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Lense-Thirring frame dragging induced by a fast-rotating white dwarf in a binary pulsar system

Krishnan, V. Venkatraman; Bailes, M.; van Straten, W.; Wex, N.; Freire, P. C. C.; Keane, E. F.; Tauris, T. M.; Rosado, P. A.; Bhat, N. D. R.; Flynn, C.; Jameson, A.; Ostowski, S.

SCIENCE
2020
VL / 367 - BP / 577 - EP / +
abstract
Radio pulsars in short-period eccentric binary orbits can be used to study both gravitational dynamics and binary evolution. The binary system containing PSR J1141-6545 includes a massive white dwarf (WD) companion that formed before the gravitationally bound young radio pulsar. We observed a temporal evolution of the orbital inclination of this pulsar that we infer is caused by a combination of a Newtonian quadrupole moment and Lense-Thirring (LT) precession of the orbit resulting from rapid rotation of the WD. LT precession. an effect of relativistic frame dragging, is a prediction of general relativity. This detection is consistent with an evolutionary scenario in which the WD accreted matter from the pulsar progenitor, spinning up the WD to a period of <200 seconds.

AccesS level

Green submitted

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