Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary

M. Bailes; S. D. Bates; V. Bhalerao; N. D R Bhat; M. Burgay; S. Burke-Spolaor; N. D'Amico; S. Johnston; M. J. Keith; M. Kramer; S. R. Kulkarni; L. Levin; A. G. Lyne; S. Milia; A. Possenti; L. Spitler; B. Stappers; W. Van Straten

doi:10.1126/science.1208890

Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary

M. Bailes^*, S. D. Bates, V. Bhalerao, N. D R Bhat, M. Burgay, S. Burke-Spolaor, N. D'Amico, S. Johnston, M. J. Keith, M. Kramer, S. R. Kulkarni, L. Levin, A. G. Lyne, S. Milia, A. Possenti, L. Spitler, B. Stappers, W. Van Straten

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

115 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Millisecond pulsars are thought to be neutron stars that have been spun-up by accretion of matter from a binary companion. Although most are in binary systems, some 30% are solitary, and their origin is therefore mysterious. PSR J1719-1438, a 5.7-millisecond pulsar, was detected in a recent survey with the Parkes 64-meter radio telescope. We show that this pulsar is in a binary system with an orbital period of 2.2 hours. The mass of its companion is near that of Jupiter, but its minimum density of 23 grams per cubic centimeter suggests that it may be an ultralow-mass carbon white dwarf. This system may thus have once been an ultracompact low-mass x-ray binary, where the companion narrowly avoided complete destruction.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1717-1720
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	333
Issue number	6050
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1208890
Publication status	Published - 23 Oct 2011
Externally published	Yes

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Bailes, M., Bates, S. D., Bhalerao, V., Bhat, N. D. R., Burgay, M., Burke-Spolaor, S., D'Amico, N., Johnston, S., Keith, M. J., Kramer, M., Kulkarni, S. R., Levin, L., Lyne, A. G., Milia, S., Possenti, A., Spitler, L., Stappers, B., & Van Straten, W. (2011). Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary. Science, 333(6050), 1717-1720. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1208890

Bailes, M. ; Bates, S. D. ; Bhalerao, V. ; Bhat, N. D R ; Burgay, M. ; Burke-Spolaor, S. ; D'Amico, N. ; Johnston, S. ; Keith, M. J. ; Kramer, M. ; Kulkarni, S. R. ; Levin, L. ; Lyne, A. G. ; Milia, S. ; Possenti, A. ; Spitler, L. ; Stappers, B. ; Van Straten, W. / Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary. In: Science. 2011 ; Vol. 333, No. 6050. pp. 1717-1720.

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title = "Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary",

abstract = "Millisecond pulsars are thought to be neutron stars that have been spun-up by accretion of matter from a binary companion. Although most are in binary systems, some 30% are solitary, and their origin is therefore mysterious. PSR J1719-1438, a 5.7-millisecond pulsar, was detected in a recent survey with the Parkes 64-meter radio telescope. We show that this pulsar is in a binary system with an orbital period of 2.2 hours. The mass of its companion is near that of Jupiter, but its minimum density of 23 grams per cubic centimeter suggests that it may be an ultralow-mass carbon white dwarf. This system may thus have once been an ultracompact low-mass x-ray binary, where the companion narrowly avoided complete destruction.",

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doi = "10.1126/science.1208890",

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Bailes, M, Bates, SD, Bhalerao, V, Bhat, NDR, Burgay, M, Burke-Spolaor, S, D'Amico, N, Johnston, S, Keith, MJ, Kramer, M, Kulkarni, SR, Levin, L, Lyne, AG, Milia, S, Possenti, A, Spitler, L, Stappers, B & Van Straten, W 2011, 'Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary', Science, vol. 333, no. 6050, pp. 1717-1720. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1208890

Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary. / Bailes, M.; Bates, S. D.; Bhalerao, V.; Bhat, N. D R; Burgay, M.; Burke-Spolaor, S.; D'Amico, N.; Johnston, S.; Keith, M. J.; Kramer, M.; Kulkarni, S. R.; Levin, L.; Lyne, A. G.; Milia, S.; Possenti, A.; Spitler, L.; Stappers, B.; Van Straten, W.

In: Science, Vol. 333, No. 6050, 23.10.2011, p. 1717-1720.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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T1 - Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary

AU - Bailes, M.

AU - Bates, S. D.

AU - Bhalerao, V.

AU - Bhat, N. D R

AU - Burgay, M.

AU - Burke-Spolaor, S.

AU - D'Amico, N.

AU - Johnston, S.

AU - Keith, M. J.

AU - Kramer, M.

AU - Kulkarni, S. R.

AU - Levin, L.

AU - Lyne, A. G.

AU - Milia, S.

AU - Possenti, A.

AU - Spitler, L.

AU - Stappers, B.

AU - Van Straten, W.

PY - 2011/10/23

Y1 - 2011/10/23

N2 - Millisecond pulsars are thought to be neutron stars that have been spun-up by accretion of matter from a binary companion. Although most are in binary systems, some 30% are solitary, and their origin is therefore mysterious. PSR J1719-1438, a 5.7-millisecond pulsar, was detected in a recent survey with the Parkes 64-meter radio telescope. We show that this pulsar is in a binary system with an orbital period of 2.2 hours. The mass of its companion is near that of Jupiter, but its minimum density of 23 grams per cubic centimeter suggests that it may be an ultralow-mass carbon white dwarf. This system may thus have once been an ultracompact low-mass x-ray binary, where the companion narrowly avoided complete destruction.

AB - Millisecond pulsars are thought to be neutron stars that have been spun-up by accretion of matter from a binary companion. Although most are in binary systems, some 30% are solitary, and their origin is therefore mysterious. PSR J1719-1438, a 5.7-millisecond pulsar, was detected in a recent survey with the Parkes 64-meter radio telescope. We show that this pulsar is in a binary system with an orbital period of 2.2 hours. The mass of its companion is near that of Jupiter, but its minimum density of 23 grams per cubic centimeter suggests that it may be an ultralow-mass carbon white dwarf. This system may thus have once been an ultracompact low-mass x-ray binary, where the companion narrowly avoided complete destruction.

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JO - Science (New York, N.Y.)

JF - Science (New York, N.Y.)

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 6050

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Transformation of a star into a planet in a millisecond pulsar binary

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