[Paper Review] On PSR1913+16

A. Loinger|arXiv (Cornell University)|Feb 12, 2000

Geophysics and Gravity Measurements3 citations

TL;DR

This paper argues that in specific inertial reference frames, both stars in the binary pulsar PSR1913+16 are at rest, implying no gravitational wave emission. By invoking the principle that accelerated masses should not emit gravity waves in such privileged systems, the paper concludes that the observed orbital decay of PSR1913+16 cannot be due to gravitational radiation, challenging the standard interpretation of its behavior within general relativity.

ABSTRACT

There are reference frames for which both stars of binary radio-pulsar PSR1913+16 are at rest. As a consequence, PSR1913+16 does not emit gravity waves. (If the accelerated bodies should send out a gravitational radiation, they would represent a class of physically privileged systems. But this is forbidden by general relativity.)

Motivation & Objective

• To examine whether PSR1913+16 can be described in reference frames where both stars are at rest.
• To assess the implications of such frames for gravitational wave emission in the context of general relativity.
• To challenge the conventional interpretation that the observed orbital decay is due to gravitational radiation.
• To investigate whether the existence of such inertial frames invalidates the emission of gravity waves by the system.

Proposed method

• Identifying inertial reference frames in which both components of the binary pulsar system are at rest.
• Applying the principle that accelerated masses should not emit gravitational radiation in physically privileged systems.
• Analyzing the consistency of gravitational wave emission with the existence of such frames under general relativity.
• Using the equivalence principle and the structure of general relativity to argue against the emission of gravity waves in these frames.
• Evaluating the physical consistency of gravitational wave emission when both stars are at rest in a common inertial frame.
• Concluding that the absence of acceleration in such frames implies no emission of gravitational waves.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 Can a reference frame be found in which both stars of PSR1913+16 are at rest?
• RQ2 If both stars are at rest in a given frame, can they still emit gravitational waves?
• RQ3 Does the existence of such a frame contradict the emission of gravitational radiation by the system?
• RQ4 Is the observed orbital decay of PSR1913+16 consistent with gravitational wave emission in the absence of acceleration in a privileged frame?
• RQ5 Does general relativity allow for gravitational wave emission in systems where both bodies are at rest in an inertial frame?

Key findings

• There exist inertial reference frames in which both stars of PSR1913+16 are at rest simultaneously.
• In such frames, the system does not emit gravitational waves, as accelerated masses would not radiate in physically privileged systems.
• The assumption that the binary emits gravitational waves contradicts the existence of such inertial frames under general relativity.
• The observed orbital decay of PSR1913+16 cannot be attributed to gravitational wave emission if both stars are at rest in a common inertial frame.
• The paper concludes that the system cannot emit gravity waves in these frames, challenging the standard interpretation of the pulsar's behavior.