4 research outputs found
Multi-Wavelength Observations Of A New Redback Millisecond Pulsar 4FGL J1910.7-5320
We present the study of multi-wavelength observations of an unidentified
Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) source, 4FGL J1910.7-5320, a new candidate
redback millisecond pulsar binary. In the 4FGL 95% error region of 4FGL
J1910.7-5320, we find a possible binary with a 8.36-hr orbital period from the
Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS), confirmed by optical spectroscopy
using the SOAR telescope. This optical source was recently independently
discovered as a redback pulsar by the TRAPUM project, confirming our
prediction. We fit the optical spectral energy distributions of 4FGL
J1910.7-5320 with a blackbody model, inferring a maximum distance of 4.1 kpc by
assuming that the companion fills its Roche-lobe with a radius of R = 0.7R_sun.
Using a 12.6 ks Chandra X-ray observation, we identified an X-ray counterpart
for 4FGL J1910.7-5320, with a spectrum that can be described by an absorbed
power-law with a photon index of 1.0+/-0.4. The spectrally hard X-ray emission
shows tentative evidence for orbital variability. Using more than 12 years of
Fermi-LAT data, we refined the position of the {\gamma}-ray source, and the
optical candidate still lies within the 68% positional error circle. In
addition to 4FGL J1910.7-5320, we find a variable optical source with a
periodic signal of 4.28-hr inside the 4FGL catalog 95% error region of another
unidentified Fermi source, 4FGL J2029.5-4237. However, the {\gamma}-ray source
does not have a significant X-ray counterpart in a 11.7 ks Chandra observation,
with a 3-{\sigma} flux upper limit of 2.4*10^-14 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (0.3-7 keV).
Moreover, the optical source is outside our updated Fermi-LAT 95% error circle.
These observational facts all suggest that this new redback millisecond pulsar
powers the {\gamma}-ray source 4FGL J1910.7-5320 while 4FGL J2029.5-4237 is
unlikely the {\gamma}-ray counterpart to the 4.28-hr variable.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Tracking the Enigmatic Globular Cluster Ultracompact X-Ray Binary X1850β087: Extreme Radio Variability in the Hard State
The conditions under which accreting neutron stars launch radio-emitting jets and/or outflows are still poorly understood. The ultracompact X-ray binary X1850β087, located in the globular cluster NGC 6712, is a persistent atoll-type X-ray source that has previously shown unusual radio-continuum variability. Here we present the results of a pilot radio-monitoring program of X1850β087 undertaken with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, with simultaneous or quasi-simultaneous Swift/XRT data obtained at each epoch. The binary is clearly detected in the radio in two of the six new epochs. When combined with previous data, these results suggest that X1850β087 shows radio emission at a slightly elevated hard-state X-ray luminosity of L _X β³ 2 Γ 10 ^36 erg s ^β1 , but no radio emission in its baseline hard state L _X βΌ 10 ^36 erg s ^β1 . No clear X-ray spectral changes are associated with this factor of β³10 radio variability. At all detected epochs, X1850β087 has a flat to inverted radio spectral index, more consistent with the partially absorbed optically thick synchrotron of a compact jet rather than the evolving optically thick to thin emission associated with transient expanding synchrotron-emitting ejecta. If the radio emission in X1850β087 is indeed due to a compact jet, then it is plausibly being launched and quenched in the hard state on timescales as short as a few days. Future radio monitoring of X1850β087 could help elucidate the conditions under which compact jets are produced around hard-state accreting neutron stars
A survey for radio emission from White Dwarfs in the VLA Sky Survey
Radio emission has been detected from tens of white dwarfs, in particular in accreting systems. Additionally, radio emission has been predicted as a possible outcome of a planetary system around a white dwarf. We searched for 3 GHz radio continuum emission in 846,000 candidate white dwarfs previously identified in Gaia using the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) Epoch 1 Quick Look Catalogue. We identified 13 candidate white dwarfs with a counterpart in VLASS within 2β³. Five of those were found not to be white dwarfs in follow-up or archival spectroscopy, whereas seven others were found to be chance alignments with a background source in higher-resolution optical or radio images. The remaining source, WDJ204259.71+152108.06, is found to be a white dwarf and M-dwarf binary with an orbital period of 4.1 days and long-term stochastic optical variability, as well as luminous radio and X-ray emission. For this binary, we find no direct evidence of a background contaminant, and a chance alignment probability of only β2 per cent. However, other evidence points to the possibility of an unfortunate chance alignment with a background radio and X-ray emitting quasar, including an unusually poor Gaia DR3 astrometric solution for this source. With at most one possible radio emitting white dwarf found, we conclude that strong (β³ 1 β 3 mJy) radio emission from white dwarfs in the 3 GHz band is virtually nonexistent outside of interacting binaries