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

TL;DR

The paper examines how the discovery of the binary pulsar confirmed the existence of gravitational waves predicted by general relativity, addressing longstanding theoretical debates through experimental evidence.

Contribution

It analyzes the role of the binary pulsar in resolving the quadrupole formula controversy and discusses the philosophical implications of this scientific confirmation.

Findings

Binary pulsar observations support gravitational wave predictions

The controversy over the quadrupole formula is resolved by empirical data

The paper discusses philosophical aspects of scientific confirmation

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.