Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope Research Articles

Deep extragalactic H i survey of the COSMOS field with FAST

Abstract We present a deep H i survey at L-band conducted with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) over the COSMOS field. This survey is strategically designed to overlap with the MIGHTEE COSMOS field, aiming to combine the sensitivity of the FAST and high-resolution of the MeerKAT. We observed the field with FAST for 11 hours covering ∼2 square degrees, and reduced the raw data to H i spectral cubes over the frequency range 1310-1420 MHz. The FAST-H i data reach a median 3σ column density of NHI ∼ 2 × 1017 cm−2 over a ∼5 km s−1 channel width, allowing for studies of the distribution of H i gas in various environments, such as in galaxies, the Circum-Galactic Medium (CGM) and Intergalactic Medium (IGM). We visually searched the spectral cubes for H i sources, and found a total of 80 H i detections, of which 56 have been cross-matched with the MIGHTEE-H i catalogue. With the cross-matched sources, we compare their H i masses and find that the total H i mass fraction in the IGM and CGM surrounding the galaxy pairs is statistically higher than the H i fraction surrounding the isolated galaxies by a difference of ∼13 ± 4%, indicating that the CGM and IGM associated with interacting systems are richer in neutral hydrogen compared to those around isolated galaxies in the local Universe. We also describe several FAST-MeerKAT synergy projects, highlighting the full potential of exploiting both single-dish and interferometric observations to study the distribution and evolution of the diffuse H i gas.

FAST Detection of OH Emission in the Carbon-rich Planetary Nebula NGC 7027

We present the first detection of the ground-state OH emission line at 1612 MHz toward the prototypical carbon-rich planetary nebula (PN) NGC 7027, utilizing the newly installed ultrawideband (UWB) receiver of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). This emission is likely to originate from the interface of the neutral shell and the ionized region. The other three ground-state OH lines at 1665, 1667, and 1721 MHz are observed in absorption and have velocities well matched with that of HCO+ absorption. We infer that the OH absorption is from the outer shell of NGC 7027, although the possibility that they are associated with a foreground cloud cannot be completely ruled out. All the OH lines exhibit a single blueshifted component with respect to the central star. The formation of OH in carbon-rich environments might be via photodissociation-induced chemical processes. Our observations offer significant constraints for chemical simulations, and they underscore the potent capability of the UWB receiver of FAST to search for nascent PNe.

HiFAST: An H i Data Calibration and Imaging Pipeline for FAST. II. Flux Density Calibration

Accurate flux density calibration is essential for precise analysis and interpretation of observations across different observation modes and instruments. In this research, we first introduce the flux calibration model that incorporated in HiFAST pipeline, and designed for processing H i 21 cm spectra. Furthermore, we investigate different calibration techniques and assess the dependence of the gain parameter on the time and environmental factors. A comparison is carried out in various observation modes (e.g., tracking and scanning modes) to determine the flux density gain (G), revealing insignificant discrepancies in G among different methods. Long-term monitoring data shows a linear correlation between G and atmospheric temperature. After subtracting the G–Temperature dependence, the dispersion of G is reduced to <3% over a one-year timescale. The stability of the receiver response of Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is considered sufficient to facilitate H i observations that can accommodate a moderate error in flux calibration (e.g., > ∼ 5%) when utilizing a constant G for calibration purposes. Our study will serve as a useful addition to the results provided by Jiang et al. Detailed measurement of G for the 19 beams of FAST, covering the frequency range 1000–1500 MHz, can be found on the HiFAST homepage: https://hifast.readthedocs.io/fluxgain.

