PSR J1756-2251: A New Relativistic Double Neutron Star System
- 3 December 2004
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 618 (2) , L119-L122
- https://doi.org/10.1086/427776
Abstract
We report the discovery during the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey of PSR J1756-2251, a 28.5 ms pulsar in a relativistic binary system. Subsequent timing observations showed the pulsar to have an orbital period of 7.67 hr and an eccentricity of 0.18. They also revealed a significant advance of periastron, 2585 ± 0002 yr-1. Assuming this is entirely due to general relativity implies a total system mass (pulsar plus companion) of 2.574 ± 0.003 M☉. This mass and the significant orbital eccentricity suggest that this is a double neutron star system. Measurement of the gravitational redshift, γ, and an evaluation of the Shapiro delay shape, s, indicate a low companion mass of less than 1.25 M☉. The expected coalescence time due to emission of gravitational waves is only ~1.7 Gyr, substantially less than a Hubble time. We note an apparent correlation between spin period and eccentricity for normally evolving double neutron star systems.Keywords
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