Spin dynamics of a millisecond pulsar orbiting closely around a massive black hole

Understand

We investigate the spin dynamics of a millisecond pulsar (MSP) in a tightly bounded orbit around a massive black hole.

• These binaries are progenitors of the extreme-mass-ratio-inspirals (EMRIs) and intermediate-mass-ratio-inspirals (IMRIs) gravitational wave events.
• The Mathisson-Papapetrou-Dixon (MPD) formulation is used to determine the orbital motion and spin modulation and evolution.
• We show that the MSP will not be confined in a planar Keplerian orbit and its spin will exhibit precession and nutation induced by spin-orbit coupling and spin-curvature interaction.