Are many pulsars processed in binary systems?

Abstract

A detailed statistical analysis of pulsar current is presented. The conclusions reached are the following: (1) The birthrate of pulsars is about one in 75 ± 15 years. (2) There is evidence for injection of pulsars into the population of solitary pulsars. Such an injection is particularly pronounced in the magnetic field range 12 < log B < 12.6. (3) This is interpreted as due to recycled pulsars being released into the population. (4) We tentatively conclude that as much as 10-15% of all pulsars may have been born and processed in binary systems.