http://arxiv.org/abs/1402.3750
We report on our searches for debris disks around seven relatively nearby radio pulsars, which are isolated sources and carefully selected as the targets on the basis of our deep $K_s$-band imaging survey. The $K_s$ images obtained with the 6.5 m Baade Magellan Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory are analyzed together with the Spitzer/IRAC images at 4.5 and 8.0 $\mu$m and the WISE images at 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 $\mu$m. No infrared (IR) counterparts to these pulsars are found, with flux upper limits of $\sim \mu$Jy at near-infrared ($\lambda<10\ \mu$m) and $\sim$10–1000 $\mu$Jy at mid-IR wavelengths ($\lambda>10\ \mu$m) obtained. The upper limits on the dust mass are estimated to be $\sim$10$^{-7}$ M_Earth. The results of this search are discussed in terms of X-ray heating of debris disks and the efficiency of converting the pulsar spin-down energy to thermal energy, compared to the two magnetars 4U~0142+61 and 1E~2259+586 and the Vela pulsar which are known to (probably) harbor a debris disk.
Z. Wang, X. Wang, A. Li, et. al.
Tue, 18 Feb 14
42/72
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