Constraints on an optical counterpart for the long-period radio transient GPM J1839−10

ABSTRACT Long-period radio transients (LPTs) are periodic radio sources showing pulsed emission on time-scales from minutes to hours. The underlying sources behind this emission are currently unclear. There are two leading candidates: neutron stars or white dwarfs. Neutron stars could emit at LPT time-scales as magnetars, binaries, or precessing sources. White dwarfs on the other hand have only been observed to emit in radio as binary systems with companions that provide charged particles through their wind. A key distinction is that an optical counterpart is much more likely in the white dwarf scenario. GPM J1839$-$10 is an LPT with a radio period of 21 min for which the white dwarf scenario has been favoured, but no optical counterpart is confirmed. Using HiPERCAM, a high-speed multicolour photometer that observes simultaneously in $u_sg_sr_si_sz_s$ filters, we probe the existence of a white dwarf in GPM J1839$-$10. We do not directly detect a white dwarf, but cannot rule out its presence given the uncertain distance and reddening of GPM J1839$-$10. On the other hand, we find evidence in our data for periodic behaviour in harmonics of the radio period, as expected from the white dwarf scenario.

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Publication Details

Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters
Published
2025-09-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slaf101
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.62
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article

Constraints on an optical counterpart for the long-period radio transient GPM J1839−10

S. P. Littlefair, James Munday, J. McCormac, Noel Castro Segura et al.
4 citations
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
4.62
article

Constraints on an optical counterpart for the long-period radio transient GPM J1839−10

S. P. Littlefair, James Munday, J. McCormac, Noel Castro Segura, Mark R Kennedy, Deborah Jarvis, D. I. Sahman, Ingrid Pelisoli, V. S. Dhillon, Martin J. Dyer, S. G. Parsons, Matthew Green, J. A. Garbutt, P. Kerry, Alex Brown, Alan Yates, E. R. Pike
article en
4 citations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Long-period radio transients (LPTs) are periodic radio sources showing pulsed emission on time-scales from minutes to hours. The underlying sources behind this emission are currently unclear. There are two leading candidates: neutron stars or white dwarfs. Neutron stars could emit at LPT time-scales as magnetars, binaries, or precessing sources. White dwarfs on the other hand have only been observed to emit in radio as binary systems with companions that provide charged particles through their wind. A key distinction is that an optical counterpart is much more likely in the white dwarf scenario. GPM J1839$-$10 is an LPT with a radio period of 21 min for which the white dwarf scenario has been favoured, but no optical counterpart is confirmed. Using HiPERCAM, a high-speed multicolour photometer that observes simultaneously in $u_sg_sr_si_sz_s$ filters, we probe the existence of a white dwarf in GPM J1839$-$10. We do not directly detect a white dwarf, but cannot rule out its presence given the uncertain distance and reddening of GPM J1839$-$10. On the other hand, we find evidence in our data for periodic behaviour in harmonics of the radio period, as expected from the white dwarf scenario.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society LettersVol. 544(1)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (US), Universität Hamburg (DE), University College Cork (IE), University of Warwick (GB), Physical Sciences (United States) (US), Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES), University of Oklahoma (US), University of Sheffield (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
4.62
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