Observability of gamma-ray pulsars.

Abstract

Attention is given to the Crab (PSR 0531 plus 21) and Vela (PSR 0833 minus 45) pulsars in a study of pulsed energy release in the gamma-ray channel; with a gamma-ray/radio luminosity ratio on the order of one million. SAS 2 and COS B data are analyzed in an attempt to detect possible gamma-ray emission from other known radio pulsars. A phenomenological approach is employed, whereby gamma photons are expressed as a fraction of the rotational energy. An efficiency parameter is also introduced in order to take rotational energy loss rate (due to a variety of factors, e.g., period, magnetic field, and the energy of emitting particles) into account.