The Bright Optical Companion to the Eclipsing Millisecond Pulsar in NGC 6397
Abstract
We report the optical identification of the companion to the eclipsing millisecond pulsar PSR J1740-5340 in the globular cluster NGC 6397. A bright variable star with an anomalous red color and optical variability (~0.2 mag) that nicely correlates to the orbital period of the pulsar (~1.35 days) has been found close to the pulsar position. The peculiar shape of the optical light curves is unprecedented for a millisecond pulsar companion and is a clear signature of tidal distortions.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 2001
- DOI:
- 10.1086/324563
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0108252
- Bibcode:
- 2001ApJ...561L..93F
- Keywords:
-
- Stars: Binaries: Close;
- Galaxy: Globular Clusters: Individual: NGC Number: NGC 6397;
- pulsars: individual (PSR J1740-5340);
- Stars: Evolution;
- Stars: Mass Loss;
- Stars: Neutron;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 9 pages, 4 embedded figures, submitted to ApJ Letters