Energetic Young Radio Pulsars

Abstract

Young radio pulsars shed vast amounts of rotational energy, sometimes as high as 100,000 times the total energy loss rate from the sun. The wide range of phenomena resulting from this energy loss include: glitches, timing noise, jets, bow shocks, bullets and plerions and are be reviewed from an observational perspective. Past and proposed surveys for young radio pulsars are summarised along with pulsar birth velocities and associations with supernova remnants. There are now 4 radio pulsars with measured braking indices. The resulting constraints on the evolution of young radio pulsars are discussed in light of the presently observed population of pulsars. Observations at optical, X-ray and gamma ray energies which provide a unique opportunity to study the emission and magnetospheric processes are described briefly. The status of pulsar birth velocities and supernova remnant associations are summarised.