SWIFT J1756.9-2508

SWIFT J1756.9-2508 is a millisecond pulsar with a rotation frequency of 182 Hz (period of 5.5 ms). It was discovered in 2007 by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer and found to have a companion with a mass between 0.0067 and 0.030 solar masses. It is thought that the companion is the remnant of a former companion star, now stripped down to a planetary-mass core. The pulsar is accreting mass from this companion, resulting in occasional violent outbursts from the accumulated material on the neutron star.

External links

• Universe Today, Pulsar Has Almost Completely Devoured a Star
• SIMBAD, "SWIFT J1756.9-2508" (accessed 2010-11-06)

References

• Krimm, H. A.; C. B. Markwardt, C. J. Deloye, P. Romano, D. Chakrabarty, S. Campana, J. R. Cummings, D. K. Galloway, N. Gehrels, J. M. Hartman, P. Kaaret, E. H. Morgan, J. Tueller (October 2007). "Discovery of the accretion-powered millisecond pulsar SWIFT J1756.9-2508 with a low-mass companion". Astrophysical Journal Letters 668 (2): L147–L150. arXiv:0709.1693. Bibcode 2007ApJ...668L.147K. doi:10.1086/522959. 
• Krimm, H. A.; C. B. Markwardt, C. J. Deloye, P. Romano, D. Chakrabarty, S. Campana, J. R. Cummings, D. K. Galloway, N. Gehrels, J. M. Hartman, P. Kaaret, E. H. Morgan, J. Tueller (October 2009). "ERRATUM: Discovery of the accretion-powered millisecond pulsar SWIFT J1756.9-2508 with a low-mass companion". Astrophysical Journal Letters 703 (2): L183–L183. Bibcode 2009ApJ...703L.183K. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/703/2/L183.