A Massive Pulsar in a Compact Relativistic Binary

20133,748 citationsJournal Articlegreen Open Access

Authors

John Antoniadis · Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

P. C. C. Freire · Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

Norbert Wex · Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

Thomas M. Tauris · Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

Ryan S. Lynch · McGill University

M. H. van Kerkwijk · University of Toronto

M. Krämer

Abstract

Pulsar Tests Gravity Because of their extremely high densities, massive neutron stars can be used to test gravity. Based on spectroscopy of its white dwarf companion, Antoniadis et al. (p. 448 ) identified a millisecond pulsar as a neutron star twice as heavy as the Sun. The observed binary's orbital decay is consistent with that predicted by general relativity, ruling out previously untested strong-field phenomena predicted by alternative theories. The binary system has a peculiar combination of properties and poses a challenge to our understanding of stellar evolution.

Topics & Keywords

Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae

Publication Details

Published in: Science

Volume 340, Issue 6131

DOI: 10.1126/science.1233232

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 180.21

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A Massive Pulsar in a Compact Relativistic Binary

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Abstract

Topics & Keywords

Publication Details