Research Gallery > The Theoretical Astrophysics (Theory)

Research Gallery

The Theoretical Astrophysics (Theory)

Index
Update [Login required]

On the Transition from Accretion Powered to Rotation Powered Millisecond Pulsars

Image Credit: Takata, Cheng, and Taam

A schematic view of binary system during the transition from the accretion powered low mass X-ray binary phase to the rotation powered millisecond radio pulsar phase.

Here, gamma-rays are produced in an outer gap (shadowed region) within the magnetosphere of a millisecond pulsar (msp). The outer gap accelerator extends between the null charge surface to the light cylinder. These gamma rays irradiate the accretion disk surrounding a neutron star to promote the escape of disk material from the system. In addition, the irradiation of the companion star by the pulsar can lead to the optical enhancement of the companion star and to the presence of an induced stellar wind.(Takata, Cheng, and Taam 2010, ApJ, 723, L68)