Parkes observations for project P455 semester 2022OCTS_01

This project is to continue timing and profile studies of the first double-pulsar system, a unique laboratory for gravitational physics. Important results published in our 53-page Phys. Rev. X paper (Kramer et al., December 2021) include the first measurements of higher-order light-propagation effects and of the relativistic deformation of the orbit and highlight the importance of a long term observational campaign, including VLBI observations, for this remarkable system. The main aims of this proposal are to provide the strongest tests to date for general relativity and to measure for the first time the moment-of-inertia of a neutron star. Additionally, we will determine the system geometry and map the pulsar beams via geodetic precession. We will exploit the high sensitivity and broad bandwidth of the UWL receiver.

本项目旨在对首个双脉冲星系统（double-pulsar system）开展持续计时与脉冲轮廓研究，该系统是引力物理学研究的独特实验平台。我们于2021年12月发表在《物理评论X》（Phys. Rev. X）的53页研究论文（Kramer等）中取得了多项重要成果：首次测量了高阶光传播效应与轨道的相对论形变，同时凸显了针对该特殊天体系统开展长期观测计划（包括甚长基线干涉测量（VLBI）观测）的重要性。本提案的核心目标为：对广义相对论开展迄今最为严格的检验，并首次测量中子星的转动惯量（moment-of-inertia）。此外，我们将通过测地进动（geodetic precession）确定该双星系统的几何结构，并绘制脉冲星射电束的分布图像。本研究将充分利用UWL接收机（UWL receiver）的高灵敏度与宽带宽特性。