14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 14249 Version: 4 Check-in Time: 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 STScI Edit Number: 1 Title The old pulsar PSR J0108-1431, a key target to understand the long-term evolution of neutron stars ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle GO 23 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Roberto Mignani INAF, Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Y Fisica CoI: Dr. George G. Pavlov The Pennsylvania State University N CoI: Dr. Oleg Y. Kargaltsev George Washington University N CoI: Dr. Bettina Posselt The Pennsylvania State University N CoI: Mr. Prakash Arumugasamy The Pennsylvania State University N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract The multi-wavelength study of >100 Myr old radio-pulsars holds the key to understanding the long-term evolution of neutron stars, including the advanced stages of the surface cooling history, and possible variations in the magnetosphere properties. Near-UV observations of neutron stars are particularly important for such studies because they offer the chance to explore both thermal and non-thermal emission processes. The first aim of this proposal is to obtain a robust detection of the candidate optical counterpart (U=26.4) to the 166 Myr old radio pulsar PSR J0108-1431, discovered by us with the VLT, through WFC3/UVIS imaging in the U and B bands. The detection of a point source at the pulsar radio position, computed from its VLBI radio coordinates and proper motion, with U and B-band fluxes compatible with those of the candidate counterpart, will firmly secure our proposed identification. The second aim is to obtain the first measurement of the pulsar flux in the optical-UV with both the WFC3/UVIS and the ACS/SBC. This will enable us to determine the slope of the Rayleigh-Jeans continuum, only hinted in the VLT data, affected by large errors, and measure the temperature of the bulk of the neutron star surface, too cold to be detected in the X-rays where only hot polar caps have been detected with Chandra and XMM-Newton. The measured temperature will provide the crucial information to constrain neutron star cooling curves for ages>100 Myr, where theoretical predictions are highly uncertain, and from them verify different models of the neutron star interior. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ This proposal has two goals. The first one is to confirm the identification of the old pulsar PSR J0108-1431 through absolute HST astrometry and comparison with the very accurate pulsar position obtained from radio measurements. The second goal is to study the optical/UV spectrum of this pulsar to characterise the slope of its, likely, thermal spectrum and derive its brightness temperature, thanks to accurate distance to the pulsar, also obtained from radio observations. In this way, we will be able to compare the inferred temperature with cooling models and investigate whether the neutron star surface temperature has been raised by re-heating processes in the interior, as observed in other pulsars. This will provide us with important information on 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 2] the neutron star interior and composition. To fulfill our goals, we need observations performed in the optical and in the near-UV. Therefore, we plan to observe our target in the optical with the WFC3/UVIS In three filters (225W, 336W, 438W) and in the near-UV with the ACS/SBC in one filter (F140LP). The WFC3 and ACS observations should be performed in two diferent visits. For the WFC3 observations we require two orbits for each of the selected filter, for a total of six orbits (visit 1). For the ACS observations we require two orbits (visit 2). We do not have any time constraints for our observations and we have no specific sequence for the visits and exposure execution. In all cases, observations will be performed in ACCUM mode. There is no bright star close to our target so that we do not require any particular roll angle constraint to avoid that the saturation spikes overlap the target position ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PSRJ0108-143 STAR, PULSAR RA=01H08M8.3540S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 27.8 U = 26.4 +/-0.3 1 DEC=-14D32'50.38" +/- 0.1" Reference Frame: ICRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 PSRJ0108-143 STAR, PULSAR RA=01H08M8.3470S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 27.8 U = 26.4 +/-0.3 1-UPDATED DEC=-14D31'50.19" +/- 0.1" Reference Frame: ICRS Epoch of Position RA proper motion (seconds of time/yr) DEC Proper Motion (arcsec/yr) Annual Parallax (arcsec) 2007.0 0.005168659389632387 -0.15253999999999998 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 4] Patterns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pattern_Number: 1 Primary_Pattern Secondary_Pattern Pattern_Type WFC3-UVIS-DITHER-BOX Pattern_Purpose DITHER Number_Of_Points 4 Point_Spacing 0.173 Line_Spacing 0.112 Coordinate_Frame POS-TARG Pattern_Orient 23.884 Angle_Between_Sides 81.785 Center_Pattern NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 5] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: 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| (Total) | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CENT F225W FLASH=12 1 615 S PATTERN 1 1 31 S ER see below (2472 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CENT F225W FLASH=12 1 645 S PATTERN 1 2 31 S ER (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CENT F336W FLASH=12 1 645 S PATTERN 1 3 31 S ER (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CENT F336W FLASH=12 1 645 S PATTERN 1 4 31 S ER (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CENT F438W FLASH=8 1 645 S PATTERN 1 5 31 S ER (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CENT F438W FLASH=8 1 645 S PATTERN 1 6 31 S ER (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PSRJ0108-1431 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 1 none none none 1 618.0 S S TER PSRJ0108-1431 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 2 none none none 1 618.0 S S TER PSRJ0108-1431 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 3 none none none 1 618.0 S S TER PSRJ0108-1431 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 4 none none none 1 618.0 S S TER PSRJ0108-1431 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 1 none none none 2 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 2 none none none 2 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 3 none none none 2 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F225W 4 none none