Discovery of Two High Magnetic Field Radio Pulsars

We report the discovery of two young isolated radio pulsars with very high inferred magnetic fields. PSR J1119-6127 has period P = 0.407 s, and the largest period derivative known among radio pulsars, Ṗ = 4.0 × 10-12. Under standard assumptions these parameters imply a characteristic spin-down age of only τc = 1.6 kyr and a surface dipole magnetic field strength of B = 4.1 × 1013 G. We have measured a stationary period second derivative for this pulsar, resulting in a braking index of n = 2.91 ± 0.05. We have also observed a glitch in the rotation of the pulsar, with fractional period change ΔP/P = -4.4 × 10-9. Archival radio imaging data suggest the presence of a previously uncataloged supernova remnant centered on the pulsar. The second pulsar, PSR J1814-1744, has P = 3.975 s and Ṗ = 7.4 × 10-13. These parameters imply τc = 85 kyr, and B = 5.5 × 1013 G, the largest of any known radio pulsar. Both PSR J1119-6127 and PSR J1814-1744 show apparently normal radio emission in a regime of magnetic field strength where some models predict that no emission should occur. Also, PSR J1814-1744 has spin parameters similar to the anomalous X-ray pulsar (AXP) 1E 2259+586, but shows no discernible X-ray emission. If AXPs are isolated, high magnetic field neutron stars ("magnetars"), these results suggest that their unusual attributes are unlikely to be merely a consequence of their very high inferred magnetic fields.