Arecibo Measurements of Pulsar--White Dwarf Binaries: Evidence for Heavy Neutron Stars

TL;DR

This paper reports on pulsar timing observations at Arecibo, indicating that neutron stars in pulsar-white dwarf binaries tend to have masses exceeding the typical 1.35 solar masses, suggesting heavier neutron stars than previously thought.

Contribution

It provides new observational evidence for higher neutron star masses in pulsar-white dwarf binaries, challenging previous assumptions about their typical mass.

Findings

Pulsar masses are generally larger than 1.35 solar masses.

Timing observations support the existence of heavy neutron stars.

Evidence suggests neutron star masses may be significantly above canonical values.

Abstract

We summarize constraints on neutron star masses from ongoing timing observations of pulsar-white dwarf binaries at Arecibo. The trend is toward pulsar masses larger than the canonical value of 1.35 solar masses.