On the evolution of the radio pulsar PSR J1734-3333

Recent measurements showed that the period derivative of the 'high-B' radio pulsar PSR J1734-3333 is increasing with time. For neutron stars evolving with fallback discs, this rotational behaviour is expected in certain phases of the long-term evolution. Using the same model as employed earlier to explain the evolution of anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters, we show that the period, the first and second period derivatives and the X-ray luminosity of this source can simultaneously acquire the observed values for a neutron star evolving with a fallback disc. We find that the required strength of the dipole field that can produce the source properties is in the range 10(12)-10(13) G on the pole of the neutron star. When the model source reaches the current state properties of PSR J1734-3333, accretion on to the star has not started yet, allowing the source to operate as a regular radio pulsar. Our results imply that PSR J1734-3333 is at an age of similar to 3 x 10(4)-2 x 10(5) yr. Such sources will have properties like the X-ray dim isolated neutron stars or transient AXPs at a later epoch of weak accretion from the diminished fallback disc.