Did Einstein's Theory of Relativity Predict the Mass of Binary Stars?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of Einstein's theory of relativity in the context of binary stars, particularly focusing on how recent studies and observations, such as those from the Kepler mission, relate to the mass measurements of binary star systems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight that the Kepler study utilized gravitational lensing to determine the mass of a white dwarf and subsequently measure the mass of a red dwarf, suggesting a synergy between Kepler's data and Einstein's theory of relativity in understanding binary star evolution.
  • Others reference a study on a massive pulsar in a compact relativistic binary, noting that the observed orbital decay aligns with predictions from general relativity, which may challenge alternative theories regarding strong-field phenomena.
  • One participant introduces an information-theoretic principle that suggests any discrete physical theory is classical, implying a foundational aspect of relativity based on a spacetime continuum.
  • Another participant mentions the detection of B-mode polarization in the cosmic microwave background, linking it to gravitational waves, although the relevance to binary stars is not explicitly stated.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion includes multiple viewpoints regarding the implications of relativity on binary star mass measurements, with no clear consensus on the interpretations or significance of the findings presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of certainty about the implications of the studies mentioned, and there are unresolved questions regarding the relationship between gravitational waves and binary star dynamics.

audioloop
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Einstein reconfirmed

"In the new Kepler study, scientists used the gravitational lensing to determine the mass of the white dwarf. By combining this information with all the data they acquired, the scientists were also able to measure accurately the mass of the red dwarf and the physical sizes of both stars. Kepler's data and Einstein's theory of relativity have together led to a better understanding of how binary stars evolve"



http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/767/2/111/

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1304.1165.pdf
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Detection of B-mode Polarization in the Cosmic Microwave Background with Data from the South Pole Telescope
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1307.5830v1.pdf

modes B polarization comes from gravitational waves.
 
Thanks. The detection of B polarization is very significant if I'm not mistaken.
 

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