none 2 N/A S TER 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 6] 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PSRJ0108-1431 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 1 none none none 3 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 2 none none none 3 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 3 none none none 3 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 4 none none none 3 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 1 none none none 4 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 2 none none none 4 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 3 none none none 4 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F336W 4 none none none 4 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 1 none none none 5 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 2 none none none 5 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 3 none none none 5 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 4 none none none 5 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 1 none none none 6 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 2 none none none 6 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 3 none none none 6 N/A S TER PSRJ0108-1431 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS-CEN F438W 4 none none none 6 N/A S TER 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 7] Visit: 02 Visit Requirements: 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| (Total) | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PSRJ0108-14 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP 1 2800 S 31 (2800 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 PSRJ0108-14 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP 1 2900 S 31 (2900 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PSRJ0108-1431 1 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP none none none none 1 N/A PSRJ0108-1431 2 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP none none none none 2 N/A 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 8] Visit: 51 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Copy of failed visit 01 with updated target coordinates. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| (Total) | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1K F225W FLASH=10 1 615 S PATTERN 1 1 31-UPDATED S 1C-CTE see below (2472 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1K F225W FLASH=10 1 615 S PATTERN 1 2 31-UPDATED S 1C-CTE (2460 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1K F336W FLASH=10 1 645 S PATTERN 1 3 31-UPDATED S 1C-CTE (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1K F336W FLASH=10 1 645 S PATTERN 1 4 31-UPDATED S 1C-CTE (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1K F438W FLASH=6 1 645 S PATTERN 1 5 31-UPDATED S 1C-CTE (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 PSRJ0108-14 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1K F438W FLASH=6 1 645 S PATTERN 1 6 31-UPDATED S 1C-CTE (2580 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 1 none none none 1 618.0 S ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 2 none none none 1 618.0 S ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 3 none none none 1 618.0 S ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 4 none none none 1 618.0 S ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 1 none none none 2 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 2 none none none 2 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 3 none none none 2 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 2 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F225W 4 none none none 2 N/A ED S K1C-CTE 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 9] 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 1 none none none 3 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 2 none none none 3 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 3 none none none 3 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 3 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 4 none none none 3 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 1 none none none 4 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 2 none none none 4 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 3 none none none 4 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 4 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F336W 4 none none none 4 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 1 none none none 5 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 2 none none none 5 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 3 none none none 5 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 5 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 4 none none none 5 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 1 none none none 6 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 2 none none none 6 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 3 none none none 6 N/A ED S K1C-CTE PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 6 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2-C1 F438W 4 none none none 6 N/A ED S K1C-CTE 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 10] Visit: 52 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Copy of failed visit 02 with updated target coordinates. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| (Total) | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PSRJ0108-14 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP 1 2800 S 31-UPDATED (2800 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 PSRJ0108-14 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP 1 2900 S 31-UPDATED (2900 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 1 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP none none none none 1 N/A ED PSRJ0108-1431-UPDAT 2 ACS/SBC ACCUM SBC F140LP none none none none 2 N/A ED 14249( 4) - 29-Jan-2016 16:11:47 - [ 11] Summary Form for Proposal 14249 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures SBC, UVIS-CENTER, UVIS2-C1K1C-CTE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations ACS/SBC, WFC3/UVIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters FLASH=10, FLASH=12, FLASH=6, FLASH=8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements PATTERN 1 1, PATTERN 1 2, PATTERN 1 3, PATTERN 1 4, PATTERN 1 5, PATTERN 1 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F140LP, F225W, F336W, F438W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names PSRJ0108-1431, PSRJ0108-1431-UPDATED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------