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Nuclear-powered millisecond pulsars and the maximum spin frequency of neutron stars

Author

Listed:
  • Deepto Chakrabarty

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of California)

  • Edward H. Morgan

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Michael P. Muno

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Duncan K. Galloway

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Rudy Wijnands

    (University of St Andrews)

  • Michiel van der Klis

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Craig B. Markwardt

    (University of Maryland
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

Abstract

Millisecond pulsars are neutron stars that are thought to have been spun-up by mass accretion from a stellar companion1. It is not known whether there is a natural brake for this process, or if it continues until the centrifugal breakup limit is reached at submillisecond periods. Many neutron stars that are accreting mass from a companion star exhibit thermonuclear X-ray bursts that last tens of seconds, caused by unstable nuclear burning on their surfaces2. Millisecond-period brightness oscillations during bursts from ten neutron stars (as distinct from other rapid X-ray variability that is also observed3,4) are thought to measure the stellar spin2,5, but direct proof of a rotational origin has been lacking. Here we report the detection of burst oscillations at the known spin frequency of an accreting millisecond pulsar, and we show that these oscillations always have the same rotational phase. This firmly establishes burst oscillations as nuclear-powered pulsations tracing the spin of accreting neutron stars, corroborating earlier evidence5,6. The distribution of spin frequencies of the 11 nuclear-powered pulsars cuts off well below the breakup frequency for most neutron-star models, supporting theoretical predictions that gravitational radiation losses can limit accretion torques in spinning up millisecond pulsars7,8,9.

Suggested Citation

  • Deepto Chakrabarty & Edward H. Morgan & Michael P. Muno & Duncan K. Galloway & Rudy Wijnands & Michiel van der Klis & Craig B. Markwardt, 2003. "Nuclear-powered millisecond pulsars and the maximum spin frequency of neutron stars," Nature, Nature, vol. 424(6944), pages 42-44, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:424:y:2003:i:6944:d:10.1038_nature01732
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01732
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