The pulsar content of globular clusters

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 356; no. 1; pp. 174 - 183
• Main Authors: Kulkarni, Shrinivas R., Narayan, Ramesh, Romani, Roger W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press 10.06.1990
• Subjects: Astronomy; BINARY STARS; CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; COSMIC RADIO SOURCES; COSMIC RAY SOURCES; COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES; DETECTION; DWARF STARS; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; GALAXIES; Late stages of stellar evolution (including black holes); LUMINOSITY; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MILKY WAY; MOTION; Neutron stars; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; POPULATIONS; PULSARS; ROTATION; STAR CLUSTERS; STAR EVOLUTION; STAR MODELS; Stars; STARS 640102 > Astrophysics & Cosmology > Stars & Quasi-Stellar, Radio & X-Ray Sources; WHITE DWARF STARS; Neutron star; VLA observation; Binary X ray source; Globular cluster; Data table; Radiopulsar; X ray binary; Stellar evolution; Radio interferometric observation; Radio observation; Enumeration(counting)
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/168828

Recent surveys of Galactic globular clusters have been very effective at discovering radio pulsars. By a careful analysis of selection effects in the various surveys, and after estimating the relative efficiency of pulsar production in the individual clusters, a census of the cluster population of pulsars is obtained. It is found that there are about 10,000 pulsars in the Galactic globular clusters, subject to uncertainties in pulsar beaming and binarity. Such a large population poses severe problems for the standard model of pulsar production in clusters, unless the uncertain factors due to beaming and binary are pushed to values inconsistent with the present expectations. This suggests the need for a substantial modification of the standard model, either by including accretion-induced collapse of massive white dwarfs or by increasing the retention of primordial neutron stars in the clusters. 55 refs.