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The double pulsar system exhibits unique and spectacular eclipses when pulsar A passes behind pulsar B. We present 3.5 years of eclipse monitoring which provides an unprecedented way of probing pulsar magnetospheres, geometric orientation as well as testing general relativity The eclipse light curve of pulsar A has a rich phenomenology. This includes little observed radio frequency dependence and periodic flux modulations in phase with the rotation of pulsar B, which allow the flux to reach uneclipsed levels in narrow windows. Over the monitoring period, the eclipse profile noticeably changed and we observe a modification in the modulation behavior. We quantitatively analyzed the data using the magnetospheric synchrotron absorption eclipse model proposed by Lyutikov and Thompson under the assumption of a simple dipolar magnetic field geometry The success of the model at reproducing the eclipse profile indicates that the magnetic field configuration is mainly dipolar at a distance of about 0.1 light-cylinder radii from pulsar B. Model fitting leads to the determination of pulsar B's geometric orientation. Therefore by investigating the time evolution of the eclipse profile we can quantitatively test the effects of relativistic spin precession on pulsar B, as predicted by general relativity Also, we note some peculiar features in the egress that are not well modelled and could potentially help to understand distortions of the magnetic field at the magnetosphere boundary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-pulsar J0737-3039 is not only the most promising system for testing general relativity, but appears a unique laboratory for investigating the so far unaccessible pulsar magnetosphere and the mechanism for radio emission. In fact, the very high orbital inclination gives the possibility of using the radio beams from pulsar A as a probe for investigating the region close to the surface of pulsar B, while relativistic effects modify the system geometry in a timescale suitable for comparing predictions of various models with observation. We present the status of the multi-wavelength observations performed in the 3 years since the discovery and discuss short and long term perspectives for the study of the magnetosphere of pulsar B. © 2007 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the results achieved in the first two years of observations of the double-pulsar system J0737-3039A/B. Its orbital parameters and close distance allow to perform unprecedented tests of the theories of Gravity and of the physics of highly condensed matter. The discovery of this system enhances of about an order of magnitude the estimate of the merger rate of double neutron stars systems, opening new possibilities for the current generation of gravitational wave detectors. The high orbital inclination offers the opportunity of using the radio beams from one of the two sources as a probe for studying the magnetosphere of the other. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-pulsar system J0737-3039 is the most fascinating pulsar discovery of last decade. Its orbital parameters and close distance allow to perform unprecedented tests of theories of Gravity and of the physics of highly condensed matter. The discovery of this system enhances of about an order of magnitude the estimate of the merger rate of double neutron-star systems, opening new possibilities for the current generation of gravitational-wave detectors. The high orbital inclination offers the opportunity of using the radio beams from one of the two sources as a probe for studying the magnetosphere of the other. We report the status of the observations and discuss short- and long-term perspectives. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]