An evolutionary model for the gamma-ray system PSR J1311-3430 and its companion

TL;DR

This paper models the evolution of the gamma-ray millisecond pulsar PSR J1311-3430 and its companion, revealing how initial conditions and mass transfer shape its unique properties and high final pulsar mass.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed evolutionary model for PSR J1311-3430, incorporating mass transfer and evaporation, to explain its observed features and history.

Findings

Restricted initial period range for given donor mass.

Evolutionary path leads to high final pulsar mass.

Explains low hydrogen content and orbital characteristics.

Abstract

The most recent member of the millisecond pulsar with very low-mass companions and short orbital periods class, PSR J1311-3430 (Pletsch et al. 2012) is a remarkable object in various senses. Besides being the first discovered in gamma-rays, its measured features include the very low or absent hydrogen content. We show in this Letter that this important piece of information leads to a very restricted range of initial periods for a given donor mass. For that purpose, we calculate in detail the evolution of the binary system self-consistently, including mass transfer and evaporation, finding the features of the new evolutionary path leading to the observed configuration. It is also important to remark that the detailed evolutionary history of the system naturally leads to a high final pulsar mass, as it seems to be demanded by observations.