Related papers: Multiband Optical Light Curves of Black-Widow Puls…
X-ray emission is generally believed to be one of the major heating sources for the optical modulation in redback pulsar binaries as we have seen similar phenomena in many low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). While, e.g., MeV/GeV gamma-rays…
We report on multi-band photometric observations of four binary millisecond pulsars with the Gran Telescopio Canarias. The observations led to detection of binary companions to PSRs J1630+3734, J1741+1351 and J2042+0246 in the Sloan g', r'…
Pulsars with compact companions in close eccentric orbits are unique laboratories for testing general relativity and alternative theories of gravity. Moreover, they are excellent targets for future gravitational wave experiments like LISA…
We present optical and near-infrared observations with Keck of the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J0751+1807. We detect a faint, red object - with R=25.08+-0.07, B-R=2.5+-0.3, and R-I=0.90+-0.10 - at the celestial position of the pulsar and…
We report on a series of spectroscopic observations of PSR J1311-3430, an extreme black-widow gamma-ray pulsar with a helium-star companion. In a previous study we estimated the neutron star mass as M_NS= 2.68+/-0.14M_Sun (statistical…
Redback millisecond pulsars (MSPs) typically show pronounced orbital variability in their X-ray emission due to our changing view of the intrabinary shock (IBS) between the pulsar wind and stellar wind from the companion. Some redbacks…
We have identified an optical/X-ray binary with orbital period P_b=5.47h as the likely counterpart of the Fermi source 2FGL J2039.6-5620. GROND, SOAR and DES observations provide an accurate orbital period and allow us to compare with the…
We present time-resolved optical photometry of the binary millisecond `redback' pulsar PSR J1023+0038 (=AY Sex) during its low-mass X-ray binary phase. The light curves taken between 2014 January and April show an underlying sinusoidal…
We have performed a Keck adaptive optics (AO) imaging survey of 25 extrasolar planetary systems discovered by the radial velocity programs. Typically, the high-resolution (FWHM~0.04") near-infrared images are able to detect point sources at…
Extreme mass-ratio contact binaries with a high degree of overcontact may be in the late evolutionary stages of the contact phase. Detailed photometric analyses and orbital period studies of those systems can provide invaluable information…
Some M-dwarfs around F-/G-type stars have been measured to be hotter and larger than predicted by stellar evolution models. Inconsistencies between observations and models need addressing with more mass, radius and luminosity measurements…
We present a method to select hot subdwarf stars with A to M-type companions using photometric selection criteria. We cover a wide range in wavelength by combining GALEX ultraviolet data, optical photometry from the SDSS and the Carlsberg…
Be/$\gamma$-ray binaries comprise a confirmed or presumptive pulsar orbiting a Be star and emit luminous $\gamma$-rays. Non-thermal emissions are thought to arise from synchrotron radiation and inverse-Compton (IC) scattering in the shock…
Context. Two millisecond pulsars, PSR J1513$-$2550 and PSR J2017$-$1614, with spin periods of about 2.1 and 2.3 ms were recently discovered in the radio and $\gamma$-rays and classified as black widow pulsars in tight binary stellar systems…
White dwarf main-sequence (WDMS) binaries provide important laboratories for studying binary evolution and the formation of low-mass white dwarfs. In this work, we identify 654 reliable WDMS candidates with FGK-type companions from an…
We consider the X-ray properties of the redback class of eclipsing millisecond pulsars. These are transitional systems between accreting low-mass X-ray binaries and binary millisecond pulsars orbiting white dwarfs, and hence their…
We present UV, optical, and NIR photometry of the first electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational wave source from Advanced LIGO/Virgo, the binary neutron star merger GW170817. Our data set extends from the discovery of the optical…
The light curves and spectral properties of more than 200 $\gamma$-ray pulsars have been measured in unsurpassed detail in the eight years since the launch of the hugely successful Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) $\gamma$-ray mission. We…
An interesting new high-energy pulsar sub-population is emerging following early discoveries of gamma-ray millisecond pulsars (MSPs) by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). We present results from 3D emission modeling, including the…
The Transients and Pulsars with MeerKAT (TRAPUM) project discovered eight binary millisecond pulsars in its first shallow \textit{L}-band survey of unidentified \textit{Fermi} $\gamma$-ray sources using the MeerKAT radio telescope. We…