PSR J2021+3651: A New Gamma-Ray Pulsar Candidate

Document Type

Journal Article

Role

Author

Standard Number

0273-1177

Journal Title

Advances is Space Research

Volume

33

Issue

4

First Page

577

Last Page

580

Publication Date

2004

Abstract

The COS B high energy γ-ray source 2CG 075+00, also known as GeV J2020+3658 or 3EG J2021+3716, has avoided identification with a low energy counterpart for over 20 years. We present a likely identification with the discovery and subsequent timing of a young and energetic pulsar, PSR J2021+3651, with the Wideband Arecibo Pulsar Processor at the Arecibo Observatory. PSR J2021+3651 has a rotation periodP∼104 ms and , implying a characteristic age τc∼17 kyr and a spin-down luminosity erg s−1. The pulsar is also coincident with the ASCA source AX J2021.1+3651. The implied luminosity of the associated X-ray source suggests the X-ray emission is dominated by a pulsar wind nebula unresolved by ASCA. The pulsar’s unexpectedly high dispersion measure (DM ∼ 371 pc cm−3) and the d⩾10 kpc DM distance pose a new question: is PSR J2021+3651 an extremely efficient γ-ray pulsar at the edge of the Galaxy? This is a question for AGILE and GLAST to answer.

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