THE IDENTIFICATION OF THREE BINARY MILLISECOND PULSARS TRANSFORMING BETWEEN ACCRETING AND ROTATION-POWERED STATES HAS FINALLY CLOSED THE EVOLUTIONARY MISSING LINK BETWEEN LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARIES AND RECYCLED PULSARS. THESE DISCOVERIES IMPLY THAT THEIR PARENT POPULATION REDBACKS MAY ALSO BE RECYCLED PULSARS THAT SPORADICALLY REVERT TO/FROM A LOW LUMINOSITY ACCRETING PHASE. WE PROPOSE A CONTINUATION OF THE DEDICATED SWIFT X-RAY AND UV MONITORING CAMPAIGN OF ALL SUCH NEARBY BINARY RADIO MILLISECOND PULSARS AIMED AT CATCHING THEM IN THE ACT OF SWITCHING TO/FROM AN ACCRETING STATE. THIS EFFORT WOULD GREATLY AID IN CONSTRAINING KEY ASPECTS OF THE POORLY UNDERSTOOD TRANSITION PROCESS OF PULSARS BETWEEN ACCRETION AND ROTATION POWER.

The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York

Investigators