New Constraints on Preferred Frame Effects from Binary Pulsars
arXiv:1209.5171 · doi:10.1017/S1743921312024647
Abstract
Preferred frame effects (PFEs) are predicted by a number of alternative gravity theories which include vector or additional tensor fields, besides the canonical metric tensor. In the framework of parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism, we investigate PFEs in the orbital dynamics of binary pulsars, characterized by the two strong-field PPN parameters, α_1 and α_2. In the limit of a small orbital eccentricity, α_1 and α_2 contributions decouple. By utilizing recent radio timing results and optical observations of PSRs J1012+5307 and J1738+0333, we obtained the best limits of α_1 and α_2 in the strong-field regime. The constraint on α_1 also surpasses its counterpart in the weak-field regime.
3 pages, 1 figure; submitted to Proceedings of IAU Symposium 291 -- Neutron Stars and Pulsars: Challenges and Opportunities after 80 years, (ed.) J. van Leeuwen
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