Stellar forensics — II. Millisecond pulsar binaries |
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Authors: | Brad M. S. Hansen,& Sterl Phinney |
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Affiliation: | Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H8, Canada,;Theoretical Astrophysics, 130-33, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA |
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Abstract: | We use the grid of models described in Paper I to analyse those millisecond pulsar binaries whose secondaries have been studied optically. In particular, we find cooling ages for these binary systems that range from < 1 to ∼ 15 Gyr. Comparison of cooling ages and characteristic spin-down ages allows us to constrain the initial spin periods and spin-up histories for individual systems, showing that at least some millisecond pulsars had sub-Eddington accretion rates and long magnetic field decay times. |
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Keywords: | binaries: general stars: evolution pulsars: general pulsars: individual: J0437−4715 pulsars: individual: J1012+5307 white dwarfs |
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