Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jan 1991
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991a%26a...241..137h&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 241, no. 1, Jan. 1991, p. 137-141.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
45
Globular Clusters, Neutron Stars, Star Formation, X Ray Binaries, Abundance, Radio Stars, Red Giant Stars, Stellar Mass, Stellar Mass Accretion, Stellar Orbits
Scientific paper
The lifetime of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) is estimated, based on a theoretical formation rate in globular clusters together with the observed current abundance. It is argued that the formation rate may be more efficient than previously estimated, by an order of magnitude or more. Two arguments lead in this direction: (1) using a weighted average of globular cluster escape velocities, a higher fraction of neutron stars is found, about 0.3, being retained in globular clusters; (2) using recent, higher estimates of the number of primordial binaries in globular clusters, an efficient capture of a large fraction of neutron stars through exchange reactions is found. It is concluded that LMXBs may have a typical lifetime of 10 to the 8th yr or less. Such a short lifetime could explain the large number of millisecond radio pulsars, both in the Galaxy as well as in globular clusters, and would not contradict the standard scenario of LMXBs producing millisecond pulsars. In addition, the arguments naturally lead to relatively long orbital periods and young ages for millisecond pulsars in globular clusters, both of which are in agreement with observations.
Hut Piet
Murphy Brian William
Verbunt Frank
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