<p>One of the predictions of general relativity is that certain objects can give off energy in the form of gravitational radiation. This means that over time, the orbits of the two neutron stars should decay, and they should come closer to each other. Using relativistic formulae, it is possible to predict the changes in the orbits and the energy of the emitted gravitational waves; analysis of the system showed that general relativity's predictions were correct.</p>

<p>Studying gravitational waves requires linearizing the Einstein field equations. However, these can be reduced to certain simpler formulae when it comes to detecting waves from a binary system, as was the case with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulse%E2%80%93Taylor_binary" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hulse-Taylor binary</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-12T20:04:18.337Z
The Davis paper reports "an ongoing controversy as to the correct radiation rate predicted by general relativity".
steveOw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-12T22:27:33.023Z
@steveOw Can you remind me where that is? It's been a while since I read through that paper.
HDE 226868
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-13T01:10:09.147Z
http://www.davis-inc.com/relativity/grav-rad1.pdf as linked in your question above :)
steveOw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-13T01:11:20.847Z
@steveOw Oh, you misunderstood me. I meant where in the paper. :-)
HDE 226868
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-13T01:20:35.737Z
Aha...Page 6 paragraph 1.
steveOw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-06T16:57:26.230Z
2016-11-02T22:24:20.273Z
2016-11-02T22:24:20.273Z
HDE 226868
<p>What measurements and observations of the Hulse-Taylor Pulsar agreed precisely with the predictions of general relativity, and how did these measurements support the theory?</p>

<general-relativity><pulsar><gravitational-waves>
How did the Hulse-Taylor Pulsar Provide Confirming Evidence of General Relativity?
Frank
# How did the Hulse-Taylor Pulsar Provide Confirming Evidence of General Relativity?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-06)

What measurements and observations of the Hulse-Taylor Pulsar agreed precisely with the predictions of general relativity, and how did these measurements support the theory?

**Tags:** general-relativity, pulsar, gravitational-waves

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-08-06. Score: 3

One of the predictions of general relativity is that certain objects can give off energy in the form of gravitational radiation. This means that over time, the orbits of the two neutron stars should decay, and they should come closer to each other. Using relativistic formulae, it is possible to predict the changes in the orbits and the energy of the emitted gravitational waves; analysis of the system showed that general relativity's predictions were correct.

Studying gravitational waves requires linearizing the Einstein field equations. However, these can be reduced to certain simpler formulae when it comes to detecting waves from a binary system, as was the case with the [Hulse-Taylor binary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulse%E2%80%93Taylor_binary).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The Davis paper reports "an ongoing controversy as to the correct radiation rate predicted by general relativity".  
> **username_1**: @steveOw Can you remind me where that is? It's been a while since I read through that paper.  
> **username_2**: http://www.davis-inc.com/relativity/grav-rad1.pdf as linked in your question above :)  
> **username_1**: @steveOw Oh, you misunderstood me. I meant where in the paper. :-)  
> **username_2**: Aha...Page 6 paragraph 1.  

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