Vivek Venkatraman Krishnan (Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Germany)

Vivek Krishnan Colloquium: Timing and searching for binary pulsar systems with the MeerKAT telescope

Webex

Abstract

Pulsars in relativistic binary (RelBin) systems are remarkable laboratories in space for understanding gravity and binary evolution. Timing pulsars in such binaries have long provided some of the most precise measurements of neutron star masses; tests of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity; and have been pivotal in our understanding of the evolution of compact object binaries. The advent of the MeerKAT telescope, with its superior sensitivity in the Southern sky, has been transformational for RelBin science: Timing previously known systems have provided rapid mass measurements and search for new systems have resulted in a slew of discoveries via both targeted and all sky searches. In this talk, I will provide an overview of the ongoing pulsar timing and searching efforts with the MeerKAT telescope, and discuss the exciting science that these observations have already enabled, with a particular focus on the RelBin systems.