A New Method for Obtaining Binary Pulsar Distances and its Implications for Tests of General Relativity

Abstract

We demonstrate how measuring orbital period derivatives can lead to more accurate distance estimates and transverse velocities for some nearby binary pulsars. In many cases this method will estimate distances more accurately than is possible by annual parallax, as the relative error decreases as t^-5/2. Unfortunately, distance uncertainties limit the degree to which nearby relativistic binary pulsars can be used for testing the general relativistic prediction of orbital period decay to a few percent. Nevertheless, the measured orbital period derivative of PSR B1534+12 agrees within the observational uncertainties with that predicted by general relativity if the proper-motion contribution is accounted for.