Publication Date:
2020-01-16
Description:
We report on multiband photometric observations of four binary millisecond pulsars with the Gran Telescopio Canarias. The observations led to detection of binary companions to PSRs J1630+3734, J1741+1351, and J2042+0246 in the Sloan g′, r′, and i′ bands. Their magnitudes in the r′ band are ≈24.4, 24.4, and 24.0, respectively. We also set a 3σ upper limit on the brightness of the PSR J0557+1550 companion in the r′ band of ≈25.6 mag. Combining the optical data with the radio timing measurements and white dwarf cooling models, we show that the detected companions are cool low-mass white dwarfs with temperatures and ages in the respective ranges of (4–7) × 103 K and 2–5 Gyr. All the detected white dwarfs are found to likely have either pure hydrogen or mixed helium–hydrogen atmospheres.
Print ISSN:
0035-8711
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2966
Topics:
Physics
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