arXiv:2001.11405astro-ph.HE
Lense-Thirring frame dragging induced by a fast-rotating white dwarf in a binary pulsar system
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 observe 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 precession of the orbit resulting from rapid rotation of the WD. Lense-Thirring precession, an effect of relativistic frame-dragging, is a prediction of general relativity. This detection is consistent with the evolutionary scenario in which the WD accreted matter from the pulsar progenitor, spinning up the WD to a period $< 200$ seconds.
Yes, I deliberately chose something that just above trivially simple to show that there was diversity of expression even at that level. That is, even given a technical term with a precise agreed upon definition, the description of that term (eg, in English) does not have a…
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