Galactic distribution, birthrate, and luminosity evolution of pulsars

Galactic pulsars are distributed in a ring about 7--8 kpc across, on the average. The pulsar surface density within the ring rises outward from the galactic center, peaks at R = 5.2 +- 0.4 kpc, and then falls off rapidly. The total number of pulsars whose luminosity L = (0.3--300) x 1027 erg/sec is estimated; their birthrate ν/sub p/ = 0.027 +- 0.009 yr-1, or one pulsar every 37+18/sub -/9 yr. This ν/sub p/ value is an upper limit, corresponding to a minimum value of the orientation coefficient (f = 1/9). Pulsar luminosity evolves with age as L = c2t/sup -mu/, where c2 = (4.3 +- 3.9) x 1035, μ = 1.34 +- 0.09 (t in yr, L in erg/sec). For pulsars with L> or =3 x 1026 erg/sec this law yields a true age t/sub p/ = (3.6 +- 0.4) x 106 yr, in good accord with kinematic and spindown ages estimated for young pulsars