A pilot study of Galactic radio recombination lines using FAST: Identification of diffuse ionized gas clumps and off-arm star-forming regions

Observing low-frequency decimeter hydrogen radio recombination lines (RRLs) with large single-dish telescopes, such as the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in the L band, is a unique method for probing massive star formation on scales of hundreds of parsecs. This approach is particularly effective for detecting relatively weak and extended emissions from low-density gas ionized by massive stars. Deep, unbiased decimeter or centimeter RRL surveys with large single-dish telescopes can significantly enhance our understanding of the diffuse ionized gas along the Galactic plane. This, in turn, will improve our knowledge of the life cycle of matter in the interstellar medium and the dynamics of the Galaxy. In this context, we present a pilot project for such a blind L-band RRL survey targeting the Galactic plane and conducted using FAST. The results include the detection of RRL clumps and the identification of an off-arm active massive star-forming region near the Sagittarius-Carina arm. The ongoing and upcoming massive star formation in this region may be associated with the kink in the Sagittarius-Carina arm near 23$^ circ $ azimuth.

FAST observations of neutral hydrogen in the interacting galaxies NGC 3395/3396

ABSTRACT We report on high-sensitivity neutral hydrogen observations toward the gas-rich interacting galaxies NGC 3395/3396 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). Compared to previous observations carried out by the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT), a more extended H i envelope around this system has been detected. The total H i gas mass of the NGC 3395/3396 system is estimated to be 7.8 × 109 M$_\odot$. This value is 2.7 times more than that reported based on the VLA interferometric maps. Previous observations found a large H i tail extending to the south-west and a minor tail emerging from the north of this peculiar galaxy pair. Based on the high-sensitivity observations of FAST, an extended H i plume to the north-west and a gas plume to the north-east have been detected for the first time. Neutral hydrogen of the two smaller galaxies IC 2604 and IC 2608 in the south of the system have also been detected. We discuss the origins of these extra gas and possible tidal interactions between these galaxies. The most prominent tidal feature of NGC 3395/3396, the south-west tail combined with the new detected north-west plume, behaves like a large ring. We suggest the ring might be formed by the previous fly-by interaction between NGC 3395 and 3396, which happened 500 Myr ago. Our study shows that high-sensitivity H i observations are important in revealing low column density gas, which is crucial to a deeper understanding of this interacting system.

Studying the Radio Eclipse of Spider Pulsar J1816+4510 with the FAST

We report on the radio eclipse properties of spider pulsar J1816+4510 using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The high-sensitivity FAST observations will allow us to probe much deeper into the eclipse region of this pulsar at higher frequencies >1 GHz. The duration of the full eclipse, eclipse ingress, and egress at 1100, 1200, 1300, and 1400 MHz are measured, respectively. The variation of eclipse duration with frequency is studied by splitting the FAST observations into four subbands. It is found that the eclipse egress of PSR J1816+4510 takes longer than the ingress and becomes more symmetrical with increasing frequency. The variations of the durations with the frequency for the full eclipse, eclipse ingress, and egress follow a power-law decay pattern with different indices. The pulse profile variations near the eclipse are studied. It is found that the broadening of pulse profiles becomes more prominent with deepening into the eclipse region due to the scattering from the companion star. Moreover, the pulse smearing induced by the scattering and the rapid dispersion measure (DM) fluctuations within a subintegration during the eclipse egress at different frequencies and orbital phases is comparatively studied. It is found that the scattering plays a more important role than the DM fluctuations for the pulse smearing of the eclipse. The observations of this paper will provide important clues for the theoretical studies of the radio eclipse mechanism of the spider pulsar systems.

New H i Observations Toward the NGC 5055 Galaxy Group with FAST

We report a new high-sensitivity H i mapping observation of the NGC 5055 galaxy group over an area of 1.°5 × 0.°75 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). Our observation reveals that the warped H i disk of NGC 5055 is more extended than what was previously observed by WSRT, out to 23.′9 (61.7 kpc). The total H i mass of NGC 5055 is determined to be ∼1.1 × 1010 M ⊙. We identified three H i clouds with H i masses of the order of ∼107 M ⊙ at the southeastern edge of the H i disk, as well as a candidate high-velocity cloud with an H i mass of (1.2 ± 0.5) × 106 M ⊙ to the north of NGC 5055. The H i content of UGCA 337 is robustly detected for the first time by the FAST observations. It has a narrow H i linewidth of W 50 = 17.4 ± 3.8 km s−1 with a total H i mass of (3.5 ± 0.3) × 106 M ⊙. Comparing the gas content and g−r color of UGCA 337 with typical low-mass dwarf galaxies, UGCA 337 appears relatively gas-poor despite its blue color. This suggests that UGCA 337 may have undergone gas stripping in the past. We also analyzed the possible origin of the diffuse H i clouds located at the outskirts of NGC 5055, and speculate that they might be the remnant features of a merger event in the past.

