Timing Measurements of the Relativistic Binary Pulsar PSR B1913+16

We present results of more than three decades of timing measurements of the first known binary pulsar, PSR B1913+16. Like most other pulsars, its rotational behavior over such long time scales is significantly affected by small-scale irregularities not explicitly accounted for in a deterministic model. Nevertheless, the physically important astrometric, spin, and orbital parameters are well determined and well decoupled from the timing noise. We have determined a significant result for proper motion, $mu_{alpha} = -1.43pm0.13$, $mu_{delta}=-0.70pm0.13$ mas yr$^{-1}$. The pulsar exhibited a small timing glitch in May 2003, with ${Delta f}/f=3.7times10^{-11}$, and a smaller timing peculiarity in mid-1992. A relativistic solution for orbital parameters yields improved mass estimates for the pulsar and its companion, $m_1=1.4398pm0.0002 M_{sun}$ and $m_2=1.3886pm0.0002 M_{sun}$. The systems orbital period has been decreasing at a rate $0.997pm0.002$ times that predicted as a result of gravitational radiation damping in general relativity. As we have shown before, this result provides conclusive evidence for the existence of gravitational radiation as predicted by Einsteins theory.