A new test of general relativity - Gravitational radiation and the binary pulsar PSR 1913+16

1982 ◽  
Vol 253 ◽  
pp. 908 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Taylor ◽  
J. M. Weisberg
Nature ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 297 (5865) ◽  
pp. 357-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Trimble

1992 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 214-216
Author(s):  
J. M. Weisberg ◽  
J. H. Taylor

AbstractAccording to general relativity, the spin axis of binary pulsar PSR 1913+16 should precess at a rate of 1.21 degrees per year. This precession will cause the pulse profile to change as our line of sight samples different pulsar latitudes. In order to search for this phenomenon, we have carefully monitored the pulse profile at 1408 MHz for 8.5 years. The ratio of flux density of the first to second pulse component has declined at a rate of approximately 1.65% per year, with some evidence of a steeper decrease over the past three years. We have detected no evidence for a change in the separation of the two components. We discuss the nature of the pulsar emission region in light of these results.


1974 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 60-60
Author(s):  
Peter Jocelyn Westervelt

I have shown (Westervelt, 1966) that ultrarelativistic bodies do not radiate gravitational waves in the forward direction. This work has been extended so as to apply to circular orbits. Even if low efficiency of generation precludes direct observation of gravitational waves, indirect evidence for their existence is available in a recent analysis (Westervelt, 1969) of Shapiro's fourth test of general relativity.


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford M. Will

The observation of gravitational-radiation damping in the binary pulsar PSR 1913 + 16 and the ongoing experimental search for gravitational waves of extraterrestrial origin have made the theory of gravitational radiation an active branch of classical general relativity. In calculations of gravitational radiation, approximation methods play a crucial role. We summarize recent developments in two areas in which approximations are important: (a) the quadrupole approximation, which determines the energy flux and the radiation reaction forces in weak-field, slow-motion, source-within-the-near-zone systems such as the binary pulsar; and (b) the normal modes of oscillation of black holes, where the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation gives accurate estimates of the complex frequencies of the modes.


The field of gravitational radiation emitted from two moving particles is investigated by means of general relativity. A method of approximation is used, and in the linear approximation retarded potentials corresponding to spherical gravitational waves are introduced. As is already known, the theory in this approximation predicts that energy is lost by the system. The field equations in the second, non-linear, approximation are then considered, and it is shown that the system loses an amount of gravitational mass precisely equal to the energy carried away by the spherical waves of the linear approximation. The result is established for a large class of particle motions, but it has not been possible to determine whether energy is lost in free gravitational motion under no external forces. The main conclusion of this work is that, contrary to opinions frequently expressed, gravitational radiation has a real physical existence, and in particular, carries energy away from the sources.


Author(s):  
Robert F O'Connell

First, we examine how spin is treated in special relativity and the necessity of introducing spin supplementary conditions (SSC) and how they are related to the choice of a center-of-mass of a spinning particle. Next, we discuss quantum electrodynamics and the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation which we note is a position operator identical to the Pryce-Newton-Wigner position operator. The classical version of the operators are shown to be essential for the treatment of classical relativistic particles in general relativity, of special interest being the case of binary systems (black holes/neutron stars) which emit gravitational radiation.


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