FAST Discovery of Eight Isolated Millisecond Pulsars in NGC 6517

We present the discovery of eight isolated millisecond pulsars in globular cluster (GC) NGC 6517 using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The spin periods of those pulsars (namely PSR J1801–0857K to R, or NGC 6517K to R) are all shorter than 10 ms. With these discoveries, NGC 6517 is currently the GC with the most known pulsars in the FAST sky. The largest difference in dispersion measure of the pulsars in NGC 6517 is 11.2 cm−3 pc, the second among all GCs. The fraction of isolated pulsars in this GC (16 of 17, 94%) is consistent with previous studies indicating an overabundance of isolated pulsars in the densest GCs, especially in those undergoing cluster core collapse. Considering the FAST GC pulsar discoveries, we modeled the GC pulsar population using the empirical Bayesian method described by Turk and Lorimer with the recent counts. Using this approach, we find that the expected number of potential pulsars in GCs seems to be correlated with the central escape velocity; hence, the GCs Liller 1, NGC 6441, M54 (NGC 6715), and ω-Cen (NGC 5139) are expected to host the largest numbers of pulsars.

Investigating the Unique Drift Behavior of PSR B2110+27 with FAST

Careful scrutiny of the single pulse emissions from PSR B2110+27 has been conducted through highly sensitive observations using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) at a central frequency of 1250 MHz. Our investigation revealed significant subpulse drift behavior and nulling in this pulsar. Moreover, we observed that the nulling events tend to be of short duration, with an estimated overall nulling fraction of approximately 27% ± 3%. It is noteworthy that the drift direction of the subpulses exhibits abrupt changes, occasionally transitioning into a steady state or displaying a low drift rate. Analysis using longitude resolved fluctuation spectra indicates the presence of two distinct repetition periods for the pulsar: P 3 = (10.8 ± 2.5)P and P 3 = (31.6 ± 4.2)P, where P denotes the pulsar period. Our investigation revealed that the subpulse separation remains consistent across different drift patterns, with P 2 = 2.°3 ± 0.°2. A more comprehensive analysis indicates that the unique drift behavior observed can be explained by a carousel model of the dipole field. Minor changes in P 2 and drift rate caused significant variations in the apparent P 3 and abrupt shifts in the drift direction, while the true repetition period (assuming first-order aliasing) changed by only ∼10%. We observe a drift band memory and apparent phase memory across the null state in this pulsar, as well as variations in the drift rate and drift direction across the null state, though we have not detected significant periodicity of the nulling itself. This suggests that these phenomena may arise from random null pulses intersecting with the frequently aliased drift bands.

The Most Distant H i Galaxies Discovered by the 500 m Dish FAST

Neutral hydrogen (H i) is the primary component of the cool interstellar medium (ISM) and is the reservoir of fuel for star formation. Owing to the sensitivity of existing radio telescopes, our understanding of the evolution of the ISM in galaxies remains limited, as it is based on only a few hundred galaxies detected in H i beyond the local Universe. With the high sensitivity of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), we carried out a blind H i search, the FAST Ultra-Deep Survey, which extends to redshifts up to 0.42 and a sensitivity of 50 μJy beam−1. Here, we report the first discovery of six galaxies in H i at z > 0.38. For these galaxies, the FAST angular resolution of ∼4′ corresponds to a mean linear size of ∼1.3h70−1 Mpc. These galaxies are among the most distant H i emission detections known, with one having the most massive H i content ( 1010.93±0.04h70−2M⊙ ). Using recent data from the DESI survey and new observations with the Hale, Big Telescope Alt-azimuth, and Keck telescopes, optical counterparts are detected for all galaxies within the 3σ positional uncertainty ( 0.5h70−1 Mpc) and 200 km s−1 in recession velocity. Assuming that the dominant source of H i is the identified optical counterpart, we find evidence of evolution in the H i content of galaxies over the last 4.2 Gyr. Our new high-redshift H i galaxy sample provides the opportunity to better investigate the evolution of cool gas in galaxies. A larger sample size in the future will allow us to refine our knowledge of the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Narrowly Banded Spectra with Peak Frequency around 1 GHz of FRB 20201124A: Implications for Energy Function and Radiation Physics

