PSR J1614−2230
Pulsar–white dwarf binary system in Scorpius constellation / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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PSR J1614–2230 is a pulsar in a binary system with a white dwarf in the constellation Scorpius. It was discovered in 2006 with the Parkes telescope in a survey of unidentified gamma ray sources in the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope catalog.[3] PSR J1614–2230 is a millisecond pulsar, a type of neutron star, that spins on its axis roughly 317 times per second, corresponding to a period of 3.15 milliseconds. Like all pulsars, it emits radiation in a beam, similar to a lighthouse.[4] Emission from PSR J1614–2230 is observed as pulses at the spin period of PSR J1614–2230. The pulsed nature of its emission allows for the arrival of individual pulses to be timed. By measuring the arrival time of pulses, astronomers observed the delay of pulse arrivals from PSR J1614–2230 when it was passing behind its companion from the vantage point of Earth. By measuring this delay, known as the Shapiro delay, astronomers determined the mass of PSR J1614–2230 and its companion. The team performing the observations found that the mass of PSR J1614–2230 is 1.97 ± 0.04 M☉. This mass made PSR J1614–2230 the most massive known neutron star at the time of discovery, and rules out many neutron star equations of state that include exotic matter such as hyperons and kaon condensates.[1]
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Scorpius |
Right ascension | 16h 14m 36.5051s[1] |
Declination | −22° 30′ 31.081″[1] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | Pulsar |
Astrometry | |
Distance | 1,200[1] pc |
Details | |
Mass | 1.908[2] M☉ |
Radius | 13±2 km,[1] 1.87(29) × 10-5 R☉ |
Rotation | 3.1508076534271 ms[1] |
Age | 5.2 × 109 years |
Other designations | |
PSR J1614–22 | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
In 2013, a slightly higher neutron star mass measurement was announced for PSR J0348+0432, 2.01 ± 0.04 M☉.[5] This confirmed the existence of such massive neutron stars using a different measuring technique.
After further high-precision timing of the pulsar, the mass measurement for J1614–2230 was updated to 1.908 ± 0.016 M☉ in 2018.[2]