Focusing on a recently identified group of neutron stars known as RRATs, this thesis analyses neutron star birthrates and shows how a reassessment of the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey has resulted in the discovery of 19 new transient radio sources.

The high time-resolution radio sky represents unexplored astronomical territory. This thesis presents a study of the transient radio sky, focussing on millisecond scales. As such, the work is concerned primarily with neutron stars. In particular this research concentrates on a recently identified group of neutron stars, known as RRATs, which exhibit radio bursts every few minutes to every few hours. After analysing neutron star birthrates, a re-analysis of the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey is described which has resulted in the discovery of 19 new transient radio sources. Of these, 12 have been seen to repeat and a follow-up campaign of observations has been undertaken. These studies have greatly increased our knowledge of the rotational properties of RRATs and enable us to conclude that they are pulsars with extreme nulling and/or pulse-to-pulse modulation. Although the evolution of neutron stars post-supernova is not yet understood, it seems that RRATs fit into the emerging picture in which pulsar magnetospheres switch between stable configurations.

Reports the discovery of new Rotating Radio Transients Identifies and discusses pulsar properties of some of these RRATs Nominated as an outstanding contribution by the University of Manchester

Inhalt
Transients.- Neutron Stars.- NS Birthrates.- PMSingle.- RRAT Timing.- New Timing Solutions.- X-ray & Optical Observations.- RRATs: An Overview.- Conclusions.- Radio Astronomy Equations.- Neutron Stars: Supplementary.- Birthrates: Supplementary.- PMSingle: Supplementary.-