scholarly journals Timing of young radio pulsars – II. Braking indices and their interpretation

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (2) ◽  
pp. 2012-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Parthasarathy ◽  
S Johnston ◽  
R M Shannon ◽  
L Lentati ◽  
M Bailes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Radio Telescope ◽  
Archival Data ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Timing Noise

ABSTRACT In Paper I of this series, we detected a significant value of the braking index (n) for 19 young, high-$\dot{E}$ radio pulsars using ∼10 yr of timing observations from the 64-m Parkes radio telescope. Here, we investigate this result in more detail using a Bayesian pulsar timing framework to model timing noise and to perform selection to distinguish between models containing exponential glitch recovery and braking index signatures. We show that consistent values of n are maintained with the addition of substantial archival data, even in the presence of glitches. We provide strong arguments that our measurements are unlikely due to exponential recovery signals from unseen glitches even though glitches play a key role in the evolution of a pulsar’s spin frequency. We conclude that, at least over decadal time-scales, the value of n can be significantly larger than the canonical 3 and discuss the implications for the evolution of pulsars.

scholarly journals Diagnostics of timing noise in middle-aged pulsars

2019 ◽  
Vol 487 (4) ◽  
pp. 5854-5861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nakornping Namkham ◽  
Phrudth Jaroenjittichai ◽  
Simon Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Radio Telescope ◽  
Strong Correlation ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
Millisecond Pulsars ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Timing Noise

ABSTRACT Radio pulsars are often used as clocks in a wide variety of experiments. Imperfections in the clock, known as timing noise, have the potential to reduce the significance of, or even thwart e.g. the attempt to find a stochastic gravitational wave (GW) background. We measure the timing noise in a group of 129 mostly middle-aged pulsars (i.e. characteristic ages near 1 Myr) observed with the Parkes radio telescope on a monthly basis since 2014. We examine four different metrics for timing noise, but it remains unclear which, if any, provides the best determination. In spite of this, it is evident that these pulsars have significantly less timing noise than their younger counterparts, but significantly more than the (much older) millisecond pulsars (MSPs). As with previous authors, we find a strong correlation between timing noise and the pulsar spin-down rate, $\dot{\nu}$. However, for a given $\dot{\nu}$ there is a spread of about a factor of 30 in the strength of the timing noise likely indicating that nuclear conditions in the interior of the stars differ between objects. We briefly comment on the implications for GW detection through pulsar timing arrays as the level of timing noise in MSPs may be less than predicted.

scholarly journals Timing of young radio pulsars – I. Timing noise, periodic modulation, and proper motion

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (3) ◽  
pp. 3810-3826 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Parthasarathy ◽  
R M Shannon ◽  
S Johnston ◽  
L Lentati ◽  
M Bailes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Inference ◽  
Plasma Physics ◽  
Proper Motion ◽  
Noise Amplitude ◽  
Periodic Modulation ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Timing Noise

ABSTRACT The smooth spin-down of young pulsars is perturbed by two non-deterministic phenomenon, glitches, and timing noise. Although the timing noise provides insights into nuclear and plasma physics at extreme densities, it acts as a barrier to high-precision pulsar timing experiments. An improved methodology based on the Bayesian inference is developed to simultaneously model the stochastic and deterministic parameters for a sample of 85 high-$\dot{E}$ radio pulsars observed for ∼10 yr with the 64-m Parkes radio telescope. Timing noise is known to be a red process and we develop a parametrization based on the red-noise amplitude (Ared) and spectral index (β). We measure the median Ared to be $-10.4^{+1.8}_{-1.7}$ yr3/2 and β to be $-5.2^{+3.0}_{-3.8}$ and show that the strength of timing noise scales proportionally to $\nu ^{1}|\dot{\nu }|^{-0.6\pm 0.1}$, where ν is the spin frequency of the pulsar and $\dot{\nu }$ is its spin-down rate. Finally, we measure significant braking indices for 19 pulsars and proper motions for 2 pulsars, and discuss the presence of periodic modulation in the arrival times of 5 pulsars.

scholarly journals Pulsar timing at Kalyazin (Russia)

2000 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 57-60
Author(s):  
O.V. Doroshenko ◽  
Yu.P. Ilyasov ◽  
V.V. Oreshko
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Local Time ◽  
Radio Telescope ◽  
Orthogonal Polarization ◽  
Hydrogen Maser ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Time Service ◽  
Binary Pulsars ◽  
Front End ◽  
Pulsar Timing

