Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4676-4694 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
| Volume | 530 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Mar 2024 |
Abstract
Redbacks are millisecond pulsar binaries with low-mass, irradiated companions. These systems have a rich phenomenology that can be used to probe binary evolution models, pulsar wind physics, and the neutron star mass distribution. A number of high-confidence redback candidates have been identified through searches for variable optical and X-ray sources within the localization regions of unidentified but pulsar-like Fermi-LAT gamma-ray sources. However, these candidates remain unconfirmed until pulsations are detected. As part of the TRAPUM project, we searched for radio pulsations from six of these redback candidates with MeerKAT. We discovered three new radio millisecond pulsars, PSRs J0838−2827, J0955−3947, and J2333−5526, confirming their redback nature. PSR J0838−2827 remained undetected for 2 yr after our discovery despite repeated observations, likely due to evaporated material absorbing the radio emission for long periods of time. While, to our knowledge, this system has not undergone a transition to an accreting state, the disappearance, likely caused by extreme eclipses, illustrates the transient nature of spider pulsars and the heavy selection bias in uncovering their radio population. Radio timing enabled the detection of gamma-ray pulsations from all three pulsars, from which we obtained 15-yr timing solutions. All of these sources exhibit complex orbital period variations consistent with gravitational quadrupole moment variations in the companion stars. These timing solutions also constrain the binary mass ratios, allowing us to narrow down the pulsar masses.
Keywords
- binaries: general, gamma rays: stars, pulsars: general, pulsars: individual: PSR J0838−2827, PSR J0955−3947, PSR J2333−5526
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Space and Planetary Science
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In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 530, No. 4, 26.03.2024, p. 4676-4694.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A targeted radio pulsar survey of redback candidates with MeerKAT
AU - Thongmeearkom, T.
AU - Clark, C. J.
AU - Breton, R. P.
AU - Burgay, M.
AU - Nieder, L.
AU - Freire, P. C.C.
AU - Barr, E. D.
AU - Stappers, B. W.
AU - Ransom, S. M.
AU - Buchner, S.
AU - Calore, F.
AU - Champion, D. J.
AU - Cognard, I.
AU - Grießmeier, J. M.
AU - Kramer, M.
AU - Levin, L.
AU - Padmanabh, P. V.
AU - Possenti, A.
AU - Ridolfi, A.
AU - Krishnan, V. Venkatraman
AU - Vleeschower, L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s).
PY - 2024/3/26
Y1 - 2024/3/26
N2 - Redbacks are millisecond pulsar binaries with low-mass, irradiated companions. These systems have a rich phenomenology that can be used to probe binary evolution models, pulsar wind physics, and the neutron star mass distribution. A number of high-confidence redback candidates have been identified through searches for variable optical and X-ray sources within the localization regions of unidentified but pulsar-like Fermi-LAT gamma-ray sources. However, these candidates remain unconfirmed until pulsations are detected. As part of the TRAPUM project, we searched for radio pulsations from six of these redback candidates with MeerKAT. We discovered three new radio millisecond pulsars, PSRs J0838−2827, J0955−3947, and J2333−5526, confirming their redback nature. PSR J0838−2827 remained undetected for 2 yr after our discovery despite repeated observations, likely due to evaporated material absorbing the radio emission for long periods of time. While, to our knowledge, this system has not undergone a transition to an accreting state, the disappearance, likely caused by extreme eclipses, illustrates the transient nature of spider pulsars and the heavy selection bias in uncovering their radio population. Radio timing enabled the detection of gamma-ray pulsations from all three pulsars, from which we obtained 15-yr timing solutions. All of these sources exhibit complex orbital period variations consistent with gravitational quadrupole moment variations in the companion stars. These timing solutions also constrain the binary mass ratios, allowing us to narrow down the pulsar masses.
AB - Redbacks are millisecond pulsar binaries with low-mass, irradiated companions. These systems have a rich phenomenology that can be used to probe binary evolution models, pulsar wind physics, and the neutron star mass distribution. A number of high-confidence redback candidates have been identified through searches for variable optical and X-ray sources within the localization regions of unidentified but pulsar-like Fermi-LAT gamma-ray sources. However, these candidates remain unconfirmed until pulsations are detected. As part of the TRAPUM project, we searched for radio pulsations from six of these redback candidates with MeerKAT. We discovered three new radio millisecond pulsars, PSRs J0838−2827, J0955−3947, and J2333−5526, confirming their redback nature. PSR J0838−2827 remained undetected for 2 yr after our discovery despite repeated observations, likely due to evaporated material absorbing the radio emission for long periods of time. While, to our knowledge, this system has not undergone a transition to an accreting state, the disappearance, likely caused by extreme eclipses, illustrates the transient nature of spider pulsars and the heavy selection bias in uncovering their radio population. Radio timing enabled the detection of gamma-ray pulsations from all three pulsars, from which we obtained 15-yr timing solutions. All of these sources exhibit complex orbital period variations consistent with gravitational quadrupole moment variations in the companion stars. These timing solutions also constrain the binary mass ratios, allowing us to narrow down the pulsar masses.
KW - binaries: general
KW - gamma rays: stars
KW - pulsars: general
KW - pulsars: individual: PSR J0838−2827, PSR J0955−3947, PSR J2333−5526
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85193271129&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.48550/arXiv.2403.09553
DO - 10.48550/arXiv.2403.09553
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85193271129
VL - 530
SP - 4676
EP - 4694
JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
SN - 0035-8711
IS - 4
ER -