Timing stability of millisecond pulsars and prospects for gravitational-wave detection

The analysis of high-precision timing observations of an array of ~20 millisecond pulsars (a so-called 'timing array') may ultimately result in the detection of a stochastic gravitational-wave background. The feasibility of such a detection and the required duration of this type of experiment are determined by the achievable rms of the timing residuals and the timing stability of the pulsars involved. We present results of the first long-term, high-precision timing campaign on a large sample of millisecond pulsars used in gravitational-wave detection projects. We show that the timing residuals of most pulsars in our sample do not contain significant low-frequency noise that could limit the use of these pulsars…

• CS
  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 10803004
• CS
  Chongqing Science and Technology Commission