Massive White Dwarf Companion Research Articles

PSR J1227-6208 and its massive white dwarf companion: Pulsar emission analysis, timing update, and mass measurements

PSR J1227-6208 and its massive white dwarf companion: Pulsar emission analysis, timing update, and mass measurements

A hidden population of massive white dwarfs: two spotted K+WD binaries

Abstract The identification and characterization of massive (≳ 0.8 M⊙) white dwarfs is challenging in part due to their low luminosity. Here we present two candidate single-lined spectroscopic binaries, Gaia DR3 4014708864481651840 and 5811237403155163520, with K-dwarf primaries and optically dark companions. Both have orbital periods of P ∼ 0.45 days and show rotational variability, ellipsoidal modulations, and high-amplitude radial velocity variations. Using light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), radial velocities from ground-based spectrographs, and spectral energy distributions, we characterize these binaries to describe the nature of the unseen companion. We find that both systems are consistent with a massive white dwarf companion. Unlike simple ellipsoidal variables, star spots cause the light curve morphology to change between TESS sectors. We attempt to constrain the orbital inclination using PHOEBE binary light curve models, but degeneracies in the light curves of spotted stars prevent a precise determination. Finally, we search for similar objects using Gaia DR3 and TESS, and comment on these systems in the context of recently claimed compact object binaries.

The Green Bank North Celestial Cap Survey. VII. 12 New Pulsar Timing Solutions

We present timing solutions for 12 pulsars discovered in the Green Bank North Celestial Cap 350 MHz pulsar survey, including six millisecond pulsars (MSPs), a double neutron star (DNS) system, and a pulsar orbiting a massive white dwarf companion. Timing solutions presented here include 350 and 820 MHz Green Bank Telescope data from initial confirmation and follow-up, as well as a dedicated timing campaign spanning 1 ryr PSR J1122−3546 is an isolated MSP, PSRs J1221−0633 and J1317−0157 are MSPs in black widow systems and regularly exhibit eclipses, and PSRs J2022+2534 and J2039−3616 are MSPs that can be timed with high precision and have been included in pulsar timing array experiments seeking to detect low-frequency gravitational waves. PSRs J1221−0633 and J2039−3616 have Fermi Large Area Telescope gamma-ray counterparts and also exhibit significant gamma-ray pulsations. We measure proper motions for three of the MSPs in this sample and estimate their space velocities, which are typical compared to those of other MSPs. We have detected the advance of periastron for PSR J1018−1523 and therefore measure the total mass of the DNS system, m tot = 2.3 ± 0.3 M ⊙. Long-term pulsar timing with data spanning more than 1 yr is critical for classifying recycled pulsars, carrying out detailed astrometry studies, and shedding light on the wealth of information in these systems post-discovery.

