Equilibrium spin pulsars unite neutron star populations

Understand

Many pulsars are formed with a binary companion from which they can accrete matter.

• Torque exerted by accreting matter can cause the pulsar spin to increase or decrease, and over long times, an equilibrium spin rate is achieved.
• Application of accretion theory to these systems provides a probe of the pulsar magnetic field.
• We compare the large number of recent torque measurements of accreting pulsars with a high-mass companion to the standard model for how accretion affects the pulsar spin period.