The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - XIII. PSR J1757-1854, the most accelerated binary pulsar

Cameron, A. D.A. D.CameronChampion, D. J.D. J.ChampionKramer, M.M.KramerBailes, M.M.BailesBarr, E. D.E. D.BarrBassa, C. G.C. G.BassaBhandari, S.S.BhandariBhat, N. D. R.N. D. R.BhatBURGAY, MARTAMARTABURGAYBurke-Spolaor, S.S.Burke-SpolaorEatough, R. P.R. P.EatoughFlynn, C. M. L.C. M. L.FlynnFreire, P. C. C.P. C. C.FreireJameson, A.A.JamesonJohnston, S.S.JohnstonKaruppusamy, R.R.KaruppusamyKeith, M. J.M. J.KeithLevin, L.L.LevinLorimer, D. R.D. R.LorimerLyne, A. G.A. G.LyneMcLaughlin, M. A.M. A.McLaughlinNg, C.C.NgPetroff, E.E.PetroffPOSSENTI, ANDREAANDREAPOSSENTIRIDOLFI, ALESSANDROALESSANDRORIDOLFIStappers, B. W.B. W.Stappersvan Straten, W.W.van StratenTauris, T. M.T. M.TaurisTIBURZI, CaterinaCaterinaTIBURZIWex, N.N.Wex2020-10-132020-10-1320180035-8711http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12386/27761We report the discovery of PSR J1757-1854, a 21.5-ms pulsar in a highly-eccentric, 4.4-h orbit with a neutron star (NS) companion. PSR J1757-1854 exhibits some of the most extreme relativistic parameters of any known pulsar, including the strongest relativistic effects due to gravitational-wave damping, with a merger time of 76 Myr. Following a 1.6-yr timing campaign, we have measured five post-Keplerian parameters, yielding the two component masses (mp = 1.3384(9) M☉ and mc = 1.3946(9) M☉) plus three tests of general relativity, which the theory passes. The larger mass of the NS companion provides important clues regarding the binary formation of PSR J1757-1854. With simulations suggesting 3-σ measurements of both the contribution of Lense-Thirring precession to the rate of change of the semimajor axis and the relativistic deformation of the orbit within ∼7-9 yr, PSR J1757-1854 stands out as a unique laboratory for new tests of gravitational theories.STAMPAenThe High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - XIII. PSR J1757-1854, the most accelerated binary pulsarArticle10.1093/mnrasl/sly0032-s2.0-85060844180000438222600013https://academic.oup.com/mnrasl/article-abstract/475/1/L57/47949512018MNRAS.475L..57CFIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICAERC sectors::Physical Sciences and Engineering::PE9 Universe sciences: astro-physics/chemistry/biology; solar systems; stellar, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, planetary systems, cosmology, space science, instrumentation