Optical Observations of Pulsars

Abstract

Optical identification of radio pulsars has only been achieved for the Crab and Vela Pulsars. The luminosity limits for others could be considerably improved: better astrometry and time-resolved photometry could reach mv = 27. The limits for pulsars with unknown periods, for example in extragalactic nebulae, are usually about mv = 20. The luminosity falls rapidly with increasing period: if it follows a power law the index is minus ten at least.The optical spectrum of the Crab Pulsar falls toward the infra-red and is flat in the ultra-violet. No self-absorption effect is seen in the infra-red. New observations of the minimum intensity and of the polarisation show a highly linearly polarised component continuing through the whole pulse cycle.