Abstract
We present the first phase-coherent measurement of a braking index for the young, energetic rotation-powered pulsar PSR J1846-0258. This 324 ms pulsar is located at the center of the supernova remnant Kesteven 75 and has a characteristic age of τc = 723 yr, a spin-down energy of Ė = 8.3 × 1036 ergs s-1, and an inferred magnetic field of 4.9 × 1013 G. Two independent phase-coherent timing solutions are derived, which together span 5.5 yr of data obtained with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. In addition, a partially phase-coherent timing analysis confirms the fully phase-coherent result. The measured value of the braking index, n = 2.65 ± 0.01, is significantly less than 3, the value expected from magnetic dipole radiation, implying another physical process must contribute to the pulsar's rotational evolution. Assuming the braking index has been constant since birth, we place an upper limit on the spin-down age of PSR J1846-0258 of 884 yr, the smallest age estimate of any rotation-powered pulsar.
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