The radiation physics of fast radio bursts (FRBs) remains an open question. Current observations have discovered that narrowly banded bursts of FRB 20201124A are active in 0.4–2 GHz, and their spectral peak frequency ( νpobs ) is mostly toward ∼1 GHz. Utilizing a sample of 1268 bursts of FRB 20201124A detected with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), we show that the 1σ spectral regime of 71.4% of the events (in-band bursts) is within the FAST bandpass. The intrinsic burst energies ( EBWeobs ) and spectral widths ( σsobs ) are well measured by fitting the spectral profile with a Gaussian function. The derived EBWeobs and σsobs distributions are lognormal and centered at logEBWeobs/erg=37.2(σ=0.76) and logσsobs/GHz=−1.16(σ=0.17) . Our Monte Carlo simulation analysis infers its intrinsic ν p distribution as a normal function centered at ν p,c = 1.16 GHz (σ = 0.22) and its intrinsic energy function as Φ(E)∝E−0.60e−E/Ec with E c = 9.49 × 1037 erg. We compare these results with that of typical repeating FRBs 20121102A and 20190520B, which are active over a broad frequency range at several specific frequencies, and discuss possible observational biases on the estimation of the event rate and energy function. Based on these results, we argue that FRB 20201124A likely occurs in a fine-tuned plasma for maser radiation at a narrow frequency range, while FRB 20121102A and FRB 20190520B could involve clumpy plasma conditions that make maser emission around several specific frequencies in a broad range.

Time-domain analysis of multiwaveband flares from AD Leonis

ABSTRACT Radio bursts of magnetically active stars reveal the intensity and activity of the stellar magnetic field. They may also be related to the planets around the stars. We monitored a radio-active star, AD Leonis, 3000 s d−1 for 17 d in 2020 November, and 5000 s d−1 for 5 d in 2023 July with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). Based on the simultaneous flux increases in Stokes I and Stokes V, one left-hand circular polarized radio burst is identified. The $\sim 50~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ degree of circular polarization indicates the burst being originated from non-thermal radiation related to the stellar magnetic field. Combining the newly discovered burst with previous observations of radio and X-ray bursts from AD Leonis, we did a periodicity analysis for the 49 bursts in total. No periodicity with confidence level &amp;gt;3σ is found, while a candidate period of 3.04 d at ≈2σ confidence level is presented and discussed. Results of recent FAST observations and the periodicity analysis suggest a more compact campaign of observation towards this source, from which a more optimistic result of period search could be achieved.

The Relativistic Spin Precession in the Compact Double Neutron Star System PSR J1946+2052

Abstract We observe systematic profile changes in the visible pulsar of the compact double neutron star system PSR J1946+2052 using observations with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The interpulse of PSR J1946+2052 changed from a single-peak to a double-peak shape from 2018–2021. We attribute this evolution as the result of the relativistic spin precession of the pulsar. With the high sensitivity of FAST, we also measure significant polarization for the first time, allowing us to model this with the precessional rotating vector model. Assuming, to the first order, a circular hollow-cone-like emission beam pattern and taking the validity of general relativity (GR), we derive the binary’s orbital inclination angle ( 63 ∘ − 3 ∘ + 5 ∘ ) and pulsar’s spin geometry. The pulsar’s spin vector and the orbital angular momentum vector are found to be only slightly misaligned ( 0. ∘ 21 − 0. ∘ 10 + 0. ∘ 28 ). The quoted uncertainties do not reflect the systematic uncertainties introduced by our model assumptions. By simulating future observations of profile and polarization evolution, we estimate that we could constrain the precession rate within a 43% uncertainty in 9 yr. Hence, we suggest that the system’s profile evolution could be combined with precise pulsar timing to test GR in the future.

