Optical spectral observations of three binary millisecond pulsars

Abstract

We present the results of optical spectroscopy of stellar companions to three binary millisecond pulsars, PSRs J0621$+$2514, J2317$+$1439 and J2302$+$4442, obtained with the Gran Telescopio Canarias. The spectrum of the J0621$+$2514 companion shows a blue continuum and prominent Balmer absorption lines. The latter are also resolved in the spectrum of the J2317$+$1439 companion, showing that both are DA-type white dwarfs. No spectral features are detected for the J2302$+$4442 companion, however, its broadband magnitudes and the spectral shape of the continuum emission imply that this is also a DA-type white dwarf. Based on the spectral analyses, we conclude that the companions of J0621$+$2514 and J2317$+$1439 are relatively hot, with effective temperatures $T_{\rm eff}$$=$8600$\pm$200 and 9600$\pm$2000~K, respectively, while the J2302$+$4442 companion is significantly cooler, $T_{\rm eff}$$<$6000~K. We also estimated the distance to J0621$+$2514 of 1.1$\pm$0.3 kpc and argue that its companion and the companion of J2317$+$1439 are He-core white dwarfs providing constraints on their cooling ages of $\lesssim$2 Gyr.