A Massive and Eccentric Binary Millisecond Pulsar in the Globular Cluster M10

Abstract

We present the timing solution of the millisecond pulsar PSR J1657-0406A in the globular cluster M10, based on observations performed with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The timing results show that PSR J1657-0406A is in a long-period ($P_b \sim 37$ days) and eccentric ($e \sim 0.12$) orbit. We also measured the periastron advance $\dotω = 0.00090(13)$ degrees per year, which implies a total system mass of $2.5(6)$ solar masses, assuming that general relativity accurately models the orbital motion. No optical counterpart was detected within the positional uncertainty, indicating that the companion is unlikely to be a main-sequence star. Considering possible formation channels for the orbital eccentricity, we favor a helium white dwarf companion, although a massive white dwarf or neutron star cannot be completely excluded.