Binary pulsars as probes of neutron star birth

We discuss two issues in the physics of neutron stars and their progenitors. The first is whether a neutron star receives a velocity kick when it is formed in the supernova-explosion of a massive star, and if it does, what is the characteristic magnitude, v(0), thereof? The second concerns the fate of close massive binaries that consist of a helium star and a companion with a mass of order a solar mass. Whether the helium star explodes as a supernova, leaving a neutron star, or alternatively becomes a white dwarf, depends on its mass. The issue is which mass, m, of the helium star divides the two cases. We conclude that even though there are only four known 1913+16-type binary pulsars, the kick's magnitude can be constrained to some extent: v(0) is less than 400 km/. m alone cannot be constrained well, but a line can be drawn in the (m, v(0))-plane that separates the acceptable pairs of values from the unacceptable ones. We also suggest how more stringent, but also more model-dependent, constraints may be found by combining our method with results of other studies.