Parkes observations for project P282 semester 2013APRS

Full description

From 1989 to 2005, we have discovered a total of 23 millisecond pulsars in 47 Tucanae and obtained coherent timing solutions for 19 of those. This dataset has already allowed studies of stellar evolution and cluster dynamics and the first detection of the interstellar medium in a globular cluster. The remaining scientific objectives of this project can now be accomplished with less intensive, long-term timing: we want to keep track of the rotational phase of these pulsars and increase the number and precision of measured proper motions. The full analysis of all the previous data is still ongoing: we have recently found a new pulsar (47TucZ), and two very good new candidates, confirmed a previously know object (47TucX), and determined the timing solutions of three others (the binary pulsar with the shortest orbital period, 47 Tuc R, another eclipsing binary pulsar, 47TucW, and a newly dicovered binary, 47 Tuc Y). This has allowed the identification of these three pulsars in X-rays using Chandra and the identification of the companion of 47TucY in optical HST data. Some of the 47 Tuc pulsars are now becoming detectable at gamma-rays with Fermi, but we need to keep updated radio ephemerides.