A targeted search for binary white dwarf pulsars using Gaia and WISE

TL;DR

This study conducted a targeted search using Gaia and WISE data to find binary white dwarf pulsars similar to AR Sco, identifying one new pulsar and characterizing other candidates, thereby advancing understanding of such systems.

Contribution

The paper presents the first systematic search for binary white dwarf pulsars using Gaia and WISE, leading to the discovery of a new pulsar and detailed characterization of candidate systems.

Findings

Identified 56 candidate systems similar to AR Sco.

Discovered one new binary white dwarf pulsar, J191213.72-441045.1.

Most candidates are young stellar objects or cataclysmic variables.

Abstract

After its discovery in 2016, the white dwarf binary AR Scorpii (AR Sco) remained for several years the only white dwarf system to show pulsed radio emission associated with a fast-spinning white dwarf. The evolutionary origin and the emission mechanism for AR Sco are not completely understood, with different models proposed. Testing and improving these models requires observational input. Here we report the results of a targeted search for other binary white dwarf pulsars like AR Sco. Using data from Gaia and WISE, we identified 56 candidate systems with similar properties to AR Sco, of which 26 were previously uncharacterised. These were subject to spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations. Aside from one new binary white dwarf pulsar found, J191213.72-441045.1, which was reported in a separate work, we find no other systems whose characteristics are akin to AR Sco. The newly characterised systems are primarily young stellar objects (with 10 found) or cataclysmic variables (7 identifications), with the remaining being either blended or non-variable on short timescales.