Shapiro delay in PSR~J1811$-$2405

Abstract

This paper presents the first detection of Shapiro delay from the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J1811-2405. We report a 11-${\sigma}$ measurement of the orthometric amplitude, h$_3$=6.8(6)x10$^{-7}$, and a 16-${\sigma}$ measurement of the orthometric ratio, ${\varsigma}$= 0.81(5). Given the relatively high orbital inclination, i= 79(2) deg, of this binary system, we obtain constraints on the companion mass of m$_c$= 0.31$\substack{+0.08 \\ -0.06}M_\odot$. The pulsar mass is currently less well constrained, with a value of 2.0$\substack{+0.8 \\ -0.5}M_\odot$. The companion mass and the orbital period are in agreement with the prediction made by previous numerical calculations of the evolution of compact binary systems. From a study of the polarization, we find that the orbital inclination angle is ~100 deg and that PSR J1811-2405 is an orthogonal rotator. In addition, the ${\mu}$s-level timing precision together with its narrow profile make PSR J1811-2405 a good candidate for inclusion in the pulsar timing arrays being used to detect nHz Gravitational waves.