Supersonic propeller spindown of neutron stars in wind-fed mass-exchange close binaries

Abstract

The supersonic propeller spindown of a neutron star moving in a strong stellar wind of its massive companion is discussed. I show that the supersonic propeller model presented by Davies & Pringle (1981}) is self-consistent if the strength of the stellar wind of the normal companion is \dot{M}_{\rm c} \la 2.2 10^{18} (M_{\rm ns}/M_{\sun}) V_8 g/s. Under these conditions the model can be used for the interpretation of the long-period pulsars in Be/X-ray transients. The spin history of the neutron star in the long period Be/X-ray transient A0535+26 is considered.