in the range 5 - 500 mJy kpc^2, with mean 100 mJy kpc^2, at 400 MHz. In addition to detecting eight known pulsars, we have discovered two new pulsars, PSR J1104-6103 and PSR J1627-4850. Both have characteristic ages of over two million years, and hence are not likely to be associated with their target remnants. However, the association of PSR J1627-4850 with its target remnant, G335.2+0.1, is plausible if the pulsar was born with a long spin period. We conclude that the main inhibiting factor against the discovery of new young pulsars is sensitivity, suggesting that deeper searches of supernova remnants are warranted.