Relativistic spin precession in the double pulsar

Rene P. Breton; Victoria M. Kaspi; Michael Kramer; Maura A. McLaughlin; Maxim Lyutikov; Scott M. Ransom; Ingrid H. Stairs; Robert D. Ferdman; Fernando Camilo; Andrea Possenti

doi:10.1126/science.1159295

Relativistic spin precession in the double pulsar

Rene P. Breton, Victoria M. Kaspi, Michael Kramer, Maura A. McLaughlin, Maxim Lyutikov, Scott M. Ransom, Ingrid H. Stairs, Robert D. Ferdman, Fernando Camilo, Andrea Possenti

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

148 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The double pulsar PSR J0737–3039A/B consists of two neutron stars in a highly relativistic orbit that displays a roughly 30-second eclipse when pulsar A passes behind pulsar B. Describing this eclipse of pulsar A as due to absorption occurring in the magnetosphere of pulsar B, we successfully used a simple geometric model to characterize the observed changing eclipse morphology and to measure the relativistic precession of pulsar B's spin axis around the total orbital angular momentum. This provides a test of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity in the strong-field regime. Our measured relativistic spin precession rate of Embedded Image per year (68% confidence level) is consistent with that predicted by general relativity within an uncertainty of 13%.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	104-107
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	321
Issue number	5885
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1159295
Publication status	Published - 4 Jul 2008
Externally published	Yes

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10.1126/science.1159295

Cite this

@article{b895d32471ba41ed8af49443ccd04e65,

title = "Relativistic spin precession in the double pulsar",

abstract = "The double pulsar PSR J0737–3039A/B consists of two neutron stars in a highly relativistic orbit that displays a roughly 30-second eclipse when pulsar A passes behind pulsar B. Describing this eclipse of pulsar A as due to absorption occurring in the magnetosphere of pulsar B, we successfully used a simple geometric model to characterize the observed changing eclipse morphology and to measure the relativistic precession of pulsar B's spin axis around the total orbital angular momentum. This provides a test of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity in the strong-field regime. Our measured relativistic spin precession rate of Embedded Image per year (68% confidence level) is consistent with that predicted by general relativity within an uncertainty of 13%.",

author = "Breton, {Rene P.} and Kaspi, {Victoria M.} and Michael Kramer and McLaughlin, {Maura A.} and Maxim Lyutikov and Ransom, {Scott M.} and Stairs, {Ingrid H.} and Ferdman, {Robert D.} and Fernando Camilo and Andrea Possenti",

year = "2008",

month = jul,

day = "4",

doi = "10.1126/science.1159295",

language = "English",

volume = "321",

pages = "104--107",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "5885",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Relativistic spin precession in the double pulsar

AU - Breton, Rene P.

AU - Kaspi, Victoria M.

AU - Kramer, Michael

AU - McLaughlin, Maura A.

AU - Lyutikov, Maxim

AU - Ransom, Scott M.

AU - Stairs, Ingrid H.

AU - Ferdman, Robert D.

AU - Camilo, Fernando

AU - Possenti, Andrea

PY - 2008/7/4

Y1 - 2008/7/4

N2 - The double pulsar PSR J0737–3039A/B consists of two neutron stars in a highly relativistic orbit that displays a roughly 30-second eclipse when pulsar A passes behind pulsar B. Describing this eclipse of pulsar A as due to absorption occurring in the magnetosphere of pulsar B, we successfully used a simple geometric model to characterize the observed changing eclipse morphology and to measure the relativistic precession of pulsar B's spin axis around the total orbital angular momentum. This provides a test of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity in the strong-field regime. Our measured relativistic spin precession rate of Embedded Image per year (68% confidence level) is consistent with that predicted by general relativity within an uncertainty of 13%.

AB - The double pulsar PSR J0737–3039A/B consists of two neutron stars in a highly relativistic orbit that displays a roughly 30-second eclipse when pulsar A passes behind pulsar B. Describing this eclipse of pulsar A as due to absorption occurring in the magnetosphere of pulsar B, we successfully used a simple geometric model to characterize the observed changing eclipse morphology and to measure the relativistic precession of pulsar B's spin axis around the total orbital angular momentum. This provides a test of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity in the strong-field regime. Our measured relativistic spin precession rate of Embedded Image per year (68% confidence level) is consistent with that predicted by general relativity within an uncertainty of 13%.

U2 - 10.1126/science.1159295

DO - 10.1126/science.1159295

M3 - Article

VL - 321

SP - 104

EP - 107

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 5885

ER -