Constraining axion-like particles dark matter in Coma Berenices with FAST

Axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) appear in many extensions of the Standard Model and are being investigated as promising dark matter (DM) candidates. One viable methodology for their detection involves the investigation of the line-like radio emissions from the dwarf spheroidal galaxy, potentially originating from the radiative decay of ALPs or the conversion of ALPs in the magnetic field. In this work, we constrain the properties of ALPs using the 2-hour radio observation of Coma Berenices through the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The 95% upper limits of the ALP-photon coupling are calculated for the ALP decay and conversion scenarios, respectively. Note that the sensitive ALP masses for FAST range from ∼μeV to tens of μeV, where ALP can explain the DM abundance naturally. However, our limits are weaker than those of the CAST helioscope, which can provide an independent and complementary check on the ALP non-detection for ground experiments. Furthermore, we evaluate the expected sensitivity on the ALP of FAST with its full designed bandwidth (70 MHz - 3 GHz) for 100 hours of observation time. Our results indicate that, even with the exceptional sensitivity of the FAST, it is challenging to surpass the existing experimental constraints on ALP DM using radio observation of dSphs, unless the possible enhancements of ALP signals by compact stars in dSphs are considered.

Addition of the Local Volume sample of galaxies from the FAST HI survey

We report the discovery of 20 new dwarf galaxies in the Local Volume identified as optical counterparts to the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) All Sky HI Survey (FASHI) sources. The galaxies have a median stellar mass of 7.8 × 106 M⊙ and a median HI mass of 1.0 × 107 M⊙. Most of them are field galaxies, while three are probable members of the M 101 and M 106 groups. We also found seven FASHI radio sources to be probable dark HI clouds in nearby groups. Together with four other known HI clouds in the local groups, their mean-square radial velocity difference of 49 km s−1 with respect to the host galaxies yields an average total mass of (2.7 ± 1.0)×1011 M⊙ for these groups on the projected scale of 90 kpc.

Periodicity of sub-pulses in a radio pulsar

Pulsars are known to manifest complex phenomena, such as nulling, sub-pulse drifting, and periodicity. Within the purview of this investigation, we have harnessed the wavelet analysis technique to scrutinize the multifaceted periodicities and sub-pulse drifting characteristics exhibited by PSR J1926-0652, discovered by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). Our analysis draws upon the rich dataset acquired from the FAST ultra-wide-bandwidth receiver (UWB), meticulously examining pulse attributes encompassing an entire pulse. It is notable that the pulse apex recurrently manifests approximately every 17.11 times the pulsar's period P, individual sub-pulses exhibit a drifting phenomenon, with a phase decrement of approximately 1.04∘ over each P. Intriguingly, the central phase of each sub-pulse track gradually increments over temporal evolution. Furthermore, the relative offset distribution between successive sub-pulse tracks emanating from the trailing and leading components remains comparatively stable, with a central tendency of approximately ∼6.87±2.56 P. Most notably, derived from the outcomes of wavelet analysis, we ascertain a negative correlation of -0.98 between the periods of sub-pulses and their drifting rates, alongside the intrinsic period of sub-pulses identified at 28.14 seconds.

Study on tiered storage algorithm based on heat correlation of astronomical data

With the surge in astronomical data volume, modern astronomical research faces significant challenges in data storage, processing, and access. The I/O bottleneck issue in astronomical data processing is particularly prominent, limiting the efficiency of data processing. To address this issue, this paper proposes a tiered storage algorithm based on the access characteristics of astronomical data. The C4.5 decision tree algorithm is employed as the foundation to implement an astronomical data access correlation algorithm. Additionally, a data copy migration strategy is designed based on tiered storage technology to achieve efficient data access. Preprocessing tests were conducted on 418GB NSRT (Nanshan Radio Telescope) formaldehyde spectral line data, showcasing that tiered storage can potentially reduce data processing time by up to 38.15%. Similarly, utilizing 802.2 GB data from FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope) observations for pulsar search data processing tests, the tiered storage approach demonstrated a maximum reduction of 29.00% in data processing time. In concurrent testing of data processing workflows, the proposed astronomical data heat correlation algorithm in this paper achieved an average reduction of 17.78% in data processing time compared to centralized storage. Furthermore, in comparison to traditional heat algorithms, it reduced data processing time by 5.15%. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is positively correlated with the associativity between the algorithm and the processed data. The tiered storage algorithm based on the characteristics of astronomical data proposed in this paper is poised to provide algorithmic references for large-scale data processing in the field of astronomy in the future.

Applying Hybrid Clustering in Pulsar Candidate Sifting with Multi-modality for FAST Survey

Pulsar search is always the basis of pulsar navigation, gravitational wave detection and other research topics. Currently, the volume of pulsar candidates collected by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) shows an explosive growth rate that has brought challenges for its pulsar candidate filtering system. Particularly, the multi-view heterogeneous data and class imbalance between true pulsars and non-pulsar candidates have negative effects on traditional single-modal supervised classification methods. In this study, a multi-modal and semi-supervised learning based on a pulsar candidate sifting algorithm is presented, which adopts a hybrid ensemble clustering scheme of density-based and partition-based methods combined with a feature-level fusion strategy for input data and a data partition strategy for parallelization. Experiments on both High Time Resolution Universe Survey II (HTRU2) and actual FAST observation data demonstrate that the proposed algorithm could excellently identify pulsars: On HTRU2, the precision and recall rates of its parallel mode reach 0.981 and 0.988 respectively. On FAST data, those of its parallel mode reach 0.891 and 0.961, meanwhile, the running time also significantly decreases with the increment of parallel nodes within limits. Thus, we can conclude that our algorithm could be a feasible idea for large scale pulsar candidate sifting for FAST drift scan observation.

Investigation of Nulling and Subpulse-drifting Properties of PSR J1649+2533 with FAST

We report the nulling and subpulse-drifting properties of PSR J1649+2533 with observations of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST). The FAST observations reveal that the nulling fraction of this pulsar is about 20.9% ± 0.8% at 1250 MHz. The statistical study of the durations of the nulling and burst states shows that the burst states can persist for extended pulse periods, exceeding 100 periods in some cases, while the shortest lasts only a few pulse periods. The null states have a much shorter duration, with a maximum duration of less than 30 pulse periods. A comparative study between the pulse profiles of the first active pulse (FAP) and the last active pulse (LAP) shows that the pulse profiles of LAPs are stronger and wider than those of FAPs. An analysis of the two-dimensional fluctuation spectrum for the single-pulse stack indicates that the pulsar exhibits clear amplitude modulation and subpulse drifting. The periods are a P 3 = 2.5 ± 0.1 spin period and P 2 = 17.°0 ± 0.°5 at 1250 MHz, respectively. In addition, the multiband investigation shows that P 2 seems to increase with the increase of the observing frequency, i.e., P 2 ∝ ν 0.8±0.1. This seems to be caused by the increasing pulse-profile width with the frequency. The high-sensitivity FAST observations will enable a detailed understanding of the emission of this pulsar and provide important clues for theoretical studies of the radiation mechanism.

A Relativistic Double Neutron Star Binary PSR J1846-0513

We report the timing analysis of PSR J1846−0513, a pulsar discovered by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey. The pulsar possesses a spin period of 23.36 ms and a spin-down rate ( Ṗ ) of 1.0106(3) × 10−18 s s−1, and it is located in an eccentric orbit (e ∼0.208) with an orbital period of 0.61 days. The characteristic age and surface magnetic field of the pulsar are found to be 366.62 Myr and 4.9178 × 109 G, respectively, indicating that it is a recycled pulsar. Using over two years of timing data, we measure the periastron advance ω̇ = 0.8956(8) deg yr−1. By assuming that this effect is purely relativistic, we have estimated the total mass M = 2.6287(35)M ⊙ and obtained an upper limit for the pulsar mass and a lower limit for the companion’s mass. Our results indicate that this is a double neutron star system.