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Main Authors: Yu, Wen-Jie, Zhou, Lu, You, Zhi-Qiang, Ding, Hao, Li, Lu, Wang, Long, Zhu, Xing-Jiang
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.14145
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author Yu, Wen-Jie
Zhou, Lu
You, Zhi-Qiang
Ding, Hao
Li, Lu
Wang, Long
Zhu, Xing-Jiang
author_facet Yu, Wen-Jie
Zhou, Lu
You, Zhi-Qiang
Ding, Hao
Li, Lu
Wang, Long
Zhu, Xing-Jiang
contents We investigate the potential birthplace of Galactic binary neutron star (BNS) systems through a kinematic analysis. Using high-precision astrometry from Gaia DR3, updated pulsar distances, and Monte Carlo sampling of astrometric errors, we integrate the past trajectories of 11 Galactic BNSs and 167 globular clusters plus 2967 open clusters, to search for past encounters. Our results suggest that BNS origin in globular clusters is unlikely, with low encounter probabilities (e.g., $\lesssim 0.5\%$ for NGC 5139) and requiring excessive ejection velocities. Conversely, our analysis indicates that open clusters are a non-negligible formation channel. Specifically, the double pulsar J0737$-$3039 shows a $13.9\%$ ($5.4\%$) probability of originating from the young cluster OC 0450 (Theia 58). Based on encounter proximity and time, we argue that Theia 58 is its more plausible birthplace. Our work provides kinematic evidence consistent with an open-cluster origin for a subset of field BNSs.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_14145
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Kinematic Evidence for Open Cluster Origins of Galactic Binary Neutron Stars
Yu, Wen-Jie
Zhou, Lu
You, Zhi-Qiang
Ding, Hao
Li, Lu
Wang, Long
Zhu, Xing-Jiang
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
We investigate the potential birthplace of Galactic binary neutron star (BNS) systems through a kinematic analysis. Using high-precision astrometry from Gaia DR3, updated pulsar distances, and Monte Carlo sampling of astrometric errors, we integrate the past trajectories of 11 Galactic BNSs and 167 globular clusters plus 2967 open clusters, to search for past encounters. Our results suggest that BNS origin in globular clusters is unlikely, with low encounter probabilities (e.g., $\lesssim 0.5\%$ for NGC 5139) and requiring excessive ejection velocities. Conversely, our analysis indicates that open clusters are a non-negligible formation channel. Specifically, the double pulsar J0737$-$3039 shows a $13.9\%$ ($5.4\%$) probability of originating from the young cluster OC 0450 (Theia 58). Based on encounter proximity and time, we argue that Theia 58 is its more plausible birthplace. Our work provides kinematic evidence consistent with an open-cluster origin for a subset of field BNSs.
title Kinematic Evidence for Open Cluster Origins of Galactic Binary Neutron Stars
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.14145