Pinning down the superfluid and measuring masses using pulsar glitches.

Area of Science:

• * Astrophysics
• * Nuclear Physics
• * Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

• * Pulsars exhibit precise timing, but glitches disrupt this regularity, particularly in young stars.
• * Glitches are traditionally attributed to superfluid-crust interactions, but some pulsars require larger superfluid reservoirs than the crust can provide.
• * This discrepancy suggests alternative superfluid reservoirs, such as the pulsar core, may be involved.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate a model where pulsar glitches are caused by superfluid reservoirs in the star's core.
• * To test various theoretical superfluid models against extensive pulsar glitch data.
• * To develop a novel method for measuring pulsar masses using combined radio and X-ray observations.

Main Methods:

• * Analysis of 45 years of observational glitch data from pulsars.
• * Comparison of theoretical superfluid models with empirical glitch data.
• * Development of a new technique combining radio and X-ray data for pulsar mass determination.

Main Results:

• * Only one theoretical superfluid model successfully explains up to 45 years of pulsar glitch data.
• * The study supports the hypothesis that glitches tap into a superfluid reservoir located in the pulsar's core.
• * A new method for measuring pulsar masses using multi-wavelength data has been established.

Conclusions:

• * Pulsar glitches are likely driven by superfluid reservoirs in the core, not solely the crust.
• * The validated core superfluid model provides a robust explanation for long-term glitch behavior.
• * The developed mass measurement technique enables probing fundamental physics, including core superfluidity, with current and future telescopes.