Discovery of a pulsar in a binary system

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (1331) References (4) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Discovery of a pulsar in a binary system. Hulse, R. A. ; Taylor, J. H. Abstract We have detected a pulsar with a pulsation period that varies systematically between 0.058967 and 0.059045 sec over a cycle of 0.3230 d. Approximately 200 independent observations over 5-minute intervals have yielded a well-sampled velocity curve which implies a binary orbit with projected semimajor axis sin i = 1.0 solar radius, eccentricity e = 0.615, and mass function f(m) = 0.13 solar mass. No eclipses are observed. We infer that the unseen companion is a compact object with mass comparable to that of the pulsar. In addition to the obvious potential for determining the masses of the pulsar and its companion, this discovery makes feasible a number of studies involving the physics of compact objects, the astrophysics of close binary systems, and special- and general-relativistic effects. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: January 1975 DOI: 10.1086/181708 Bibcode: 1975ApJ...195L..51H Keywords: Binary Stars; Orbital Elements; Pulsars; Relativistic Effects; Black Holes (Astronomy); Companion Stars; Eccentric Orbits; Mass Ratios; Neutron Stars; Radial Velocity; Velocity Distribution; Astronomy full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (1)