Resolve pulsar wind outflow velocity uncertainties in spider pulsars

Determine precise pulsar wind outflow velocities in black widow and redback millisecond pulsar binaries, and assess whether these velocities consistently exceed the binary escape velocity required to eject mass and produce net thrust in the spider stellar engine scenario.

Background

The feasibility of the spider stellar engine requires outflows to surpass the system’s escape velocity. Reported wind velocities vary widely across systems and measurements, spanning hundreds to thousands of km/s.

The authors emphasize that despite many estimates exceeding escape velocity, uncertainties remain, necessitating improved measurement and modeling to confirm the conditions for effective thrust.