Optimizing Pulsar Timing Arrays to Maximize Gravitational Wave Single Source Detection: a First Cut

Details Optimizing Pulsar Timing Arrays to Maximize Gravitational Wave Single Source Detection: a First Cut Optimizing Pulsar Timing Arrays to Maximize Gravitational Wave Single Source Detection: a First Cut

2010-05-27

arxiv.org/abs/1005.5163v3

Astrophys.J.730:17,2011

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics

14 pages, 3 figures, accepted by ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1088/0004-637X/730/1/17

Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs) use high accuracy timing of a collection of low timing noise pulsars to search for gravitational waves in the microhertz to nanohertz frequency band. The sensitivity of such a PTA depends on (a) the direction of the gravitational wave source, (b) the timing accuracy of the pulsars in the array and (c) how the available observing time is allocated among those pulsars. Here, we present a simple way to calculate the sensitivity of the PTA as a function of direction of a single GW source, based only on the location and root-mean-square residual of the pulsars in the array. We use this calculation to suggest future strategies for the current North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) PTA in its goal of detecting single GW sources. We also investigate the affects of an additional pulsar on the array sensitivity, with the goal of suggesting where PTA pulsar searches might be best directed. We demonstrate that, in the case of single GW sources, if we are interested in maximizing the volume of space to which PTAs are sensitive, there exists a slight advantage to finding a new pulsar near where the array is already most sensitive. Further, the study suggests that more observing time should be dedicated to the already low noise pulsars in order to have the greatest positive effect on the PTA sensitivity. We have made a web-based sensitivity mapping tool available at http://gwastro.psu.edu/ptasm.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Optimizing Pulsar Timing Arrays to Maximize Gravitational Wave Single Source Detection: a First Cut does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Optimizing Pulsar Timing Arrays to Maximize Gravitational Wave Single Source Detection: a First Cut, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optimizing Pulsar Timing Arrays to Maximize Gravitational Wave Single Source Detection: a First Cut will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-15188