Astronomy:PSR J1141−6545

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Short description: Pulsar in the constellation of Musca
PSR J1141-6545
Observation data
Equinox J2000.0]] (ICRS)
Constellation Musca
Right ascension  11h 41m 07.0220s[1]
Declination −65° 45′ 19.089″[1]
Orbit[1]
PrimaryA (pulsar)
CompanionB (white dwarf)
Period (P)0.1976509587(3) d
Eccentricity (e)0.171876(2)
Inclination (i)>75°
Periastron epoch (T)MJD 51369.854553(1)
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
42.457(2)°
Details[1]
A (pulsar)
Mass1.30 ± 0.02 M
Rotation393.8978340370(2) ms
B (white dwarf)
Mass0.986 ± 0.020 M
Age1.4 Myr years
Database references
SIMBADdata

PSR J1141−6545 is a pulsar in the constellation of Musca (the fly).[2] Located at 11h 41m 07.02s −65° 45′ 19.1″, it is a binary pair composed of a white dwarf star orbiting a pulsar. [3][4][5] Because of this unusual configuration and the close proximity of the two stars it has been used to test several of Einstein's theories.[4][6][7]

PSR J1141−6545 is notable because it has shown several relativistic theories to have real-world results. The star is emitting gravitational waves and the process of time dilation appears to be affecting the orbit of the white dwarf. In January 2020 it was announced that the stars were also showing the Lense-Thirring effect,[8] whereby a rotating mass drags the surrounding spacetime with it.[9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bailes, M.; Ord, S. M.; Knight, H. S.; Hotan, A. W. (2003). "Self-Consistency of Relativistic Observables with General Relativity in the White Dwarf-Neutron Star Binary PSR J1141-6545". The Astrophysical Journal 595 (1): L49–L52. doi:10.1086/378939. Bibcode2003ApJ...595L..49B. 
  2. PSR J1141-6545 -- Pulsar, Sinbad dataset.
  3. Antoniadis, J.; Bassa, C. G.; Wex, N.; Kramer, M.; Napiwotzki, R. (2011). "A white dwarf companion to the relativistic pulsar PSR J1141-6545". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 412 (1): 580–584. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17929.x. Bibcode2011MNRAS.412..580A. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Davies, Melvyn B.; Ritter, Hans; King, Andrew (September 2002). "Formation of the binary pulsars J1141–6545 and B2303+46". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 335 (2): 369–376. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05594.x. Bibcode2002MNRAS.335..369D. 
  5. PSR J1141-6545, COSMOS - The SAO Encyclopedia of Astronomy.
  6. Billings, Lee (30 January 2020). "Bizarre Cosmic Dance Offers Fresh Test for General Relativity" (in en). Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bizarre-cosmic-dance-offers-fresh-test-for-general-relativity. 
  7. Leah Crane, Two stars with an odd wobble are stretching space and time around them, New Scientist.com
  8. Krishnan, V. Venkatraman; Bailes, M.; van Straten, W.; Wex, N.; Freire, P. C. C.; Keane, E. F.; Tauris, T. M.; Rosado, P. A. et al. (30 January 2020). "Lense–Thirring frame dragging induced by a fast-rotating white dwarf in a binary pulsar system". Science 367 (6477): 577–580. doi:10.1126/science.aax7007. PMID 32001656. Bibcode2020Sci...367..577V. 
  9. Choi, Charles Q. (30 January 2020). "Space-time is swirling around a dead star, proving Einstein right again" (in en). Space.com. https://www.space.com/einstein-general-relativity-frame-dragging.html.