A Likely Millisecond Pulsar Binary Counterpart for Fermi Source 2FGL J2039.6-5620
Abstract
We have identified an optical/X-ray binary with an orbital period of Pb = 5.47 hr as the likely counterpart of the Fermi source 2FGL J2039.6-5620. GROND, SOAR, and DES observations provide an accurate orbital period and allow us to compare to the light curve of an archival XMM exposure. Like many short-period optical/X-ray binaries associated with Large Area Telescope sources, this may be an interacting (black widow/redback) millisecond pulsar binary. The X-ray light curve is consistent with the emission associated with an intrabinary shock. The optical light curve shows evidence of companion heating, but has a peculiar asymmetric double peak. The nature of this optical structure is not yet clear; additional optical studies and, in particular, detection of an orbital modulation in a γ-ray pulsar are needed to elucidate the nature of this peculiar source.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- October 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1088/2041-8205/812/2/L24
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1509.07834
- Bibcode:
- 2015ApJ...812L..24R
- Keywords:
-
- gamma rays: stars;
- pulsars: general;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- Three figures. to appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letters