PSR B1534+12
Introduction
PSR B1534+12 is a binary pulsar system located in the constellation Serpens. Discovered in 1990 by the Arecibo Observatory, it has been a subject of extensive study due to its unique properties and implications for gravitational physics. The system consists of two neutron stars, one of which is a pulsar, orbiting each other.
Discovery
The discovery of PSR B1534+12 was made by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, using the method of pulsar timing. This method involves measuring the regular pulses of radio waves emitted by the pulsar and using these measurements to determine various properties of the system.
Characteristics
PSR B1534+12 is a binary pulsar system, meaning it consists of two neutron stars in close orbit around each other. One of these stars is a pulsar, emitting regular pulses of radio waves that can be detected from Earth. The system is located approximately 3,700 light years away in the constellation Serpens.
The pulsar in the system has a spin period of approximately 37.9 milliseconds, and the two stars orbit each other every 0.42023 days, or approximately 10.1 hours. The orbit is highly elliptical, with an eccentricity of 0.2736775.
Gravitational Physics
The PSR B1534+12 system has been used to test various aspects of general relativity. Due to the close proximity of the two neutron stars and their high masses, the system exhibits strong gravitational effects. These effects can be measured and compared to the predictions of general relativity.
One of the most significant tests carried out using PSR B1534+12 is the measurement of the gravitational waves damping, or the decrease in the orbit's energy over time due to the emission of gravitational waves. This measurement has been found to be in close agreement with the predictions of general relativity.