Searching for planets around pulsars and radio-quiet neutron stars

摘要

The year 2007 sees the 15th anniversary of the discovery of the first extrasolar earth-mass planets around the pulsar PSR 1257+12. Meanwhile we know of two pulsar planet systems. Up to now only ms-pulsars have been searched for planetary companions by the radio pulse timing technique. A new method is needed to investigate also the surroundings of radio-quiet neutron stars. Here, we present new results from our direct Infrared imaging search for substellar companions around young isolated neutron stars, including radio-quiet neutron stars like RX J0720.4-3125 and RX J1856.5-3754, two members of the “Magnificent Seven”.