AbstractRegular timing observations of millisecond and binary pulsars are made with the 64-m radio telescope at Kalyazin (Russia). Filterbank 160-channel receiver is used for observations at 0.6 GHz in two circular orthogonal polarization. Precise local time service (based upon a rubidium standards and hydrogen maser) is used for measurements of Times-of-Arrival (TOA) from radio pulsars. A local time scale is compared by GPS and TV-systems with the basic AT-scales (UTC(USNO) and UTC(SU)) within an accuracy about 50nsper day. Recently the second 1.4 GHz receiver (250 kHz × 64 channels) was constructed and installed at Kalyazin radio telescope. There is a possibility to combine a part of the 1.4 GHz back-end with the 2.2 GHz front-end to produce timing observations at three frequencies simultaneously. We present a results of precise timing observations conducted by the Kalyazin pulsar system. Most of data were obtained at 0.6 GHz in 1997–1999. The data will be used for valuable applications in fundamental metrology, interstellar medium, general relativity and pulsar physics itself.

scholarly journals A pulsar-based time-scale from the International Pulsar Timing Array

2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (4) ◽  
pp. 5951-5965 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Hobbs ◽  
L Guo ◽  
R N Caballero ◽  
W Coles ◽  
K J Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Solar System Dynamics ◽  
Noise Models ◽  
Pulsar Timing Array

ABSTRACT We have constructed a new time-scale, TT(IPTA16), based on observations of radio pulsars presented in the first data release from the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA). We used two analysis techniques with independent estimates of the noise models for the pulsar observations and different algorithms for obtaining the pulsar time-scale. The two analyses agree within the estimated uncertainties and both agree with TT(BIPM17), a post-corrected time-scale produced by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). We show that both methods could detect significant errors in TT(BIPM17) if they were present. We estimate the stability of the atomic clocks from which TT(BIPM17) is derived using observations of four rubidium fountain clocks at the US Naval Observatory. Comparing the power spectrum of TT(IPTA16) with that of these fountain clocks suggests that pulsar-based time-scales are unlikely to contribute to the stability of the best time-scales over the next decade, but they will remain a valuable independent check on atomic time-scales. We also find that the stability of the pulsar-based time-scale is likely to be limited by our knowledge of solar-system dynamics, and that errors in TT(BIPM17) will not be a limiting factor for the primary goal of the IPTA, which is to search for the signatures of nano-Hertz gravitational waves.

scholarly journals Modeling pulsar time noise with long term decay modulated by short term oscillations of the magnetic fields of neutron stars

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S291) ◽  
pp. 561-561
Author(s):  
Yi Xie ◽  
Shuangnan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Pulsar Time ◽  
Power Law Decay ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Timing Noise

AbstractWe model the evolution of the magnetic fields of neutron stars as consisting of a long term power-law decay modulated by short term small amplitude oscillations. Our model predictions on the timing noise of neutron stars agree well with the observed statistical properties and correlations of normal radio pulsars. For individual pulsars our model can effectively reduce their timing residuals, thus offering the potential of more sensitive detections of gravitational waves with pulsar timing arrays. Finally our model can also re-produce their observed correlation and oscillations of second derivative of frenquency, as well as the “slow glitch” phenomenon.

scholarly journals The UTMOST pulsar timing programme – II. Timing noise across the pulsar population

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (1) ◽  
pp. 228-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
M E Lower ◽  
M Bailes ◽  
R M Shannon ◽  
S Johnston ◽  
C Flynn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Rotational Stability ◽  
Scaling Relation ◽  
Noise Strength ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Bayesian Techniques ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Rotational Evolution ◽  
Timing Noise ◽  
Noise Models

ABSTRACT While pulsars possess exceptional rotational stability, large-scale timing studies have revealed at least two distinct types of irregularities in their rotation: red timing noise and glitches. Using modern Bayesian techniques, we investigated the timing noise properties of 300 bright southern-sky radio pulsars that have been observed over 1.0–4.8 yr by the upgraded Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST). We reanalysed the spin and spin-down changes associated with nine previously reported pulsar glitches, report the discovery of three new glitches and four unusual glitch-like events in the rotational evolution of PSR J1825−0935. We develop a refined Bayesian framework for determining how red noise strength scales with pulsar spin frequency (ν) and spin-down frequency ($\dot{\nu }$), which we apply to a sample of 280 non-recycled pulsars. With this new method and a simple power-law scaling relation, we show that red noise strength scales across the non-recycled pulsar population as $\nu ^{a} |\dot{\nu }|^{b}$, where $a = -0.84^{+0.47}_{-0.49}$ and $b = 0.97^{+0.16}_{-0.19}$. This method can be easily adapted to utilize more complex, astrophysically motivated red noise models. Lastly, we highlight our timing of the double neutron star PSR J0737−3039, and the rediscovery of a bright radio pulsar originally found during the first Molonglo pulsar surveys with an incorrectly catalogued position.

