A millisecond pulsar candidate in a 21-h orbit: 3FGL J0212.1+5320

We present the discovery of a variable optical counterpart to the unidentified gamma-ray source 3FGL J0212.1+5320 and argue that this is a new compact binary millisecond pulsar (MSP) candidate. We show 3FGL J0212.1+5320 hosts a semidetached binary with a 0.869 55 plus or minus 0.000 15 d orbital per...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2017-03, Vol.465 (4), p.4602-4602
Main Authors: Linares, Manuel, Miles-Páez, Paulo, Rodríguez-Gil, Pablo, Shahbaz, Tariq, Casares, Jorge, Fariña, Cecilia, Karjalainen, Raine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Binary stars
Binary systems (materials)
Companion stars
Gamma rays
Light
Light curve
Millisecond pulsars
Orbits
Pulsars
Signatures
Symbols
Velocity
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Summary:We present the discovery of a variable optical counterpart to the unidentified gamma-ray source 3FGL J0212.1+5320 and argue that this is a new compact binary millisecond pulsar (MSP) candidate. We show 3FGL J0212.1+5320 hosts a semidetached binary with a 0.869 55 plus or minus 0.000 15 d orbital period and an F6-type companion star at an estimated distance of D = 1.1 plus or minus 0.2 kpc, with a radial velocity curve semi-amplitude K sub( 2) = 214.1 plus or minus 5.0 km s super( -1) and a projected rotational velocity of V sin (i) = 73.2 plus or minus 1.6 km s super( -1). We find a hard X-ray source at the same location with a 0.5-10 keV luminosity L sub( X) = 2.6 x 10 super( 32) (D/1.1 kpc) super( 2) erg s super( -1), which strengthens the MSP identification. Our results imply a mass ratio q = M sub( 2)/M sub( 1) = 0.26... if the companion star fills its Roche lobe, and q ... 0.26 in any case. This classifies 3FGL J0212.1+5320 as a 'redback' binary MSP; if its MSP nature is confirmed, this will be the brightest compact binary MSP in the optical band (r" [NOT approximately equal to ] 14.3 mag) and will have the longest orbital period among Galactic field systems (nearly 21 h). Based on the light curve peak-to-peak amplitude ( Delta r = 0.19 mag), we further suggest that the orbital inclination is high and the putative pulsar mass is close to canonical (M sub( 1) [NOT approximately equal to ] 1.3-1.6 M...). Finally, we discuss the lack of heating signatures and asymmetric optical light curves in the context of other redback MSPs. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stw3057