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arXiv · 2507.00946

A binary origin of ultra-long period radio pulsars

Ying-Han Mao·Xiang-Dong Li·Dong Lai·Zhu-Ling Deng·Hao-Ran Yang
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Abstract

We propose a possible binary evolution model for the formation of ultra-long period pulsars (ULPPs). The model involves two key stages: first, a neutron star (NS) in wide binaries undergoes an effective spin-down phase through wind-fed accretion from its massive stellar companion; second, the supernova explosion of the companion leads to the disruption of the binary system, and produces two isolated compact stars. One of the them is the first-born, slowly rotating NSs, and our binary and spin evolution calculations show that the spin periods range from $\lesssim 0.1$ s to $\gtrsim 10^8$ s. This offers a possible formation channel for some of the long-period radio transients. We estimate that the formation rate of such systems in the Milky Way is approximately about $10^{-6}$ $\rm yr^{-1}$.

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Ying-Han Mao, Xiang-Dong Li, Dong Lai, Zhu-Ling Deng, Hao-Ran Yang. 2025-07-01. A binary origin of ultra-long period radio pulsars. https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.00946

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