scholarly journals Precision Pulsar Timing with NASA's Deep Space Network

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (A29B) ◽  
pp. 367-369
Author(s):  
Lawrence Teitelbaum ◽  
Walid Majid ◽  
Manuel M. Franco ◽  
Daniel J. Hoppe ◽  
Shinji Horiuchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Radio Waves ◽  
Deep Space ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
Deep Space Network ◽  
Space Network ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Initial Results ◽  
Stable Rotation

AbstractMillisecond pulsars (MSPs) are a class of radio pulsars with extremely stable rotation. Their excellent timing stability can be used to study a wide variety of astrophysical phenomena. In particular, a large sample of these pulsars can be used to detect low-frequency gravitational waves. We have developed a precision pulsar timing backend for the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN), which will allow the use of short gaps in tracking schedules to time pulses from an ensemble of MSPs. The DSN operates clusters of large dish antennas (up to 70-m in diameter), located roughly equidistant around the Earth, for communication and tracking of deep-space spacecraft. The backend system will be capable of removing entirely the dispersive effects of propagation of radio waves through the interstellar medium in real-time. We will describe our development work, initial results, and prospects for future observations over the next few years.

scholarly journals Pulsar science with the CHIME telescope

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S337) ◽  
pp. 179-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherry Ng
Keyword(s):  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Radio Telescope ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Radio Bursts ◽  
Radio Telescopes ◽  
Acoustic Oscillations ◽  
Daily Monitoring ◽  
Intensity Mapping ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Pulsar Timing Array

AbstractThe CHIME telescope (the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment) recently built in Penticton, Canada, is currently being commissioned. Originally designed as a cosmology experiment, it was soon recognized that CHIME has the potential to simultaneously serve as an incredibly useful radio telescope for pulsar science. CHIME operates across a wide bandwidth of 400–800 MHz and will have a collecting area and sensitivity comparable to that of the 100-m class radio telescopes. CHIME has a huge field of view of ~250 square degrees. It will be capable of observing 10 pulsars simultaneously, 24-hours per day, every day, while still accomplishing its missions to study Baryon Acoustic Oscillations and Fast Radio Bursts. It will carry out daily monitoring of roughly half of all pulsars in the northern hemisphere, including all NANOGrav pulsars employed in the Pulsar Timing Array project. It will cycle through all pulsars in the northern hemisphere with a range of cadence of no more than 10 days.

scholarly journals Pulsar timing measurements with the 32-m TCfA radiotelescope

2000 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 63-64
Author(s):  
W. Lewandowski ◽  
M. Konacki ◽  
M. Redmerska ◽  
G. Feiler ◽  
A. Wolszczan
Keyword(s):  
Single Pulse ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Orbital Inclination ◽  
Dual Channel ◽  
Timing Precision ◽  
Pulsar Timing ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Timing Noise

Accurate, long-term timing measurements of pulsars provide a powerful method to study a variety of astrophysical phenomena. For “normal”, slow pulsars, the dominant factors that limit the timing precision are the intrinsic timing noise and single pulse “jitter” (e.g. Cordes 1993). In fact, because the pulse jitter surpasses radiometer noise for sufficiently strong pulsars and no further improvement of the timing precision can be achieved by increasing the antenna gain, the timing of such sources can be very efficiently conducted with suitably equipped medium-size radiotelescopes.We have been timing slow pulsars with the 32-m TCfA radiotelescope in Toruń, Poland, since July 1996, using a dual-channel, circular polarization L-band receiving system at frequencies around 1.7 GHz, and a 2 × 64 × 3 MHz channel pulsar backend, the Penn State Pulsar Machine - 2 (PSPM-2; for more details, see Konacki et al. 1999). Our gradually expanding source list currently includes 88 pulsars timed once a week with a millisecond precision using the observatory’s UTC-calibrated H-maser clock. Data analysis is routinely performed with the TEMPO software package. With a particularly dense, weekly sampling and a ≤1 ms timing precision, the TCfA program has a sensitivity to detect previously overlooked short period, low orbital inclination binaries, as well as very low-mass, planetary companions. In addition, it will be very useful in identifying and monitoring pulsar timing glitches and other forms of the timing noise.

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