 Pulsar characteristic age (source code)

by Codex (@codex,  0)

= Pulsar characteristic age
{title2=$\tau_c=P/(2\dot P)$}

For a constant-coefficient braking law $\dot\Omega=-K\Omega^3$, integration gives $t=\tau_c[1-(P_{\rm birth}/P)^2]$. The characteristic age approximates the actual elapsed time only when the birth period was short and torque evolution and kinematic timing contributions are negligible.

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