Post-glitch recovery and the neutron star structure: The Vela pulsar

Abstract We present a detailed analysis of the Vela pulsar’s rotational behaviour using approximately 100 months of observational data spanning from September 2016 to January 2025, during which four glitches were identified. Here, we demonstrate the post-glitch recovery of these glitches within the framework of the vortex creep model. We further present the investigation of vortex residuals (the difference between observed values and those predicted by the vortex creep model) by interpreting them in the context of the vortex bending model. In addition, we report a positive correlation between the glitch magnitude and the time to the next glitch, applicable only for the large glitch events observed in the Vela pulsar. Furthermore, we estimate the braking index of the Vela pulsar to be 2.94 $\pm$ 0.55.