Relativistic effects in a mildly recycled pulsar binary: PSR J1952+2630

We report the results of timing observations of PSR J1952+2630, a 20.7 ms pulsar in orbit with a massive white dwarf companion. We performed six months of timing observations with the Arecibo radio telescope in 2020 and used data from FAST from 2021. Together with previously published data, this represents a total timing baseline of 11 yr since the discovery of the pulsar in 2010. For the first time, we present a polarimetric profile of the pulsar and determine its rotation measure (RM), − 145.79 ± 0.15 rad m−2. With the increased timing baseline, we obtain improved estimates for astrometric, spin, and binary parameters for this system. In particular, we obtain an imporvement of an order of magnitude on the proper motion, and, for the first time, we detect three post-Keplerian parameters in this system: the advance of periastron ω̇, the orbital decay Ṗb, and the Shapiro delay (measured in the form of the h3 parameter). With the detection of these relativistic effects, we constrain the pulsar mass to 1.20−0.29+0.28 M⊙ and the mass of its companion to 0.97−0.13+0.16 M⊙. The current value of Ṗb is consistent with the General Relativity expectation for the masses obtained using ω̇ and h3. The excess (4.2−73.1+70.2 fs s−1) represents a limit on the emission of dipolar gravitational waves (GWs) from this system. This results in a limit on the difference in effective scalar couplings for the pulsar and companion (predicted by scalar-tensor theories of gravity; STTs) of |αp − αc|< 4.8 × 10−3 (68% C.L.), which does not yield a competitive test for STTs. However, our simulations of future timing campaigns of this system, based on the timing precision we have achieved with FAST, show that by 2032, the precision of Ṗb and ω̇ will allow for much more precise masses and much tighter constraints on the orbital decay contribution from dipolar GWs, resulting in |αp − αc|< 1.3 × 10−3 (68% C.L.). For comparison, we obtain |αp − αc|< 1.9 × 10−3 and < 3.3 × 10−3 from PSR J1738+0333 and PSR J2222−0137, respectively. We also present the constraints this system will place on the {α0, β0} parameters of Damour-Esposito-Farèse (DEF) gravity by 2032. They are comparable to those of PSR J1738+0333. Unlike PSR J1738+0333, PSR J1952+2630 will not be limited in its mass measurement and has the potential to place even more restrictive limits on DEF gravity in the future. Further improvements to this test will likely be limited by uncertainties in the kinematic contributions to Ṗb because of the lack of precise distance measurements.

Discovery of a Double-detonation Thermonuclear Supernova Progenitor

Abstract We present the discovery of a new double-detonation progenitor system consisting of a hot subdwarf B (sdB) binary with a white dwarf companion with a P orb = 76.34179(2) minutes orbital period. Spectroscopic observations are consistent with an sdB star during helium core burning residing on the extreme horizontal branch. Chimera light curves are dominated by ellipsoidal deformation of the sdB star and a weak eclipse of the companion white dwarf. Combining spectroscopic and light curve fits, we find a low-mass sdB star, M sdB = 0.383 ± 0.028 M ⊙ with a massive white dwarf companion, M WD = 0.725 ± 0.026 M ⊙. From the eclipses we find a blackbody temperature for the white dwarf of 26,800 K resulting in a cooling age of ≈25 Myr whereas our MESA model predicts an sdB age of ≈170 Myr. We conclude that the sdB formed first through stable mass transfer followed by a common envelope which led to the formation of the white dwarf companion ≈25 Myr ago. Using the MESA stellar evolutionary code we find that the sdB star will start mass transfer in ≈6 Myr and in ≈60 Myr the white dwarf will reach a total mass of 0.92 M ⊙ with a thick helium layer of 0.17 M ⊙. This will lead to a detonation that will likely destroy the white dwarf in a peculiar thermonuclear supernova. PTF1 J2238+7430 is only the second confirmed candidate for a double-detonation thermonuclear supernova. Using both systems we estimate that at least ≈1% of white dwarf thermonuclear supernovae originate from sdB+WD binaries with thick helium layers, consistent with the small number of observed peculiar thermonuclear explosions.

Doppler Beaming of M Dwarfs in TESS, Kepler/K2, and Gaia Photometry

Abstract The Doppler beaming amplitude of a M dwarf is amplified relative to a blackbody of the same temperature because of deep TiO absorption features in M dwarf spectra. A strong Na feature at 5890 Å coincides with the short wavelength cutoff of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite response function, which also increases the beaming amplitude. As a result, the Doppler beaming effect for a 3000 K object is a factor of 1.4–2.0 times greater than predicted for a blackbody. Underestimating the Doppler beaming coefficient could result in mass overestimates when using the photometric beaming amplitude to determine stellar properties. This is especially important for M dwarfs in short period binary systems with massive white dwarf, neutron star or black hole companions.

