Size-waiting-time Correlations in Pulsar Glitches
Abstract
Few statistically compelling correlations are found in pulsar timing data between the size of a rotational glitch and the time to the preceding glitch (backward waiting time) or the succeeding glitch (forward waiting time), except for a strong correlation between sizes and forward waiting times in PSR J0537-6910. This situation is counterintuitive if glitches are threshold-triggered events, as in standard theories (e.g., starquakes, superfluid vortex avalanches). Here, it is shown that the lack of correlation emerges naturally, when a threshold trigger is combined with secular stellar braking slower than a critical, calculable rate. The Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients are computed and interpreted within the framework of a state-dependent Poisson process. Specific, falsifiable predictions are made regarding what objects currently targeted by long-term timing campaigns should develop strong size-waiting-time correlations as more data are collected in the future.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 2018
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/aad228
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1809.03064
- Bibcode:
- 2018ApJ...863..196M
- Keywords:
-
- dense matter;
- pulsars: general;
- stars: interiors;
- stars: neutron;
- stars: rotation;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- 27 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal