scholarly journals Binary Pulsars: Observations and Implications

1987 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 383-392
Author(s):  
J. H. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Binary Pulsars ◽  
Essential Parameter ◽  
Timing Data ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Pulse Timing

The Galaxy contains a large number of neutron stars in gravitation-ally bound binary systems. Among the most fruitful of these to study have been the binary radio pulsars, of which seven are now known. Unlike the “accretion-powered” neutron stars located in mass-exchanging X-ray binary systems, the “rotation-powered” binary radio pulsars are found in dynamically simple, clean systems in which both stellar components have already completed their nuclear evolution, thereby shedding their atmospheres and most of their mass. In such circumstances the orbital parameters of the system and the rotational parameters of the pulsar can be determined with high precision from analysis of pulse timing data. These measurements constrain the component masses and yield an estimate of the pulsar's magnetic dipole moment, which turns out to be an essential parameter in understanding the evolution of the systems. In this paper I review the known facts concerning binary pulsars, and then briefly discuss some implications for our understanding of the place of neutron stars in stellar evolution.

scholarly journals Millisecond Pulsar Formation and Evolution

1987 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 393-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.P.J. van den Heuvel
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Millisecond Pulsar ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Binary Pulsars ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
X Ray Binaries

The evolutionary history of binary radio pulsars, including the two millisecond binary pulsars, is reviewed. There are two groups of binary pulsars, the PSR 1913+16-group, which descended from massive X-ray binaries, and the PSR 1953+29-group, which descended from fairly wide low-mass X-ray binaries. The neutron stars in the second group probably formed by the accretion-induced collapse of a massive white dwarf. The companion stars in both groups of systems are expected to be dead stars, i.e. white dwarfs or neutron stars.The large total number of millisecond binary pulsars in the galaxy (∼ 104), indicates that magnetic fields of neutron stars do not decay below a value of order 109 G. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.Coalescence with a close degenerate companion provides a viable model for the formation of the single millisecond pulsar.

scholarly journals The Galactic Pulsar Population and Neutron Star Birth

1987 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 67-78
Author(s):  
Ramesh Narayan
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Magnetic Coupling ◽  
Scale Height ◽  
High Magnetic Fields ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Low Mass

The radio pulsars in the Galaxy are found predominantly in the disk, with a scale height of several hundred parsecs. After allowing for pulsar velocities, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that single pulsars form from massive stellar progenitors. The number of active single pulsars in the Galaxy is ∼ 1.5 × 105, and their birthrate is 1 per ∼ 60 yrs. There is some evidence that many single pulsars, particularly those with high magnetic fields, are born spinning slowly, with initial periods ∼ 0.5–1s. This could imply an origin through binary “recycling” followed by orbit disruption, or might suggest that the pre-supernova stellar core efficiently loses angular momentum to the envelope through magnetic coupling. The birthrate of binary radio pulsars, particularly of the millisecond variety, seems to be much larger than previous estimates, and might suggest that these systems do not originate in low mass X-ray binary systems.

scholarly journals ROSAT Observations of Globular Clusters in the Galaxy and in M31

1996 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 389-400
Author(s):  
Helen M. Johnston ◽  
Frank Verbunt ◽  
Günther Hasinger ◽  
Wolfram Bunk
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Galactic Globular Clusters

X-ray sources in globular clusters fall into two categories: the “bright” sources, with LX ∼ 1036-1038 erg s−1, and the “dim” sources, with LX ≲ 1034.5 erg s−1. The bright sources are clearly associated with accreting neutron stars in binary systems. The nature of the dim sources, however, remains in doubt. We review recent observations of globular-cluster X-ray sources with the ROSAT satellite. ROSAT detected bright sources in M31 globular clusters and greatly increased the number of dim sources known in galactic globular clusters. We discuss what these new observations have taught us about the distribution and nature of such sources, their spectral properties, and their underlying luminosity function.

Do neutron stars produce jets?

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 474-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Feigelson
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Crab Nebula ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Crab Nebula ◽  
X Ray Binaries

The evidence for jets emanating from neutron stars is reviewed. Isolated radio pulsars do not appear to produce collimated outflows. A few supernova remnants, notably the Crab nebula, exhibit jetlike protrusions at their outer boundaries. These are probably "blowouts" of the plasma in the remnant rather than true jets from a neutron star. However, several cases of degenerate stars in X-ray binary systems do make jets. SS433 has twin precessing jets moving outward at v ~ 0.26c, and Sco X-1 has radio lobes with v ~ 0.0001c. Cyg X-3 appears to eject synchrotron plasmoids at high velocities. Other X-ray binaries associated with variable radio sources are discussed; some are interesting candidates for collimated outflow. G109.1-1.0 is an X-ray binary in a supernova remnant that may have radio or X-ray jets. It is not clear in all these cases, however, that the compact object is a neutron star and not a black hole or white dwarf.A tentative conclusion is reached that isolated neutron stars do not produce jets, but degenerate stars in accreting binary systems can. This suggests that the presence of an accretion disk, rather than the characteristics of an isolated pulsar's dipole magnetosphere, is critical in making collimated outflows.

scholarly journals Monte Carlo Simulations of Radio Pulsars and Their Progenitors

1987 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 408-408
Author(s):  
Rachel J. Dewey ◽  
James M. Cordes
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Velocity Distribution ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Stellar Population ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Radio Pulsar ◽  
Close Binary ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Binary Pulsars

The formation of neutron stars in binary systems is often used to explain the nature of specific radio pulsars and characteristics of the pulsar population as a whole. We have investigated the extent to which such scenarios provide a self-consistent description of the pulsar population. Using a computer simulation, we modeled the evolution of the main sequence stellar population and compared the predicted neutron star population to the observed radio pulsar population, focusing our attention on the pulsar velocity distribution and the incidence of binary pulsars. These characteristics relate very directly to the binary nature of pulsar progenitors, and are not strongly dependent on models of pulsar magentic field and luminosity evolution.The need to reproduce both the high velocities typical of pulsars and the low incidence of binary pulsars strongly constrains the formation of pulsars in binary systems. Unless one assumes that virtually all pulsars originate in close binary systems, the observed velocity distribution cannot result from the disruption of binary systems by symmetric supernova explosions; some additional acceleration process (e.g. asymmetric supernova mass ejection or asymmetries in pulsar radiation) must act during or soon after a pulsar's formation. It is possible to reproduce the velocity distribution by assuming that all pulsars are born in binary systems with initial orbital periods less than about 30 years. However, the predicted incidence of binaries is then too large by more than an order of magnitude, unless one also assumes that the process of mass transfer from the primary to the secondary is almost always non-conservative, or that the minimum mass necessary for a stripped helium core to explode as a supernova is larger (over 4 M⊙) than currently believed. Further analyses of the radio pulsar population, the X-ray binary population and the abundances of elements ejected in supernovae should help determine which of these alternatives is most reasonble. Additional studies of the main sequence stellar population, accounting more accurately for evolutionary and observational selection effects, will reduce the uncertainties in modeling the formation of the neutron star population.It has also been suggested that the observed correlation between pulsar velocities and magnetic moments (see Cordes, these Proceedings) is induced by the differing evolutionary paths by which stars in binary systems form radio pulsars. Our simulation does not reproduce this correlation, and we do not find any paths likely to produce low velocity, low magnetic field neutron stars not in binary systems.We are submitting a full description of our model and results to The Astrophysical Journal.

scholarly journals Gravitational Collapse of Mass-Accreting White Dwarfs

1989 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 88-91
Author(s):  
J. Isern ◽  
R. Canal ◽  
D. García ◽  
M. Hernanz ◽  
J. Labay
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Gravitational Collapse ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Massive Star ◽  
Dynamical Instability ◽  
Core Collapse ◽  
Type I ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Different Types

Massive star (M ≥ 10 M ) core collapse is the standard mechanism for neutron star formation (see Brown 1988 for a recent review). It has long been realized (see, for instance, van den Heuvel 1988, and references therein) that the neutron stars found in different types of binary systems cannot come from such a standard mechanism. Those systems include wide binary radio pulsars, millisecond pulsars (not in wide binaries), galactic bulge X–ray sources (including QPO’s), type I X–ray burst sources and X–ray transients, andγ–ray sources. Formation of those neutron stars is now widely attributed to the gravitational collapse of a white dwarf, growing above Chandrasekhar’s limit by mass accretion from the current neutron star’s companion in the binary system (Canal and Schatzman 1976; Canal and Isern 1979; Canal, Isern, and Labay 1980; Miyaji et al. 1980). Mass growth up to dynamical instability means that both explosive ejection of the accreted layers and explosive disruption of the whole star must be avoided. The former is associated with the nova phenomenon. The latter, with the occurrence of type I supernovae.

scholarly journals Masses of Neutron Stars in X-ray Binary Systems

1981 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 353-356
Author(s):  
R. L. Kelley ◽  
S. Rappaport
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Masses

The masses of 6 neutron stars have now been established through studies of binary X-ray and radio pulsars. All of the masses are found to be consistent with, but not necessarily constrained to, the range 1.2–1.6 M⊙. In this talk we discuss the methods and assumptions used in determining the masses of neutron stars in binary X-ray pulsar systems. For other recent reviews of this subject, the reader is referred to Bahcall (1978), Rappaport and Joss (1981), and references therein. Neutron-star parameters may also be obtained from studies of X-ray bursts that result from thermonuclear flashes near the surface of an accreting neutron star (see Joss 1980 and references therein), which we will not discuss here.

scholarly journals A New View on Young Pulsars in Supernova Remnants: Slow, Radio-quiet & X-ray Bright

2000 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 699-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Gotthelf ◽  
G. Vasisht
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Simple Explanation ◽  
Crab Pulsar ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Substantial Fraction ◽  
Subsequent Evolution ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Field Decay

AbstractWe propose a simple explanation for the apparent dearth of radio pulsars associated with young supernova remnants (SNRs). Recent X-ray observations of young remnants have revealed slowly rotating (P∼ 10s) central pulsars with pulsed emission above 2 keV, lacking in detectable radio emission. Some of these objects apparently have enormous magnetic fields, evolving in a manner distinct from the Crab pulsar. We argue that these X-ray pulsars can account for a substantial fraction of the long sought after neutron stars in SNRs and that Crab-like pulsars are perhaps the rarer, but more highly visible example of these stellar embers. Magnetic field decay likely accounts for their high X-ray luminosity, which cannot be explained as rotational energy loss, as for the Crab-like pulsars. We suggest that the natal magnetic field strength of these objects control their subsequent evolution. There are currently almost a dozen slow X-ray pulsars associated with young SNRs. Remarkably, these objects, taken together, represent at least half of the confirmed pulsars in supernova remnants. This being the case, these pulsars must be the progenitors of a vast population of previously unrecognized neutron stars.

scholarly journals Accretion onto Relativistic Objects

1974 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 194-212
Author(s):  
M. J. Rees
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Interstellar Medium ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Stellar Mass ◽  
Supermassive Black Holes ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Intergalactic Space

The physics of spherically symmetrical accretion onto a compact object is briefly reviewed. Neither neutron stars nor stellar-mass black holes are likely to be readily detectable if they are isolated and accreting from the interstellar medium. Supermassive black holes in intergalactic space may however be detectable. The effects of accretion onto compact objects in binary systems are then discussed, with reference to the phenomena observed in variable X-ray sources.

scholarly journals Glimpses of Be Binary Evolution

2000 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 668-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas R. Gies
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Rotational Velocity ◽  
Close Binary ◽  
Be Stars ◽  
Star System ◽  
Single Star ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Binary Evolution ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractModels of close binary evolution predict that mass gainers will be spun up to speeds close to the critical rotational velocity while the mass donors will appear as stripped down He stars, white dwarfs, or neutron stars. I argue here that the mass gainers are closely related to the Be stars. I present a list of the known Be binary systems which consists of those with bright, Roche-filling companions and those with faint or undetected companions. Notably absent are Be + B systems which are expected if the Be phase is a stage in the life of a single star. We now have the first example of a Be + He star system in the binary, ϕ Per, and taken together with the well known Be X-ray binaries, there is clear evidence that some fraction of Be stars are created in binaries; whether all such rapid rotators are so formed remains unknown.

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