Article

A pulsar in a binary with a compact object in the mass gap between neutron stars and black holes

E D BarrMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyArunima DuttaMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyP. C. C. FreireMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyMario CadelanoDipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Augusto Righi,” Università degli Studi di Bologna, 40129 Bologna, ItalyT. GautamMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyMichael KramerMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyCristina PallancaDipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Augusto Righi,” Università degli Studi di Bologna, 40129 Bologna, ItalyS. M. RansomNational Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USAA. RidolfiMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyB. W. StappersJodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UKThomas M. TaurisDepartment of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, DK-9220 Aalborg Øst, DenmarkV. Venkatraman KrishnanMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyNorbert WexMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyM. BailesAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav), Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, AustraliaJ. BehrendMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyS. BuchnerSouth African Radio Astronomy Observatory, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South AfricaM. BurgayOsservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, I-09047 Selargius, ItalyW ChenMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyD. J. ChampionMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyC.‐H. Rosie ChenMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyA. CorongiuOsservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, I-09047 Selargius, ItalyM. GeyerDepartment of Astronomy, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700, South AfricaYunpeng MenMax-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, 53121 Bonn, GermanyP V PadmanabhLeibniz Universität Hannover, D-30167 Hannover, GermanyAndrea PossentiOsservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, I-09047 Selargius, Italy

2024en

ABI

Abstract

Some compact objects observed in gravitational wave events have masses in the gap between known neutron stars (NSs) and black holes (BHs). The nature of these mass gap objects is unknown, as is the formation of their host binary systems. We report pulsar timing observations made with the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) of PSR J0514−4002E, an eccentric binary millisecond pulsar in the globular cluster NGC 1851. We found a total binary mass of 3.887 ± 0.004 solar masses ( M ⊙ ), and multiwavelength observations show that the pulsar’s binary companion is also a compact object. The companion’s mass (2.09 to 2.71 M ⊙ , 95% confidence interval) is in the mass gap, indicating either a very massive NS or a low-mass BH. We propose that the companion formed in a merger between two earlier NSs.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1126/science.adg3005

Citations and references

Cited by 20 references

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