{"id":145418,"date":"2026-07-01T09:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/?post_type=hdr-r-projects&#038;p=145418"},"modified":"2026-07-01T09:00:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:00:11","slug":"exploring-a-new-population-of-gamma-ray-and-bursty-pulsars","status":"publish","type":"hdr-r-projects","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/hdr-r-projects\/exploring-a-new-population-of-gamma-ray-and-bursty-pulsars\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring a new population of gamma-ray and bursty pulsars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/curtin-research-area-space-2000x1000px-1-aspect-ratio-3-1-1000x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-118921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/curtin-research-area-space-2000x1000px-1-aspect-ratio-3-1-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/curtin-research-area-space-2000x1000px-1-aspect-ratio-3-1-740x370.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/curtin-research-area-space-2000x1000px-1-aspect-ratio-3-1-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/curtin-research-area-space-2000x1000px-1-aspect-ratio-3-1-1260x630.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recent observations of the radio sky through imaging surveys with the MWA and ASKAP have uncovered a new population of unusual pulsars, consisting of two subclasses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Eclipsing binary millisecond pulsars, appearing and disappearing as their radio pulses are obscured by the ablated material of their companion stars;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bursting, bright, \u201crotating radio transients\u201d (RRATs) that also have a more typical pulsed component standard for canonical pulsars.<br>These objects were missed in the past due to biases in traditional approaches, and herald a new window on some of the most unusual pulsars.<br>This project uses image-plane variability as a fundamentally new discovery pathway complementary to Fourier-domain pulsar searches, as well as combining radio and high-energy astrophysics for maximum impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Aim&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The overall goal of the project is to investigate these new populations thoroughly and understand both how they create their radio and other emission, and how they fit within the previously-known population. For the eclipsing binary pulsars, such efforts work towards determining the size of this new population, how it can be probed with the upcoming SKA, and whether such sources could be responsible for the puzzling \u03b3-ray excess towards the Galactic Centre.<br>For the RRATs, studies of their bright burst distributions and comparisons to canonical pulsars, young Crab-like pulsars, and magnetars, will uncover how this new population connects these different objects, and probe their emission physics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Objectives&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This project will build on the ~10 new discoveries already made, as well as more as they roll in from new MWA and ASKAP surveys. The student will undertake radio timing observations of these systems using sensitive radio telescopes (e.g. MeerKAT, Parkes\/Murriyang) to measure pulse times-of-arrival and determine precise rotational, astrometric, and binary orbital parameters. These measurements will allow the construction of phase-connected timing solutions capable of tracking the pulsar rotation over long time baselines, even in systems affected by eclipses and orbital variability.<br>For the eclipsing binaries, once robust radio timing ephemerides have been obtained, the project will extend to \u03b3-ray timing using archival observations from the Fermi Large Area Telescope. Precise radio timing models enable the coherent folding of sparse \u03b3-ray photon arrival times, allowing searches for pulsed high-energy emission that would otherwise remain undetectable. The student will investigate the \u03b3-ray properties of these redback systems, including pulse profiles, spectral characteristics, and orbital variability, helping to constrain the energetics of pulsar winds and intrabinary shocks.<br>For the bursty RRATs, we will use the new MWA real-time beamforming capability, as well as highly sensitive observations from the Five-hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), to obtain detailed measurements of the pulse arrival times and burst distributions. Polarisation attributes will be interrogated to yield information on how and where the radio waves are generated and propagate through the pulsar magnetospheres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Significance&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This project will help establish the observational foundations for studies of transient and interacting pulsars with the forthcoming SKA Observatory (SKAO). The PhD timeframe overlaps with early science operations and science commissioning for the SKA-Low telescope in Western Australia, providing a unique opportunity to directly inform observing strategies, survey design, transient detection pipelines, and timing methodologies for next-generation pulsar searches. The techniques developed in this work \u2014 particularly image-domain discovery methods combined with targeted timing follow-up \u2014 are well matched to the SKAO\u2019s unprecedented sensitivity and survey speed, and will help maximise the scientific return of future Galactic pulsar surveys.<br>More broadly, this project addresses a major selection bias in our current understanding of the pulsar population. Traditional pulsar searches rely on periodicity techniques that are insensitive to sources strongly affected by eclipses, intermittency, scattering, or highly sporadic bursting behaviour. The recent discoveries enabled by wide-field radio imaging surveys demonstrate that a substantial and previously hidden population of neutron stars may exist outside the reach of conventional search methods. By characterising these newly uncovered systems, this project will improve population models for neutron stars, constrain pulsar emission physics and binary evolution pathways, and provide a more complete picture of the Galactic pulsar population and its high-energy phenomenology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Ideal Candidate&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The student should have a very good grounding in astronomy, an interest in stellar astrophysics, and willingness to learn interferometric techniques and pulsar astronomy. Programming experience, especially in python, is strongly desirable. Experience in mathematics, statistics, and simulations is also useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, the applicants should meet the eligibility criteria for entry into a PhD program at Curtin University.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This project is open to Domestic applicants only.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Internship<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through this project you will also have an internship opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;The CIRA Translation &amp; Impact team make available industry opportunities to relevant students and staff as they become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Scholarship&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are identified as the preferred candidate for this project, you may be considered for an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/scholarships\/research-training-program-rtp-scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RTP scholarship<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Enquires and How to Apply&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For enquires about this opportunity contact Associate Professor Natasha Hurley-Walker at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Natasha.Hurley-Walker@curtin.edu.au\">Natasha.Hurley-Walker@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To formally apply submit an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.curtin.edu.au\/Produce\/Form\/External%20Forms\/Graduate%20Research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Expression of Interest<\/a>&nbsp;to Associate Professor Natasha Hurley-Walker during the Central Scholarship round (July 1st &#8211; July 31st 2026)&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":0,"template":"","faculties":[51],"hdr_types":[5487],"research_areas":[35],"class_list":["post-145418","hdr-r-projects","type-hdr-r-projects","status-publish","hentry","faculties-science-and-engineering","hdr_types-rtp-scholarship","research_areas-space"],"acf":false,"featured_image":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hdr-r-projects"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145418\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"faculties","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faculties?post=145418"},{"taxonomy":"hdr_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr_types?post=145418"},{"taxonomy":"research_areas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_areas?post=145418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}