10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 10900 Version: 8 Check-in Time: 12-Sep-2007 14:46:59 STScI Edit Number: 1 Title Optical polarimetry of PSR B0540-69 and its synchrotron nebula. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle Parallel Pointing Tolerance GO 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Roberto Mignani Mullard Space Science Laboratory CoI: Dr. Silvia Zane Mullard Space Science Laboratory N CoI: Dr. Gottfried Kambach Max-Planck-Institut fur extraterrestrische N Physik CoI: Ms. Agnieszka Slowikowska Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center N CoI: Prof. Bronislaw Rudak Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center N CoI: Dr. Jarek Dyks Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center N CoI: Dr. Stefano Bagnulo European Southern Observatory - Chile N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract Polarization measurements of pulsars and of their synchrotron nebulae are uniquely able to provide deep insights into the highly magnetized relativistic environment of young rotating neutron stars. Apart from the radio band, pulsar polarization is best measured in the optical, for the rare cases of detectable optical emission. One of the brightest pulsars together with Crab (PSR B0531+21) and Vela (PSR B0833-45), for which optical polarization measurements support the newly developed two-pole caustic model (TPC), is PSR B0540-69 in the Large Magellanic Clouds, often referred as the Crab Twin for their overall similarities in both age and energetics. Together with the Crab, PSR B0540-69 is also the only pulsar embedded in a synchrotron nebula visible at optical wavelengths. We plan to observe PSR B0540-69 and its compact nebula (4 arcsec diameter) with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and the Wide Field Channel (WFC) detector using UV and visual polarization filters. Thanks to the superb angular resolution of ACS, these observations will allow us to spectacularly resolve the pulsar from its nebular background, providing the first firm measure of the pulsar polarization which will be crucial to assess, on a broader sample, the validity of the TPC model with respect to other pulsars magnetosphere models. These observations will also provide the first detailed polarization map of the nebula, including the jet and the torus seen in our previous WFPC2 images. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ We plan to perform deep, high resolution, polarization observations of the LMC pulsar PSR 0540-69 and its surrounding, compact, plerion with the ACS/HRC and the 606W filter. Shorter exposures with no polarized optics will be taken as well to compare the polarized and unpolarized maps of the plerion. Observations are split into three different visits, one visit of two orbits each. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 OBJ-054011- STAR, A0-A3 V-IV, RA=05H40M11.0480S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 22.5+/-0.1 691955 PULSAR DEC=-69D19'55.18" +/- 0.1" Reference Frame: ICRS 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, 3 600 S 691955 POLQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F336W 3 230 S 691955 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F450W 3 220 S 691955 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F555W 3 100 S 691955 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F675W 3 140 S 691955 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F814W 3 200 S 691955 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sub Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target | Exp |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Cent.|Primary |Secondary |Iteration |CR-SPLIT |Orbit |Duration Name | Num |Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Wave.|Pattern Pos |Pattern Pos |Num |Num |Number | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 1 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 2 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 3 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 2 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F336W none none 1 none 2 260.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 2 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F336W none none 2 none 2 260.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 2 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F336W none none 3 none 2 260.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 3 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F450W none none 1 none 2 260.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 3 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F450W none none 2 none 2 260.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 3 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F450W none none 3 none 2 260.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 4 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F555W none none 1 none 3 100.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 4 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F555W none none 2 none 3 100.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 4 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F555W none none 3 none 3 100.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 5 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F675W none none 1 none 3 140.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 5 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F675W none none 2 none 3 140.0 S 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 5] Sub Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target | Exp |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Cent.|Primary |Secondary |Iteration |CR-SPLIT |Orbit |Duration Name | Num |Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Wave.|Pattern Pos |Pattern Pos |Num |Num |Number | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OBJ-054011-691955 5 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F675W none none 3 none 3 140.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 6 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F814W none none 1 none 3 200.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 6 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F814W none none 2 none 3 200.0 S OBJ-054011-691955 6 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F814W none none 3 none 3 200.0 S 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 6] Visit: 02 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE; ORIENT 45.0D TO 45.0D FROM 01 On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, 3 600 S 691955 POLQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sub Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target | Exp |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Cent.|Primary |Secondary |Iteration |CR-SPLIT |Orbit |Duration Name | Num |Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Wave.|Pattern Pos |Pattern Pos |Num |Num |Number | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 1 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 2 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 3 none 1 N/A POLQ 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 7] Visit: 03 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE; ORIENT 270.0D TO 270.0 D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, 3 600 S GS ACQ SCENARIO SINGLE 691955 POLQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sub Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target | Exp |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Cent.|Primary |Secondary |Iteration |CR-SPLIT |Orbit |Duration Name | Num |Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Wave.|Pattern Pos |Pattern Pos |Num |Num |Number | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 1 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 2 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 3 none 1 N/A POLQ 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 8] Visit: 04 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE; ORIENT 315.0D TO 315.0 D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 OBJ-054011- WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, 3 600 S 691955 POLQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sub Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target | Exp |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Cent.|Primary |Secondary |Iteration |CR-SPLIT |Orbit |Duration Name | Num |Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Wave.|Pattern Pos |Pattern Pos |Num |Num |Number | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 1 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 2 none 1 N/A POLQ OBJ-054011-691955 1 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W, none none 3 none 1 N/A POLQ 10900( 8) - 09/12/07 10:47 - [ 9] Summary Form for Proposal 10900 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures PC1-FIX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations WFPC2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes IMAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements PCS MODE FINE; ORIENT 45.0D TO 45.0D FROM 01; ORIENT 270.0D TO 270.0 D; GS ACQ SCENARIO SINGLE; ORIENT 315.0D TO 315.0 D; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F606W,POLQ F336W F450W F555W F675W F814W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names OBJ-054011-691955 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------