Timing residuals as a function of time and orbital phase are shown in
panels (a) and (b) respectively. Folded pulse profiles of PSR
J0952-0607 are shown as a function of orbital phase for the orbital
phases covered by our observations (panel (c)). Eclipses of the radio
signal in black widow systems occur around orbital phase φ=0.25 but are
not obvious in PSR J0952-0607. Sloan r´-band light curve of the binary
companion of PSR J0952-0607 (panel (d)). The Icarus model fit to the
light curve is shown with the solid line.
Large format: PNG.
Using observations across the entire electro-magnetic spectrum,
astronomers have discovered a radio pulsar spinning 707 times every
second, making it the fastest known spinning pulsar in the Galactic field
and the second fastest known overall.
The pulsar emits pulsed electromagnetic radiation at very low radio
frequencies and very high gamma-rays, while the low-mass binary
companion, heated by the energetic radiation from the pulsar, is
detected at optical wavelengths. The discovery of this system at
very low radio frequencies suggests there may be an as yet unseen
population of fast spinning radio pulsars.
The pulsar, PSR J0952-0607, was discovered with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array, a radio telescope consisting of a dense core of antenna stations in the Netherlands, and international stations in Germany, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland and Ireland. Operating at very low radio frequencies of 110 to 150 MHz, the LOFAR telescope targeted unassociated high-energy gamma-ray sources discovered with the space-based Fermi gamma-ray telescope, searching for pulsed radio emission of radio and gamma-ray bright millisecond pulsars.
Radio observations revealed that PSR J0952-0607 is part of a binary system, where the pulsar orbits a very low mass (2% the mass of the Sun) binary companion every 6.42 hours. In these so-called 'black widow' systems, referencing the spider which consumes its mate, the proximity of the companion to the pulsar meant the hemisphere facing the pulsar is heated by the energetic pulsar emission, leading to the evaporation of matter from the companion. This heating leads to large variations in brightness of the companion over the course of an orbit.
"Optical observations with the Isaac Newton Telescope were crucial in accurately pinpointing the location of the pulsar, since both LOFAR and Fermi only provide localizations of a few arcminute accuracy.", says Cees Bassa, lead author of the paper presenting the discovery of PSR J0952-0607. Due to the large variation in optical brightness, modulated at the orbital period of the binary, Bassa was able to quickly identify the companion to PSR J0952-0607 in the time series photometry, obtained with the Isaac Newton Telescope last January in service mode.
The subarcsecond optical localization of the counterpart allowed the astronomers to constrain the spindown rate of the millisecond pulsar, which shows that it has a low magnetic field. Furthermore, modelling the optical light curve reveals that the companion does not fill its Roche lobe. The absence of occasional eclipses of the radio emission is consistent with this, but is contrary to what's found in the majority of black widow systems.
The fast spin period of PSR J0952-0607 makes it a prime candidate for further optical studies, as further modelling of the light curve in multiple filters, combined with optical spectroscopy, may allow for the mass of the pulsar to be determined. Knowledge of the mass of such a rapidly spinning pulsar may provide constraints on the composition of pulsars.
More Information
C. G. Bassa, Z. Pleunis, J. W. T. Hessels, E. C. Ferrara, R. P. Breton, N. V. Gusinskaia, V. I. Kondratiev, S. Sanidas, L. Nieder, C. J. Clark, T. Li, A. S. van Amesfoort, T. H. Burnett, F. Camilo, P. F. Michelson, S. M. Ransom, P. S. Ray, and K. Wood, 2017, "LOFAR Discovery of the Fastest-spinning Millisecond Pulsar in the Galactic Field", ApJL, 846, 20 [ ADS ].
"LOFAR Radio Telescope Discovers Record-Breaking Pulsar", ASTRON press release, 5th September 2017.
The pulsar, PSR J0952-0607, was discovered with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array, a radio telescope consisting of a dense core of antenna stations in the Netherlands, and international stations in Germany, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland and Ireland. Operating at very low radio frequencies of 110 to 150 MHz, the LOFAR telescope targeted unassociated high-energy gamma-ray sources discovered with the space-based Fermi gamma-ray telescope, searching for pulsed radio emission of radio and gamma-ray bright millisecond pulsars.
Radio observations revealed that PSR J0952-0607 is part of a binary system, where the pulsar orbits a very low mass (2% the mass of the Sun) binary companion every 6.42 hours. In these so-called 'black widow' systems, referencing the spider which consumes its mate, the proximity of the companion to the pulsar meant the hemisphere facing the pulsar is heated by the energetic pulsar emission, leading to the evaporation of matter from the companion. This heating leads to large variations in brightness of the companion over the course of an orbit.
"Optical observations with the Isaac Newton Telescope were crucial in accurately pinpointing the location of the pulsar, since both LOFAR and Fermi only provide localizations of a few arcminute accuracy.", says Cees Bassa, lead author of the paper presenting the discovery of PSR J0952-0607. Due to the large variation in optical brightness, modulated at the orbital period of the binary, Bassa was able to quickly identify the companion to PSR J0952-0607 in the time series photometry, obtained with the Isaac Newton Telescope last January in service mode.
The subarcsecond optical localization of the counterpart allowed the astronomers to constrain the spindown rate of the millisecond pulsar, which shows that it has a low magnetic field. Furthermore, modelling the optical light curve reveals that the companion does not fill its Roche lobe. The absence of occasional eclipses of the radio emission is consistent with this, but is contrary to what's found in the majority of black widow systems.
The fast spin period of PSR J0952-0607 makes it a prime candidate for further optical studies, as further modelling of the light curve in multiple filters, combined with optical spectroscopy, may allow for the mass of the pulsar to be determined. Knowledge of the mass of such a rapidly spinning pulsar may provide constraints on the composition of pulsars.
More Information
C. G. Bassa, Z. Pleunis, J. W. T. Hessels, E. C. Ferrara, R. P. Breton, N. V. Gusinskaia, V. I. Kondratiev, S. Sanidas, L. Nieder, C. J. Clark, T. Li, A. S. van Amesfoort, T. H. Burnett, F. Camilo, P. F. Michelson, S. M. Ransom, P. S. Ray, and K. Wood, 2017, "LOFAR Discovery of the Fastest-spinning Millisecond Pulsar in the Galactic Field", ApJL, 846, 20 [ ADS ].
"LOFAR Radio Telescope Discovers Record-Breaking Pulsar", ASTRON press release, 5th September 2017.
Source: Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes
