The Kick Velocities of Neutron Stars in Binary Systems

Neutron stars (NSs) receive natal kicks on their formation in supernovae (SNe). We consider constraints placed on the natal kick magnitudes by NSs in different classes of binary systems. We compare observed systems to predictions from the COMPAS rapid population synthesis code, where we apply kick models with varied natal kick prescriptions. Specifically, we compare binary orbits (i.e., periods and eccentricities) and systemic kick estimates of (1) Gaia observations of NS-harboring binaries (Gaia NSs), (2) NS low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), (3) NS-white dwarf binaries (NSWDs), (4) NS high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) and in particular Be X-ray binaries (BeXBs), and (5) double NSs (DNSs). In this comparison, we find that we can reproduce most of the observed properties of the Gaia NSs, LMXBs, and NSWDs with natal kicks calibrated to the velocities of young isolated pulsars, although we need a small amount of "rocket" kicks to explain the Gaia NS eccentricities. The HMXBs and DNSs, in contrast, show evidence of significantly reduced NS natal kicks. In particular, we find that an apparent correlation between eccentricity and systemic kick for DNSs can be explained by Blaauw kicks, if the natal kicks are 10 km s-1. Although our model does not align well with low-metallicity Gaia NSs, high-eccentricity BeXBs, and DNS mass estimates, we provide alternative hypothetical explanations for these systems. We conclude that a model in which NSs that are formed in binaries with high-mass companions receive significantly reduced natal kicks can provide a relatively consistent explanation for the observed NSs in binary systems.