EGRET observations of pulsars

Ever since the detection of the Crab and Vela pulsars as high‐energy gamma‐ray sources, there has been speculation that many pulsars might be gamma‐ray emitters, some of which might be detectable with more sensitive instruments. Based on theoretical considerations, most interest has focused on young pulsars where a relatively high fraction of the spin down energy might be expected to be carried away in gamma rays. Millisecond pulsars have also been suggested as possible detectable gamma‐ray sources. Consequently, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was designed with the ability to time tag gamma rays to an accuracy of a tenth of a millisecond in absolute time. This is needed in view of the long integration times required because of the low expected fluxes. In addition, a cooperative effort has been organized with radio astronomers who are making contemporary measurements of the ephemerides of a relatively large fraction of known pulsars which might be expected to be candidate gamma‐ray ‘‘pulsars’’ based on ...