Relativistic spin precession in the double pulsar |
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Authors: | Breton Rene P Kaspi Victoria M Kramer Michael McLaughlin Maura A Lyutikov Maxim Ransom Scott M Stairs Ingrid H Ferdman Robert D Camilo Fernando Possenti Andrea |
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Affiliation: | Department of Physics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2T8, Canada. bretonr@physics.mcgill.ca |
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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 4.77 degrees (-0 degrees .65)(+0 degrees .66) per year (68% confidence level) is consistent with that predicted by general relativity within an uncertainty of 13%. |
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