Abstract: Evolution of Globular Cluster Pulsars: Predictions

We have examined the possibility that rapid weakly magnetized pulsars might be formed in Type II supernova such as SN1987A in the LMC. Since these supernova are the expected progenitors of the strongly magnetized galactic disc pulsars, it is then necessary to assume that the magnetic field grows rapidly and saturates around 10^12 G. Given that the Crab pulsar already has a strong field after 900 years, there is only a short time in which to grow the field. We show that the fast pulsar does not have time to spin down significantly during the growth period, with the result that we will have for a time a FAST strongly magnetized pulsar, with a luminosity 1000 times that of the Crab pulsar. This bright phase should last several hundred years, roughly the interval between supernova, which raises observational questions of why they have not yet been detected. In any event, the luminosity should increase steadily, about 2%/year or possibly more in an exponential increase model, and a whopping 38%/year in a linear increase model. Why the "millisecond" pulsars themselves do not experience such a run up of magnetic field is an open question. It is potentially interesting, however, that the time to reach saturation is of the order of a few hundred years in both models. Our overall conclusion is that a rapid weakly magnetized pulsar in SN1987A appears to be inconsistent with what is known about pulsars and supernova remnants (SNR), but is not entirely excluded. Moreover a small but steady continued increase in pulsar magnetization would account for the observations of braking indices less than 3 in all young pulsars were it can be determined.