Abstract
The discovery of an isolated 3-millisecond pulsar PSR1821-24 in the globular cluster M28 (=NGC6626)1,2 has important implications for the genesis of such objects. Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) have weak (∼109 G) magnetic fields and are commonly believed to be spun up during an epoch of mass transfer in a close binary system. However, the modest cluster escape velocity, vesc ≲40 km s−1, implies that the pulsar must be extracted from the binary with some care. One possibility, often discussed in connection with the formation of the isolated MSP 1937 + 214, involves coalescence with the mass–donor companion (ref. 3, and refs therein). In this letter, we suggest a model appropriate to the cluster site, namely disruption of an expanded tidal capture binary by the perturbations of field stars. We also attempt to relate the MSP formation rate to that of the cluster X-ray sources.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Middleditch, J. et al. IAU Circ. No. 4401 (1987).
Lyne, A. G. et al. Nature 328, 399–401 (1987).
Taylor, J. H. & Steinberg, D. R. A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 24, 285–327 (1986).
Smarr, I. L. & Blandford, R. D. Astrophys. J. 207, 574–588 (1976).
Larson, R. B. in Proc. IAU Symp. 113 (eds Goodman, J. & Hut, P.) 421–422 (Reidel, Boston, 1985).
Fabian, A., Pringel, J. & Rees, M. J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 172, 15–18 (1975).
Press, W. H. & Teukolsky, S. A. Astrophys. J. 213, 183–192 (1977).
Lee, H. M. & Ostriker, J. P. Astrophys. J. 310, 176–188 (1986).
Hut, P. in Proc. IAU Symp. 113 (eds Goodman, J. & Hut, P.) 231–250 (Reidel, Boston, 1985).
Rood, R. T. Astrophys. J. 177, 681–691 (1972).
Verbunt, F. Astrophys. J. 312, L23–L25 (1987).
de Kool, M., van den Huevel, E. P. J. & Rappaport, S. A. Astr. Astrophys. 164, 73–76 (1986).
Narayan, R. & Vivekanand, M. Astr. Astrophys. 122, 43–53 (1983).
Naylor, T., Charles, P. A., Callanan, P. J. & Redfern, R. M. IAU Circ. No. 4263 (1986).
Ilovaisky, S. A., Chevalier, C., Auriere, M. & Angebault, P. IAU Circ. No. 4263 (1986).
Stella, L., Priedhorsky, W. & White, N. E. Astrophys. J. 312, L17–L22 (1987).
Bailyn, C. D. & Grindlay, J. E. Astrophys. J. 316, L25–L29 (1987).
Krolik, J. H. Astrophys. J. 282, 452–465 (1984).
Nomoto, K. Astrophys. J. 277, 791–805 (1984).
van den Huevel, E. P. J. in High Energy Phenomena Around Collapsed Stars (ed. Pacini, F.) 1,–32 (Reidel, Boston, 1987).
Blandford, R. D. & DeCammpli, W. M. in IAU Symp. 95, (eds Sieber, W. & Wielebinski, R.) 371–377 (Reidel, Boston, 1981).
Blandford, R. D., Romani, R. W. & Applegate, J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 225, 51–53 (1987).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Romani, R., Kulkarni, S. & Blandford, R. Formation of a millisecond pulsar in a globular cluster. Nature 329, 309–310 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/329309a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/329309a0
This article is cited by
-
White and grey holes as possible sources of gravitational-and gamma-ray bursts from SN 1987A
Astrophysics and Space Science (1991)
-
Discovery of two radio pulsars in the globular cluster M15
Nature (1990)
-
A 5.75-millisecond pulsar in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae
Nature (1990)
-
Black holes in cosmic bodies
Astrophysics and Space Science (1990)
-
A 110-ms pulsar, with negative period derivative, in the globular cluster M15
Nature (1989)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
