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The MAVERIC Survey: New Compact Binaries Revealed by Deep Radio Continuum Observations of the Galactic Globular Cluster Terzan 5.
- Source :
-
Astrophysical Journal . Dec2020, Vol. 904 Issue 2, p1-16. 16p. - Publication Year :
- 2020
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Abstract
- Owing to its massive, dense core, Terzan 5 has the richest population of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) known among Galactic globular clusters. Here we report new deep 2–8 GHz radio continuum observations of Terzan 5 obtained with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. We have identified a total of 24 sources within the cluster half-light radius, including 17 within the core radius. Nineteen are associated with previously studied MSPs and X-ray binaries. Three of the new radio sources have steep radio spectra and are located within the cluster core, as expected for MSPs. These three sources have hard X-ray photon indices (Γ = 1.3–1.5) and highly variable X-ray emission, suggesting they are binary MSPs belonging to the spider class. For the most X-ray luminous of these sources, the redback spider classification is confirmed by its X-ray light curve, which shows an orbital period of 12.32 hr and double-peaked structure around X-ray maximum. The likely discovery of bright binary MSPs in a well-studied cluster like Terzan 5 highlights how deep radio continuum imaging can complement pulsar search and timing observations in finding probable eclipsing systems. The other new radio source in the core has a flat radio spectrum and is X-ray faint (erg s−1) with a photon index Γ = 2.1 ± 0.5, consistent with the properties expected for a quiescent stellar-mass black hole X-ray binary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0004637X
- Volume :
- 904
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Astrophysical Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 147617013
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abb6fc