Binary pulsars and tests of general relativity
Abstract
Binary pulsars are a valuable laboratory for gravitational experiments. Double-neutron-star systems such as the double pulsar provide the most stringent tests of strong-field gravity available to date, while pulsars with white-dwarf companions constrain departures from general relativity based on the difference in gravitational binding energies in the two stars. Future observations may open up entirely new tests of the predictions of general relativity.
- Publication:
-
Relativity in Fundamental Astronomy: Dynamics, Reference Frames, and Data Analysis
- Pub Date:
- January 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S1743921309990433
- Bibcode:
- 2010IAUS..261..218S
- Keywords:
-
- pulsars: general;
- pulsars:individual (J0737-3039A/B);
- gravitation