NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0144
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0144 |
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PI: John Stocke, U of Colorado, stocke@casa.colorado.edu
Address: CASA/APS, UCB 389 U of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
CoI: Cynthia Froning, CASA, U of Colorado
CoI: Juthika Khargharia, CASA, U of Colorado
CoI: Bal Chandra Joshi, National Centre for Radio Astronomy, Pune, India
CoI: A. Gopakumar, Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
Title: A Unique Milli-Second Pulsar System
Abstract: We propose to obtain three epochs of GMOS-N spectroscopy of the likely companion to a unique new milli-second pulsar in a highly eccentric orbit. Pulsar timing provides an accurate mass for the companion star (1M_\odot) and its orbital period (95 days). Near-IR images detect a star at the pulsar position with colors consistent with a highly-reddened G star but its association with the pulsar is not proven. Spectra at the Ca Triplet are requested to confirm the spectral type, detect orbital motion (90 km s^-1 full change expected) and measure or set a limit on rotation speed for accurate periastron shift interpretation. If it can be shown that the G star is the only companion, then this system provides ``clean'' new tests of General Relativity. But without this proof, made possible by these proposed spectra, the close-in pulsar companion could be a white dwarf with the G star being a distant third body in the system. Three epochs of observation of three telescope hours each are required to test this hypothesis.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0144 |
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