Galactic Centre Pulsars with the SKAO
F. Abbate, A. Carleo, S. Chatterjee, J. Cordes, P. B. Demorest, G. Desvignes, R. P. Eatough, E. Hackmann, Z. Hu, M. Kramer, J. Lazio, K. J. Lee, K. Liu, I. Rammala-Zitha, S. M. Ransom, G. Saowanit, L. Shao, P. Torne, R. Wharton, J. Wongphechauxsorn, W. Zhu
astro-ph.HE
Submitted: 2026-07-03
Comments: Published in Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA II (AASKAII), 2026 (arXiv:2606.20366). Report-no:AASKAII/Abbate01. Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA II (AASKAII) outlines the transformative scientific advances that will be enabled by the SKA telescopes. An earlier version was published in The Open Journal of Astrophysics with arXiv ID: arXiv:2512.16155
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
The gist: The detection of a pulsar closely orbiting our Galaxy's supermassive black hole - Sagittarius A* - is one of the ultimate prizes in pulsar astrophysics.
Terminology
Abstract
The detection of a pulsar closely orbiting our Galaxy's supermassive black hole - Sagittarius A* - is one of the ultimate prizes in pulsar astrophysics. The relativistic effects expected in such a system could far exceed those currently observable in compact binaries such as double neutron stars and pulsar white dwarfs. In addition, pulsars offer the opportunity to study the magneto-ionic properties of Earth's nearest galactic nucleus in unprecedented detail. For these reasons, and more, a multitude of pulsar searches of the Galactic Centre have been undertaken, with the outcome of just seven pulsar detections within a projected distance of 100,pc from Sagittarius A*. It is currently understood that a larger underlying population likely exists, but it is not until observations with the SKA have started that this population can be revealed. In this chapter, we look at important updates since the publication of the last SKAO science book and offer a focused view of observing strategies and likely outcomes with the updated SKAO design.
Sources
- The Science of the Einstein Telescope
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- Anticipated Performance of the Square Kilometre Array -- Phase 1 (SKA1)
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- A Horizon Study for Cosmic Explorer: Science, Observatories, and Community
- Magnetar fraction in Core-Collapse Supernovae
- The SKA Galactic Centre Survey -- A White Paper
- Discovery of Millisecond Pulsars toward the Galactic Bulge in an Image-based Survey with MeerKAT
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