4-8 July 2016
Kramer Law building
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
<a href="http://events.saip.org.za/internalPage.py?pageId=10&confId=86">The Proceedings of SAIP2016</a> published on 24 December 2017

Discovery of the First White Dwarf Pulsar

8 Jul 2016, 11:30
20m
5A (Kramer Law building)

5A

Kramer Law building

UCT Middle Campus Cape Town
Oral Presentation Track D1 - Astrophysics Astrophysics (1)

Speaker

Dr David Buckley (SAAO)

Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

No

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD, N/A)?

N/A

Please indicate whether<br>this abstract may be<br>published online<br>(Yes / No)

No

Abstract content <br> &nbsp; (Max 300 words)<br><a href="http://events.saip.org.za/getFile.py/access?resId=0&materialId=0&confId=34" target="_blank">Formatting &<br>Special chars</a>

The first example of a White Dwarf which shows spin modulation of its flux in both the radio and optical wavelengths has recently been discovered. It is in a close binary system with a M-dwarf companion and has a 3.6h orbital period. Polarimetric observations undertaken at the SAAO has revealed remarkably high linear polarization, which is also strongly pulsed on the 59s first harmonic of the spin or beat period, reaching levels of 80%. In addition, the position angle of the linear polarization can change by up to 360 degrees over this period. Observations over two consecutive nights shows that the level and amplitude of the polarization modulation changes, possibly on the orbital period. We interpret these results as evidence of a precessing synchrotron jet in this system, which is powered by the spin-down energy of the White Dwarf.

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?

Yes

Primary author

Dr David Buckley (SAAO)

Co-author

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