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High-precision timing observations of the millisecond pulsar PSR1937 + 21

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Abstract

Long-term studies of pulse arrival times for the pulsar PSR1937 + 21 yield estimates of the pulsar's period, spin-down rate and celestial coordinates with unprecedented accuracies. Over periods exceeding six months, this pulsar is at least comparable in stability to the best man-made atomic clocks. Our results place a limit on the energy density of low-frequency gravitational waves in the Universe.

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Author notes

  1. J. M. Weisberg

    Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, 55057, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arecibo Observatory, National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, PO Box 995, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, 00612, USA

    M. M. Davis

  2. Joseph Henry Laboratories, Physics Department, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08544, USA

    J. H. Taylor & J. M. Weisberg

  3. Radio Astronomy Laboratory and Astronomy Department, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA

    D. C. Backer

Authors
  1. M. M. Davis
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  2. J. H. Taylor
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  3. J. M. Weisberg
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  4. D. C. Backer
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Davis, M., Taylor, J., Weisberg, J. et al. High-precision timing observations of the millisecond pulsar PSR1937 + 21. Nature 315, 547–550 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315547a0

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