POLARIZATION OF THE BINARY RADIO PULSAR-1913+16 - CONSTRAINTS ON GEODETIC PRECESSION

Using polarization data, we determine the relative orientations of the line of sight and the pulsar's spin axis and magnetic moment. The data are sensitive enough to allow detection of spin-orbit geodetic precession in a few years if the spin axis is misaligned from the orbital angular momentum vector by more than a few degrees. From the secular pulse shape changes measured by Weisberg et al., we conclude that the misalignment angle is no more than 15° but is probably more than 1°. We propose a specific beaming model to account for the pulse shape changes.