Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-20-2012

Abstract

We present two millisecond pulsar discoveries from the PALFA survey of the Galactic plane with the Arecibo telescope. PSR J1955+2527 is an isolated pulsar with a period of 4.87ms, and PSR J1949+3106 has a period of 13.14ms and is in a 1.9day binary system with a massive companion. Their timing solutions, based on 4years of timing measurements with the Arecibo, Green Bank, Nançay, and Jodrell Bank telescopes, allow precise determination of spin and astrometric parameters, including precise determinations of their proper motions. For PSR J1949+3106, we can clearly detect the Shapiro delay. From this we measure the pulsar mass to be 1.47+0.43-0.31 M⊙, the companion mass to be 0.85+0.14-0.11 M⊙, and the orbital inclination to be i = 79.9-1.9+1.6deg, where uncertainties correspond to ±1σ confidence levels. With continued timing, we expect to also be able to detect the advance of periastron for the J1949+3106 system. This effect, combined with the Shapiro delay, will eventually provide very precise mass measurements for this system and a test of general relativity. © 2012 The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Comments

© Astrophysical Journal. Original version available at: http://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/757/1/89

Publication Title

Astrophysical Journal

DOI

10.1088/0004-637X/757/1/89

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