The Double Pulsar System J0737-3039: Modulation of A by B at Eclipse

Authors :: Michael Kramer
N. D'Amico
N. D. R. Bhat
Fernando Camilo
Richard N. Manchester
M. Burgay
Duncan R. Lorimer
Andrew Lyne
Andrea Possenti
Ingrid H. Stairs
Maura McLaughlin
Paulo C. C. Freire
Bhal Chandra Joshi
Source :: The Astrophysical Journal. 616:L131-L134
Publication Year :: 2004
Publisher :: American Astronomical Society, 2004.
Abstract: We have investigated the eclipse of the 23-ms pulsar J0737-3039A by its 2.8-s companion PSR J0737-3039B in the recently discovered double pulsar system using data taken with the Green Bank Telescope at 820 MHz. We find that the pulsed flux density at eclipse is strongly modulated with half the periodicity of the 2.8-s pulsar. The eclipse occurs earlier and is deeper at those rotational phases of B when its magnetic axis is aligned with the line of sight than at phases when its magnetic axis is at right angles to the line of sight. This is consistent with the eclipse of A being due to synchrotron absorption by the shock-heated plasma surrounding B, the asymmetry arising from the higher plasma densities expected in the B magnetosphere's polar cusps.<br />Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted by ApJ Letters 18 October 2004