Speaker
Description
Compact binary millisecond pulsars, commonly known as "spiders", are fast‑spinning neutron stars locked in tight orbits that gradually strip their low‑mass companions. These extreme systems are powerful probes of pulsar evolution and key to measuring the most massive neutron stars, providing vital constraints on the physics of ultra‑dense matter. The surge in discoveries since the launch of the Fermi Large Area Telescope has transformed the field and created a pressing need for a unified resource.
In this talk, I introduce SpiderCat, a comprehensive catalogue of all known Galactic field spider pulsars currently comprising 122 systems: 32 redbacks, 52 black widows, 2 huntsmans and 36 candidates. SpiderCat brings together multi‑wavelength data from radio to gamma rays in an interactive web platform that enables visualization, comparison, and population‑level analysis. I will demonstrate its key features and highlight emerging trends that illuminate how these fascinating binaries form, evolve, and test the limits of neutron star physics.