Deep optical imaging of the gamma-ray pulsar J1048-5832 with the VLT

Abstract

(abridged) PSR J1048-5832 is a young Vela-like pulsar that was recently detected in gamma-rays with Fermi, and also in X-rays with Chandra and XMM-Newton. It powers a compact PWN visible in X-rays. We present deep optical observations with the ESO Very Large Telescope to search for optical counterparts of the pulsar and its nebula and to explore their multi-wavelength emission properties. The data were obtained in V and R bands and compared with archival data in other spectral domains. We do not detect the pulsar in the optical and derive informative upper limits of R > 28.1 mag and V > 28.4 mag for its brightness. Using a red-clump star method, we estimate an interstellar extinction towards the pulsar of 2 mag, which is consistent with the absorbing column density derived form X-rays. The respective distance agrees with the dispersion measure distance. We reanalyse the Chandra X-ray data and compare the dereddened upper limits with the unabsorbed X-ray spectrum of the pulsar. We find that regarding its optical-X-ray spectral properties this gamma-ray pulsar is not distinct from other pulsars detected in both ranges. However, like the Vela pulsar, it is very inefficient in the optical and X-rays. Among a dozen optical sources overlapping with the pulsar X-ray nebula we find one with V = 26.9 and R = 26.3 mag, whose colour is slightly bluer then that of the field stars and consistent with the peculiar colours typical for pulsar nebula features. It positionally coincides with a relatively bright feature of the pulsar X-ray nebula, resembling the Crab wisp and locating in 2 arcsec from the pulsar. We suggest this source as a counterpart candidate to the feature. Based on the substantial interstellar extinction towards the pulsar and its optical inefficiency, further optical studies should be carried out at longer wavelengths.

arXiv comment8 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

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