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Astrophysics, High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, astro-ph.HE
Abstract:
The timing properties of radio pulsars provide a unique probe of neutron star
interiors. Recent observations have uncovered quasiperiodicities in the timing
and pulse properties of some pulsars, a phenomenon that has often been
attributed to free precession of the neutron star, with profound implications
for the distribution of superfluidity and superconductivity in the star. We
advance this program by developing consistency relations between free
precession and pulsars glitches, and we show that there are difficulties in
reconciling the two phenomena in some precession candidates. This indicates
that the precession model used here needs to be modified or some other
phenomenon is at work in producing the quasiperiodicities, or even that there
is something missing in terms of our understanding of glitches.
