On the statistical implication of timing noise for pulsar braking index

¹ Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, PO Box 443, Krugersdorp 1740, South Africa e-mail: austine@hartrao.ac.za
² Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria e-mail: aus$_{-}$chukwude@yahoo.com

Corresponding author: aus_chukwude@yahoo.com

Received: 24 February 2003
Accepted: 13 May 2003

Abstract

Timing data on 27 radio pulsars spanning more than 13 years were analysed in order to investigate the correlations of radio pulsar timing noise (random fluctuations in the observed pulse phase – RPTN), with the observed electromagnetic torque braking index (). The results reveal significant correlations (%) between the statistics used to parameterize RPTN and the absolute magnitude of the observed second time derivative of the pulse (rotation) frequency (). These correlations, most plausibly, suggest that the observed braking indices of most pulsars, obtained through the traditional phase-connected method, are strongly dominated by intrinsic variability in their spin rates. The implication of this result for a significant measurement of pulsar systematic frequency second derivative is discussed.