Related papers: Optical Detection of Two Intermediate Mass Binary …

The near infrared (nIR)/optical counterparts of low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are often observationally dim and reside in high source density fields which make their identification problematic; however, without such a counterpart…

PSR\,J1723$-$2837 is a "redback" millisecond pulsar (MSP) with a low-mass companion in a 14.8\,h orbit. The system's properties closely resemble those of "transitional" MSPs that alternate between spin-down and accretion-powered states. In…

Context. Though only a handful of extrasolar planets have been discovered via direct imaging, each of these discoveries had tremendous impact on our understanding of planetary formation, stellar formation and cool atmosphere physics. Aims.…

We report detection of the binary companion to the millisecond pulsar J1741+1351 with the Gran Telescopio Canarias. The optical source position coincides with the pulsar coordinates and its magnitudes are g' = 24.84(5), r' = 24.38(4) and i'…

Using the SDSS and Pan-STARRS1 survey data, we found a likely companion of the recently discovered binary $\gamma$-ray radio-loud millisecond pulsar J0621+2514. Its visual brightness is about 22 mag. The broad band magnitudes and colours…

Here we report timing measurements of the relativistic binary pulsar PSR J1141-6545 that constrain the component masses and demonstrate that the orbital period derivative \dot Pb = (-4+/-1)x10^-13 is consistent with gravitational wave…

We report identification of the optical counterpart to the companion of the millisecond pulsar J2317+1439. At the timing position of the pulsar, we find an object with $g=22.96\pm0.05$, $r=22.86\pm0.04$ and $i=22.82\pm0.05$. The magnitudes…

We report the discovery of a new directly-imaged brown dwarf companion with Keck/NIRC2+pyWFS around a nearby mid-type M~dwarf LSPM~J1446+4633 (hereafter J1446). The $L'$-band contrast ($4.5\times10^{-3}$) is consistent with a $\sim20-60\…

There remain several definitive gamma-ray pulsars that are as yet undetected in the optical regime. A classic case is the pulsar PSR B1951+32, associated with the complex CTB 80 SNR. Previous ground based high speed 2-d optical studies have…

We study accretion in binaries hosting an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH) of 1000 solar masses, and a donor star more massive than 15 solar masses. These systems experience an active X-ray phase characterized by luminosities varying…

We present five recycled pulsars discovered during a 21-cm survey of approximately 4,150 deg^2 between 15 deg and 30 deg from the galactic plane using the Parkes radio telescope. One new pulsar, PSR J1528-3146, has a 61 ms spin period and a…

We present high time resolution SDSS-$g'$ and SDSS-$z'$ light curves of the primary eclipse in SDSS J141126.20+200911.1, together with time-resolved X-Shooter spectroscopy and near-infrared $JHK_{s}$ photometry. Our observations confirm the…

The masses of compact objects like white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes are fundamental to astrophysics, but very difficult to measure. We present the results of an analysis of subluminous B (sdB) stars in close binary systems with…

According to the recycling scenario, millisecond pulsars (MSPs) have evolved from low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). Their orbits are expected to be circular due to tidal interactions during the binary evolution, as observed in most of the…

The masses of compact objects like white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes are fundamental to astrophysics, but very difficult to measure. We present the results of an analysis of subluminous B (sdB) stars in close binary systems with…

We present phase-resolved spectroscopy of two new short period low accretion rate magnetic binaries, SDSSJ125044.42+154957.3 (Porb = 86 min) and SDSSJ151415.65+074446.5 (Porb = 89 min). Both systems were previously identified as magnetic…

It has been suggested that accretion-induced collapse (AIC) is a non-negligible path for the formation of the observed neutron stars (NSs). An ONe white dwarf (WD) that accretes material from a He star may experience AIC process and…

We study the evolution of close binary systems in order to account for the existence of the recently observed binary system containing the most massive millisecond pulsar ever detected, PSR J0740+6620, and its ultra-cool helium white dwarf…

PSR J1306--40 is a millisecond pulsar binary with a non-degenerate companion in an unusually long $\sim$1.097 day orbit. We present new optical photometry and spectroscopy of this system, and model these data to constrain fundamental…

We present 11 candidate late-type companions to nearby stars identified with data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS). Eight of the candidates are likely to be companions based on…