2004/12/31 by A. W. Hotan, M. Bailes, S. M. Ord · 6 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/429270
published as Astrophys.J. 624 (2005) 906-913 · 22 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2005/01/30 · openalex publication_date 2005/05/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
We present observations that show dramatic evolution of the mean pulse profile of the relativistic binary pulsar J1141-6545 over a period of 5 yr. This is consistent with the precession of the pulsar spin axis due to relativistic spin-orbit coupling. Observations made between 1999 and 2004 with a number of instruments at the Parkes radio telescope demonstrate a steady, secular evolution of the mean total intensity profile, which increases in width by more than 50% during the 5 yr period. Analysis of the changing position angle of the linearly polarized component of the mean profile suggests that our line of sight is shifting closer to the core of the emission cone. We find that the slope of the position angle swing across the center of the pulse steepens with time and use a simplified version of the rotating vector model to constrain the magnitude and direction of the change in our line-of-sight angle relative to the pulsar magnetic axis. The fact that we appear to be moving deeper into the emission cone is consistent with the nondetection of this pulsar in previous surveys.