Evidence for geodetic spin precession in the binary pulsar 1913 + 16

Journal Article · Thu Nov 30 19:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168193· OSTI ID:7193974

Weisberg, J M; Romani, R W; Taylor, J H ^[1]

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1. Carleton College, Northfield, MN (USA) California Univ., Berkeley (USA) Princeton Univ., NJ (USA)

Six years of careful observations have revealed a gradual secular evolution in the pulse profile of binary pulsar PSR 1913 + 16. At frequencies near 1400 MHz, the flux density in the first component of the double-peaked profile is decreasing relative to the second component at a rate slightly greater than 1 percent per year. The changes are consistent with the expected rate of general relativistic geodetic precession of the pulsar spin axis. In addition to its relativistic implications, the precessional motion is providing unique two-dimensional information on the structure of the pulsar emission zone. 31 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7193974
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 347; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
BINARY STARS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
FIELD THEORIES
FLUX DENSITY
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
MASS
NEUTRON STARS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PRECESSION
PULSARS
PULSES
RELATIVITY THEORY
SPIN
STARS
STELLAR RADIATION