Name: Maxim Lyutikov
Institution: University of British Columbia

University of Washington
Astrolunch


Title: Amazing and lucky: eclipses and orbital modulation in binary pulsar PSR J0737-3039


Abstract:
In the binary radio pulsar system J0737-3039 the faster pulsar A is eclipsed once per orbit while the slower pulsar B shows orbital-dependent variations of intensity. This gives us an exceptional opportunity to study inner magnetospheres of neutron stars and their winds. We construct a model of eclipses which reproduces the observed light curve up to intricate details and proves the long standing assumption of dipolar magnetic fields of neutron stars. In addition, interaction of pulsar B magnetosphere with pulsar A wind produces orbital variations of observed B intensity.




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