Paper detail

A model for the orbital modulation of PSR J0737-3039B

A model was constructed to explain the orbit modulation of PSR J0737-3039B (referred to as B), which included the following suppositions: (1) B has arrived at the aged period and generally cannot emit observable light; (2) The PSR J0737-3039A (referred to as A) is dynamic and is encircled by dense charged particles. When A revolves along its orbit, some of the particles are scattered and form a particle cloud band along its orbit; (3) When passing the two intersection points of the orbits, B goes through the cloud band and drives the cloud particles to emit light; (4) Generally, B passes twice through the cloud band every orbit cycle; hence, there are two bright phases along the orbit. (5) It is the complexities of the distribution of the cloud particles and B's emission region that cause the bright phases to drift away from the orbit intersections. We also provide two predictions for the coming performance of B to test our model.