Investigating cannibalistic millisecond pulsar binaries using MESA: New constraints from pulsar spin and mass evolution

¹ Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
² Departament de Física, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
³ Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H8, Canada

^⋆ Corresponding author; devina.misra@ntnu.no

Received: 28 August 2024
Accepted: 14 December 2024

Abstract

Context. Compact binary millisecond pulsars (MSPs) with orbital periods ≲1 d are key to understanding binary evolution involving massive neutron stars (NSs). Due to the ablation of the companion by the rapidly spinning pulsar, these systems are also known as spiders and categorized into two main branches: redbacks (RBs; companion mass in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 M_⊙) and black widows (BWs; companion mass ≲0.1 M_⊙).

Aims. We present models of low- and intermediate-mass X-ray binaries and compare them with observations of Galactic spiders (including the presence or absence of hydrogen lines in their optical spectra), and we constrain and quantify the interaction between the pulsar and the companion.

Methods. Using MESA, we created the allowed initial parameter space. For the first time in MESA, we also included the detailed evolution of the pulsar spin and modeled the irradiation of the companion by the pulsar wind.

Results. Efficient mass accretion onto the NS (i.e., at least 70% of the mass transferred is accreted) with an X-ray irradiated disk followed by strong irradiation of the companion can explain most of the properties of the observed spiders. Our RB evolutionary tracks continue to the BW regime, connecting the two branches of spiders. Our models explain the lack of hydrogen in some observed BWs with ultra-light companions. During accretion induced spin up, the mass required to spin up an NS to sub-milliseconds is high enough to collapse it into a black hole. Finally, after analyzing the formation of RB-like spiders with giant companions and orbital periods of several days (huntsmen), we conclude that they are unlikely to produce super-massive NSs (maximum accreted mass ≲0.5 M_⊙).

Conclusions. Cannibalistic MSP binary formation depends heavily on the interplay between accretion onto the pulsar and pulsar wind irradiation. Our work supports earlier claims that RBs evolve into BWs. We also show that the fastest spinning pulsars may collapse before reaching sub-millisecond spin periods.