Abstract:
In this talk, I review some of the basic properties of neutron stars and
pulsars, with a particular emphasis on recycled pulsars and their formation.
Recycled radio pulsars possess extraordinary long-term rotational stability,
which is in some cases similar to the best atomic clocks on Earth. Because of
their pulsed radio emission, we can precisely monitor their rotation from
Earth, which becomes especially interesting if the pulsar being monitored is in
a binary system. Pulsar timing allows a great range of unique applications at
the cutting edge of research in astrophysics, like searches for very low
frequency gravitational waves, precise measurements of neutron star masses
(which constrain the properties of super-dense matter), the only strong-field
tests of general relativity and studies of the fundamental properties of
space-time, gravity and gravitational radiation. The latter introduce very
stringent constraints on alternative theories of gravity. I will discuss
several recent results in these areas, what we have learned from them and some
future prospects.