Abstract
We report the discovery of a 110-ms pulsar, PSR2127 +11, in the globular cluster M15 (NGC7078)1. The results of nine months of timing measurements place the new pulsar about 2″ from the centre of the cluster, and indicate that it is not a member of a close binary system. The measured negative value of the period derivative, Ṗ≈ –2 x 10−17 s s−1, is probably the result of the pulsar being bodily accelerated in our direction by the gravitational field of the collapsed core of M15. This apparently overwhelms a positive contribution to Ṗ due to magnetic braking. Although PSR2127 + 11 has an unexpectedly long period, we argue that it belongs to the class of 'recycled' pulsars, which have been spun up by accretion in a binary system. The subsequent loss of the pulsar's companion is probably due to disruption of the system by close encounters with other stars2,3.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wolszczan, A., Middleditch, J., Kulkarni, S. R., Backer, D. C. & Fruchter, A. S. IAU Telegram No. 4552 (1988).
Romani, R. W., Kulkarni, S. R. & Blandford, R. D. Nature 329, 309–310 (1987).
Verbunt, F., van den Heuvel, E. P. J., van Paradijs, J. & Rappaport, S. A. Nature 329, 312–314 (1987).
Lyne, A. G., Brinklow, A., Middleditch, J., Kulkarni, S. R., Backer, D. C. & Clifton, T. R. Nature 328, 399–401 (1987).
Lyne, A. G., Biggs, J. D., Brinklow, A., Ashworth, M. & McKenna, J. Nature 332, 45–47 (1988).
Shawl, S. J. & White, R. F. Astr. J. 91, 312–316 (1986).
Lyne, A. G., Manchester, R. N. & Taylor, J. H. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 213, 613–639 (1985).
Auriere, M., Geffert, M. & Koch-Miramond, L. IAU Telegram No. 4559 (1988).
Blandford, R. D., Romani, R. W. & Applegate, J. H. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 225, 51P–53P (1987).
Peterson, C. J. & King, I. R. Astr. J. 80, 427–437 (1975).
Webbink, R. F. in IAU Symp. 113 (eds Goodman, J. & Hut, P.) 541–577 (Reidel, Boston, 1985).
Blandford, R. D., Narayan, R. & Romani, R. W. J. Astrophys. Astr. 5, 369–388 (1984).
Alpar, M. A., Cheng, A. R., Ruderman, M. A. & Shaham, J. Nature 300, 728–731 (1982).
Kulkarni, S. R. Astrophys. J. 306, L85–L89 (1986).
Van den Heuvel, E. P. J. & van Paradijs, J. A. Nature 322, 153–155 (1986).
Manchester, R. N. & Taylor, J. H. Pulsars (Freeman, San Francisco, 1977).
Foster, R. S., Backer, D. C., Taylor, J. H. & Goss, W. M. Astrophys. J. 326, L13–L15 (1988).
Verbunt, F. & Rappaport, S. A. Astrophys. J. 332, 193–198 (1988).
Phinney, E. S., Evans, C. R., Blandford, R. D. & Kulkarni, S. R. Nature 333, 832–834 (1988).
Kluźniak, W., Ruderman, M. A., Shaham, J. & Tavani, M. Nature 334, 225–227 (1988).
Van den Heuvel, E. P. J. & van Paradijs, J. A. Nature 334, 227–228 (1988).
Fruchter, A. S., Stinebring, D. R. & Taylor, J. H. Nature 333, 237–239 (1988).
White, N. E. & Stella, L. Nature 332, 416–418 (1988).
Dewey, R. J. thesis, Princeton University (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wolszczan, A., Kulkarni, S., Middleditch, J. et al. A 110-ms pulsar, with negative period derivative, in the globular cluster M15. Nature 337, 531–533 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/337531a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/337531a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
A discovery of two slow pulsars with FAST: “Ronin” from the globular cluster M15
Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy (2024)
-
Earth-based gravitational wave detection from pulsars
General Relativity and Gravitation (1996)
-
Gravitational action of binaries on pulsar timing in globular clusters
Astrophysics and Space Science (1993)
-
The distinctive feature of relativistic stellar systems
Astrophysics and Space Science (1992)