The implications of a companion enhanced wind on millisecond pulsar production

The most frequently seen binary companions to millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are helium white dwarfs. The standard rejuvenation mechanism, in which a low- to intermediate-mass companion to a neutron star fills its Roche lobe between central hydrogen exhaustion and core helium ignition, is the most plausible formation mechanism. We have investigated whether the observed population can realistically be formed via this mechanism. We used the Cambridge stars code to make models of Case B Roche-lobe overflow with Reimers’ mass-loss from the donor. We find that the range of initial orbital periods required to produce the currently observed range of orbital periods of MSPs is extremely narrow. To reduce this fine tuning, we introduce a companion enhanced wind (CEW) that strips the donor of its envelope more quickly so that systems can detach at shorter periods. Our models indicate that the fine tuning can be significantly reduced if a CEW is active. Because significant mass is lost owing to a CEW, we expect some binary pulsars to accrete less than the 0.1 M⊙ needed to spin them up to millisecond periods. This can account for mildly recycled pulsars present along the entire Mc–Porb relation. Systems with Pspin > 30 ms are consistent with this, but too few of these mildly recycled pulsars have yet been observed to make a significant comparison.