Study says standard supernova physics can produce record double neutron star orbit
A new paper says standard supernova physics can produce the record 0.9924 eccentricity of double neutron star PSR J0653+0443.
A paper submitted to arXiv on 27 October by Thomas M. Tauris says the extreme orbit of the double neutron star PSR J0653+0443 can be explained without exotic physics. The system has a record eccentricity of e=0.9924.
The paper shows that instantaneous mass loss (Blaauw recoil) and natal kicks readily produce eccentricities above 0.99 for both compact and wide pre-supernova orbits. The observed orbit matches three families of kinematic solutions, spanning a range of kick velocities and progenitor configurations.
Priors based on neutron star spin and pre-supernova mass transfer constrain the viable progenitor family. The paper says this shows the system is not exceptionally rare, and that future proper-motion measurements will tightly constrain its natal supernova kick magnitude.
Sourcearxiv.org