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Formation of Short-Period Binary Pulsars in Globular Clusters.
The Astrophysical Journal
|March 4, 2000
Summary
We propose a new model for forming short-period binary millisecond pulsars in globular clusters. This scenario explains observed pulsar properties in 47 Tuc, involving common envelope evolution and stable mass transfer.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- Stellar Dynamics
- Binary Evolution
Background:
- Globular clusters host numerous millisecond pulsars.
- Neutron stars in dense clusters often interact with primordial binaries.
- Observations of 20 radio pulsars in 47 Tuc motivate this study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a new dynamical scenario for the formation of short-period binary millisecond pulsars.
- To explain the observed properties of pulsars in the globular cluster 47 Tuc.
Main Methods:
- Investigating dynamical interactions in dense stellar environments.
- Modeling binary evolution, including Roche lobe overflow and common envelope phases.
- Analyzing mass transfer stability and orbital decay mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Most neutron stars in dense clusters gain companions via exchange interactions.
- Dynamically unstable mass transfer leads to common envelope evolution and neutron star-white dwarf binaries.
- Subsequent stable mass transfer, driven by gravitational radiation and tidal heating, forms short-period binaries.
Conclusions:
- The proposed scenario successfully reproduces the characteristics of observed binary pulsars in 47 Tuc.
- Common envelope evolution is a key pathway to short-period binary pulsar formation.
- Gravitational radiation and tidal heating play crucial roles in the final binary evolution.