Relativistic Lighthouses: The Role of the Binary Pulsar in proving the existence of Gravitational Waves

Daniel Kennefick

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arXiv · 1407.2164

Relativistic Lighthouses: The Role of the Binary Pulsar in proving the existence of Gravitational Waves

Daniel Kennefick

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Abstract

This paper discusses the role of the discovery and analysis of the first binary pulsar in settling the long-running quadrupole formula controversy over the status of gravitational waves as a prediction of general relativity. It also discusses how we should understand the resolution of this controversy in the context of the so-called science wars. In other words it discusses whether concepts such as interpretive flexibility and the experimenters' regress can shed light on what can also be seen as a classical confirmation of realist expectations, in which a theoretical controversy is settled by a conclusive experiment.

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Daniel Kennefick. 2014-07-08. Relativistic Lighthouses: The Role of the Binary Pulsar in proving the existence of Gravitational Waves. https://arxiv.org/abs/1407.2164

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