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arXiv · 1012.5254

The binary companion of PSR J1740-3052

C. G. Bassa·W. F. Brisken·G. Nelemans·I. H. Stairs·B. W. Stappers·M. Kramer
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Abstract

We report on the identification of a near-infrared counterpart to the massive (>11 Msun) binary companion of pulsar J1740-3052. An accurate celestial position of PSR J1740-3052 is determined from interferometric radio observations. Adaptive optics corrected near-infrared imaging observations show a counterpart at the interferometric position of the pulsar. The counterpart has Ks=15.87+-0.10 and J-Ks>0.83. Based on distance and absorption estimates from models of the Galactic electron and dust distributions these observed magnitudes are consistent with those of a main-sequence star as the binary companion. We argue that this counterpart is the binary companion to PSR J1740-3052 and thus rule out a stellar mass black hole as the pulsar companion.

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C. G. Bassa, W. F. Brisken, G. Nelemans, I. H. Stairs, B. W. Stappers, M. Kramer. 2010-12-23. The binary companion of PSR J1740-3052. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-3933.2010.01006.x

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