Observational Constraints on the Completeness of Space near Astrophysical Objects

Abstract

We consider the observational effects of a deficit angle, w, in the topology of the solar system and in the 'double pulsar' system PSR J0737-3039A/B. Using observations of the perihelion precession of Mercury, and the gravitational deflection of light due to the Sun, we constrain the magnitude of such a deficit angle in the solar system to be 2*pi*(1-w), with 0<(1-w)<10^(-9) at 95% confidence. We calculate the effects of a deficit angle on the periastron advance, geodetic precession rate and inclination angle of the double pulsar system and use the observational data to obtain the constraint 0<(1-w)<2.4*10^(-8) at 95% confidence. Although this result is weaker than the solar system bound, it is in a very different physical environment, where accumulating data is likely to lead to tighter constraints in the future.