The OmegaWhite Survey for Short-period Variable Stars. V. Discovery of an Ultracompact Hot Subdwarf Binary with a Compact Companion in a 44-minute Orbit

Abstract We report the discovery of the ultracompact hot subdwarf (sdOB) binary OW J074106.0–294811.0 with an orbital period of minutes, making it the most compact hot subdwarf binary known. Spectroscopic observations using the VLT, Gemini and Keck telescopes revealed a He-sdOB primary with an intermediate helium abundance, = K and = 5.74 ± 0.09. High signal-to-noise ratio light curves show strong ellipsoidal modulation resulting in a derived sdOB mass with a WD companion ( ). The mass ratio was found to be . The derived mass for the He-sdOB is inconsistent with the canonical mass for hot subdwarfs of . To put constraints on the structure and evolutionary history of the sdOB star we compared the derived , , and sdOB mass to evolutionary tracks of helium stars and helium white dwarfs calculated with Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA). We find that the best-fitting model is a helium white dwarf with a mass of 0.320 , which left the common envelope ago, which is consistent with the observations. As a helium white dwarf with a massive white dwarf companion, the object will reach contact in 17.6 Myr at an orbital period of 5 minutes. Depending on the spin–orbit synchronization timescale the object will either merge to form an R CrB star or end up as a stably accreting AM CVn-type system with a helium white dwarf donor.

A Massive-born Neutron Star with a Massive White Dwarf Companion

Abstract We report on the results of a 4 year timing campaign of PSR J2222−0137, a 2.44 day binary pulsar with a massive white dwarf (WD) companion, with the Nançay, Effelsberg, and Lovell radio telescopes. Using the Shapiro delay for this system, we find a pulsar mass m p = 1.76 ± 0.06 M ⊙ and a WD mass m c = 1.293 ± 0.025 M ⊙. We also measure the rate of advance of periastron for this system, which is marginally consistent with the general relativity prediction for these masses. The short lifetime of the massive WD progenitor star led to a rapid X-ray binary phase with little (< 10−2 M ⊙) mass accretion onto the neutron star; hence, the current pulsar mass is, within uncertainties, its birth mass, which is the largest measured to date. We discuss the discrepancy with previous mass measurements for this system; we conclude that the measurements presented here are likely to be more accurate. Finally, we highlight the usefulness of this system for testing alternative theories of gravity by tightly constraining the presence of dipolar radiation. This is of particular importance for certain aspects of strong-field gravity, like spontaneous scalarization, since the mass of PSR J2222−0137 puts that system into a poorly tested parameter range.

The discovery of two mildly recycled binary pulsars in the Northern High Time Resolution Universe pulsar survey

We report the discovery and the results of follow-up timing observations of PSR J2045+3633 and PSR J2053+4650, two binary pulsars found in the Northern High Time Resolution Universe pulsar survey being carried out with the Effelsberg radio telescope. Having spin periods of 31.7 ms and 12.6 ms respectively, and both with massive white dwarf companions, $M_{c}\, > \, 0.8\, M_{\odot}$, the pulsars can be classified as mildly recycled. PSR J2045+3633 is remarkable due to its orbital period (32.3 days) and eccentricity $e\, = \, 0.01721244(5)$ which is among the largest ever measured for this class. After almost two years of timing the large eccentricity has allowed the measurement of the rate of advance of periastron at the 5-$\sigma$ level, 0.0010(2)$^\circ~\rm yr^{-1}$. Combining this with a detection of the orthometric amplitude of the Shapiro delay, we obtained the following constraints on the component masses (within general relativity): $M_{p}\, = \, 1.33^{+0.30}_{-0.28}\, M_{\odot}$, and $M_{c}\, = \, 0.94^{+0.14}_{-0.13}\, M_{\odot}$. PSR J2053+4650 has a 2.45-day circular orbit inclined to the plane of the sky at an angle $i\, = \, 85.0^{+0.8}_{-0.9}\,{^\circ}$. In this nearly edge-on case the masses can be obtained from the Shapiro delay alone. Our timing observations resulted in a significant detection of this effect giving: $M_{p}\, = \, 1.40^{+0.21}_{-0.18}\, M_{\odot}$, and $M_{c}\, = \, 0.86^{+0.07}_{-0.06}\, M_{\odot}$.

