2010ApJ...722.1030W

We present results of more than three decades of timing measurements of the first known binary pulsar, PSR B1913+16. Like most other pulsars, its rotational behavior over such long timescales is significantly affected by small-scale irregularities not explicitly accounted for in a deterministic model. Nevertheless, the physically important astrometric, spin, and orbital parameters are well determined and well decoupled from the timing noise. We have determined a significant result for proper motion, µ_α = -1.43±0.13, µ_δ= -0.70±0.13 mas/yr. The pulsar exhibited a small timing glitch in 2003 May, with Δf/f = 3.7x10^–11, and a smaller timing peculiarity in mid-1992. A relativistic solution for orbital parameters yields improved mass estimates for the pulsar and its companion, m₁= 1.4398±0.0002 M_☉ and m₂= 1.3886±0.0002 M_☉. The system's orbital period has been decreasing at a rate 0.997±0.002 times that predicted as a result of gravitational radiation damping in general relativity. As we have shown before, this result provides conclusive evidence for the existence of gravitational radiation as predicted by Einstein's theory.