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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Discovery of the optical counterparts to four energetic Fermi millisecond pulsars
Astrophysical Journal, Volume 769, No. 2, Article 108, Year 2013
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Description
In the last few years, over 43 millisecond radio pulsars have been discovered by targeted searches of unidentified γ-ray sources found by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. A large fraction of these millisecond pulsars are in compact binaries with low-mass companions. These systems often show eclipses of the pulsar signal and are commonly known as black widows and redbacks because the pulsar is gradually destroying its companion. In this paper, we report on the optical discovery of four strongly irradiated millisecond pulsar companions. All four sources show modulations of their color and luminosity at the known orbital periods from radio timing. Light curve modeling of our exploratory data shows that the equilibrium temperature reached on the companion's dayside with respect to their nightside is consistent with about 10%-30% of the available spin-down energy from the pulsar being reprocessed to increase the companion's dayside temperature. This value compares well with the range observed in other irradiated pulsar binaries and offers insights about the energetics of the pulsar wind and the production of γ-ray emission. In addition, this provides a simple way of estimating the brightness of irradiated pulsar companions given the pulsar spin-down luminosity. Our analysis also suggests that two of the four new irradiated pulsar companions are only partially filling their Roche lobe. Some of these sources are relatively bright and represent good targets for spectroscopic follow-up. These measurements could enable, among other things, mass determination of the neutron stars in these systems. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Breton, Rene P.
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
van Kerkwijk, Marten H.
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Roberts, Mallory S.E.
United States, Oakland
Eureka Scientific, Inc.
United States, Ithaca
Ithaca College
Hessels, Jason W.T.
Netherlands, Dwingeloo
Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy
Netherlands, Amsterdam
Universiteit Van Amsterdam
Camilo, Fernando
United States, New York
Columbia University
United States, Arecibo
Arecibo Observatory
McLaughlin, Maura Ann
United States, Morgantown
West Virginia University
United States, Charlottesville
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Ransom, Scott M.
United States, Charlottesville
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Ray, Paul S.
United States, Washington, D.c.
U.s. Naval Research Laboratory
Stairs, Ingrid H.
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Statistics
Citations: 115
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 12
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1088/0004-637X/769/2/108
ISSN:
0004637X
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Design
Cohort Study
Exploratory Study