Pulsar discovery by global volunteer computing

Knispel, B. et al. (2010) Pulsar discovery by global volunteer computing. Science, 329(5997), p. 1305. (doi: 10.1126/science.1195253) (PMID:20705813)

Abstract

Einstein@Home aggregates the computer power of hundreds of thousands of volunteers from 192 countries to mine large data sets. It has now found a 40.8-hertz isolated pulsar in radio survey data from the Arecibo Observatory taken in February 2007. Additional timing observations indicate that this pulsar is likely a disrupted recycled pulsar. PSR J2007+2722’s pulse profile is remarkably wide with emission over almost the entire spin period; the pulsar likely has closely aligned magnetic and spin axes. The massive computing power provided by volunteers should enable many more such discoveries.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Messenger, Dr Christopher
• Authors: Knispel, B., Allen, B., Cordes, J. M., Deneva, J. S., Anderson, D., Aulbert, C., Bhat, N. D. R., Bock, O., Bogdanov, S., Brazier, A., Camilo, F., Champion, D. J., Chatterjee, S., Crawford, F., Demorest, P. B., Fehrmann, H., Freire, P. C. C., Gonzalez, M. E., Hammer, D., Hessels, J. W. T., Jenet, F. A., Kasian, L., Kaspi, V. M., Kramer, M., Lazarus, P., van Leeuwen, J., Lorimer, D. R., Lyne, A. G., Machenschalk, B., McLaughlin, M. A., Messenger, C., Nice, D. J., Papa, M. A., Pletsch, H. J., Prix, R., Ransom, S. M., Siemens, X., Stairs, I. H., Stappers, B. W., Stovall, K., and Venkataraman, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Science
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• ISSN (Online): 1095-9203