MICROARCSECOND VLBI PULSAR ASTROMETRY WITH PSRπ. I. TWO BINARY MILLISECOND PULSARS WITH WHITE DWARF COMPANIONS

ABSTRACT Model-independent distance constraints to binary millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are of great value to both the timing observations of the radio pulsars and multiwavelength observations of their companion stars. Astrometry using very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) can be employed to provide these model-independent distances with very high precision via the detection of annual geometric parallax. Using the Very Long Baseline Array, we have observed two binary MSPs, PSR J1022+1001 and J2145–0750, over a two-year period and measured their distances to be pc and pc respectively. We use the well-calibrated distance in conjunction with revised analysis of optical photometry to tightly constrain the nature of their massive ( ) white dwarf companions. Finally, we show that several measurements of the parallax and proper motion of PSR J1022+1001 and PSR J2145–0750 obtained by pulsar timing array projects are incorrect, differing from the more precise VLBI values by up to 5σ. We investigate possible causes for the discrepancy, and find that imperfect modeling of the solar wind is a likely candidate for the errors in the timing model given the low ecliptic latitude of these two pulsars.

Hot subdwarf stars and their connection to thermonuclear supernovae

Hot subdwarf stars (sdO/Bs) are evolved core helium-burning stars with very thin hydrogen envelopes, which can be formed by common envelope ejection. Close sdB binaries with massive white dwarf (WD) companions are potential progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae type Ia (SN Ia). We discovered such a progenitor candidate as well as a candidate for a surviving companion star, which escapes from the Galaxy. More candidates for both types of objects have been found by crossmatching known sdB stars with proper motion and light curve catalogues. The Gaia mission will provide accurate astrometry and light curves of all the stars in our hot subdwarf sample and will allow us to compile a much larger all-sky catalogue of those stars. In this way we expect to find hundreds of progenitor binaries and ejected companions.

ULXs: Neutron stars versus black holes

Abstract We consider ultraluminous X–ray systems (ULXs) where the accretor is a neutron star rather than a black hole. We show that the recently discovered example (M82 X–2) fits naturally into the simple picture of ULXs as beamed X–ray sources fed at super-Eddington rates, provided that its magnetic field is weaker (≃1011G) than a new-born X-ray pulsar, as expected if there has been mass gain. Continuing accretion is likely to weaken the field to the point that pulsing stops, and make the system indistinguishable from a ULX containing a black hole. Accordingly we suggest that a significant fraction of all ULXs may actually contain neutron star accretors rather than black holes, reflecting the neutron-star fraction among their X-ray binary progenitors. We emphasize that neutron-star ULXs are likely to have higher apparent luminosities than black hole ULXs for a given mass transfer rate, as their tighter beaming outweighs their lower Eddington luminosities. This further increases the likely proportion of neutron-star accretors among all ULXs. Cygnus X–2 is probably a typical descendant of neutron-star ULXs, which may therefore ultimately end as millisecond pulsar binaries with massive white dwarf companions.

Is the X-ray pulsating companion of HD 49798 a possible type Ia supernova progenitor?

HD 49798 (a hydrogen depleted subdwarf O6 star) with its massive white dwarf (WD) companion has been suggested to be a progenitor candidate of a type Ia supernova (SN Ia). However, it is still uncertain whether the companion of HD 49798 is a carbon-oxygen (CO) WD or an oxygen-neon (ONe) WD. A CO WD will explode as an SN Ia when its mass grows and approaches the Chandrasekhar limit, but the outcome of an accreting ONe WD is likely to be a neutron star. We generated a series of Monte Carlo calculations that incorperate binary population synthesis to simulate the formation of ONe WD + He star systems. We found that there is almost no orbital period as large as HD 49798 with its WD companion in these ONe WD + He star systems based on our simulations, which means that the companion of HD 49798 might not be an ONe WD. We suggest that the companion of HD 49798 is most likely a CO WD, which can be expected to increase its mass to the Chandrasekhar limit by accreting He-rich material from HD 49798. Thus, HD 49798 and its companion may produce an SN Ia as a result of its future evolution.

