Formation of Binary Pulsars in Globular Clusters

Abstract

Close to 70 radio pulsars have now been discovered in 23 globular clusters, with a record 22 pulsars observed in 47 Tuc alone. Accurate timing solutions, including positions in the cluster, are known for many of the pulsars. These recent observations provide a unique opportunity to re-examine theoretically the formation and evolution of recycled pulsars in globular clusters. This brief review focuses on dynamical exchange interactions between neutron stars and primordial binaries, through which neutron stars can acquire intermediate-mass binary companions. The later evolution of these intermediate-mass binaries leads naturally to the two main types of binary millisecond pulsars observed in clusters.