Hot subdwarf stars in the Galactic halo Tracers of prominent events in late stellar evolution

AbstractHot subdwarf stars (sdO/Bs) are the stripped cores of red giants located at the bluest extension of the horizontal branch. They constitute the dominant population of UV-bright stars in old stellar environments and are most likely formed by binary interactions. We perform the first systematic, spectroscopic analysis of a sample of those stars in the Galactic halo based on data from SDSS. In the course of this project we discovered 177 close binary candidates. A significant fraction of the sdB binaries turned out to have close substellar companions, which shows that brown dwarfs and planets can significantly influence late stellar evolution. Close hot subdwarf binaries with massive white dwarf companions on the other hand are good candidates for the progenitors of type Ia supernovae. We discovered a hypervelocity star, which not only turned out to be the fastest unbound star known in our Galaxy, but also the surviving companion of such a supernova explosion.

Semi-analytic solutions for the triangular points of double white dwarfs in the ER3BP: Impact of the body’s oblateness and the orbital eccentricity

Using an analytic/numerical approach, we investigate the effects of oblateness and eccentricity of the primaries on the triangular points of compact double degenerate white dwarf binaries. AM CVs stars in which stable mass transfer occur from a Roche-lobe filling white dwarf to its more massive white dwarf companion and detached double white dwarfs (DWDs) which are candidate progenitors of Type Ia supernovae will be models of this problem. They provide an excellent and powerful tool for probing the physics of white dwarfs. The oblateness of the main bodies and their eccentricity affect the positions of the triangular equilibrium points as is shown for ten DWDs. The triangular points are generally stable for 0<μ<μc; where μ is the mass ratio (μ⩽1/2). The size of the region of stability increases with decrease in oblateness. Our study shows that due to the nature of the masses of these binaries, the mass ratio does not fall in the range of stability: as a result, they are unstable.

Timing of a young mildly recycled pulsar with a massive white dwarf companion

We report on timing observations of the recently discovered binary pulsar PSR J1952+2630 using the Arecibo Observatory. The mildly recycled 20.7-ms pulsar is in a 9.4-hr orbit with a massive, M_WD > 0.93 M_sun, white dwarf (WD) companion. We present, for the first time, a phase-coherent timing solution, with precise spin, astrometric, and Keplerian orbital parameters. This shows that the characteristic age of PSR J1952+2630 is 77 Myr, younger by one order of magnitude than any other recycled pulsar-massive WD system. We derive an upper limit on the true age of the system of 50 Myr. We investigate the formation of PSR J1952+2630 using detailed modelling of the mass-transfer process from a naked helium star on to the neutron star following a common-envelope phase (Case BB Roche-lobe overflow). From our modelling of the progenitor system, we constrain the accretion efficiency of the neutron star, which suggests a value between 100 and 300% of the Eddington accretion limit. We present numerical models of the chemical structure of a possible oxygen-neon-magnesium WD companion. Furthermore, we calculate the past and the future spin evolution of PSR J1952+2630, until the system merges in about 3.4 Gyr due to gravitational wave emission. Although we detect no relativistic effects in our timing analysis we show that several such effects will become measurable with continued observations over the next 10 years; thus PSR J1952+2630 has potential as a testbed for gravitational theories.

INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF SYMBIOTIC STARS. IX. D-TYPE SYMBIOTIC NOVAE

Time-series spectra of the near-infrared 1.6 {mu}m region have been obtained for five of the six known D-type symbiotic novae. The spectra map the pulsation kinematics of the Mira component in the Mira-white dwarf binary system and provide the center-of-mass velocity for the Mira. No orbital motion is detected in agreement with previous estimates of orbital periods {approx}>100 yr and semimajor axes {approx}50 AU. The 1-5 {mu}m spectra of the Miras show line weakening during dust obscuration events. This results from scattering and continuum emission by 1000 K dust. In the heavily obscured HM Sge system the 4.6 {mu}m CO spectrum formed in 1000 K gas is seen in emission against an optically thick dust continuum. Spectral features that are typically produced in either the cool molecular region or the expanding circumstellar region of late-type stars cannot be detected in the D-symbiotic novae. This is in accord with the colliding wind model for interaction between the white dwarf and Mira. Arguments are presented that the 1000 K gas and dust are not Mira circumstellar material but are in the wind interaction region of the colliding winds. CO is the first molecule detected in this region. We suggest that dust condensingmore » in the intershock region is the origin of the dust obscuration. This model explains variations in the obscuration. Toward the highly obscured Mira in HM Sge the dust zone is estimated to be {approx}0.1 AU thick. The intershock wind interaction zone appears thinnest in the most active systems. Drawing on multiple arguments masses are estimated for the system components. The Miras in most D-symbiotic novae have descended from intermediate mass progenitors. The large amount of mass lost from the Mira combined with the massive white dwarf companion suggests that these systems are supernova candidates. However, timescales and the number of objects make these rare events.« less

A Search for Type Ia Supernova Progenitors: the Central Stars of the Planetary Nebulae NGC 2392 and NGC 6026

AbstractWe use photoionization modeling to assess the binary nature of the central stars of NGC 2392 and NGC 6026. If they are close binaries, they are potential Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) progenitors if the total mass exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit. We show that the nucleus of NGC 2392 likely has a hot, massive (≃1 M⊙) white dwarf companion, and a total mass of ~1.6 M⊙, making it an especially interesting system. The binary mass in NGC 6026 is less, ~1.1 M⊙. Even though its orbital period is short, it is not considered to be an SNe~Ia progenitor.

He star evolutionary channel to intermediate-mass binary pulsar PSR J1802-2124

The intermediate-mass binary pulsars (IMBPs) are characterized by relatively long spin periods (10 - 200 ms) and massive ($\ga 0.4 M_{\odot}$) white dwarf (WD) companions. Recently, precise mass measurements have been performed for the pulsar and the WD in the IMBP PSR J1802-2124. Some observed properties, such as the low mass of the pulsar, the high mass of the WD, the moderately long spin period, and the tight orbit, imply that this system has undergone a peculiar formation mechanism. In this work, we attempt to simulate the detailed evolutionary history of PSR J1802-2124. We propose that a binary system consisting of a neutron star (NS, of mass $1.3 M_{\odot}$) and an He star (of mass $1.0 M_{\odot}$), and with an initial orbital period of 0.5 d, may have been the progenitor of PSR J1802-2124. Once the He star overflows its Roche lobe, He-rich material is transferred onto the NS at a relatively high rate of $\sim 10^{-7}-10^{-6} M_{\odot}\,\rm yr^{-1}$, which is significantly higher than the Eddington accretion rate. A large amount of the transferred material is ejected from the vicinity of the NS by radiation pressure and results in the birth of a mildly recycled pulsar. Our simulated results are consistent with the observed parameters of PSR J1802-2124. Therefore, we argue that the NS + He star evolutionary channel may be responsible for the formation of most IMBPs with orbital periods $\la 3 \rm d$.

ARECIBO PALFA SURVEY AND EINSTEIN@HOME: BINARY PULSAR DISCOVERY BY VOLUNTEER COMPUTING

We report the discovery of the 20.7 ms binary pulsar J1952+2630, made using the distributed computing project Einstein@Home in Pulsar ALFA survey observations with the Arecibo telescope. Follow-up observations with the Arecibo telescope confirm the binary nature of the system. We obtain a circular orbital solution with an orbital period of 9.4 hr, a projected orbital radius of 2.8 lt-s, and a mass function of f = 0.15 solar masses by analysis of spin period measurements. No evidence of orbital eccentricity is apparent; we set a 2-sigma upper limit e < 1.7e-3. The orbital parameters suggest a massive white dwarf companion with a minimum mass of 0.95 solar masses, assuming a pulsar mass of 1.4 solar masses. Most likely, this pulsar belongs to the rare class of intermediate mass binary pulsars. Future timing observations will aim to determine the parameters of this system further, measure relativistic effects, and elucidate the nature of the companion star.