Null stream analysis of Pulsar Timing Array data: localisation of resolvable gravitational wave sources

Goldstein, J., Veitch, J. , Sesana, A. and Vecchio, A. (2018) Null stream analysis of Pulsar Timing Array data: localisation of resolvable gravitational wave sources. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 477(4), pp. 5447-5459. (doi: 10.1093/mnras/sty892)

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Abstract

Super-massive black hole binaries are expected to produce a gravitational wave (GW) signal in the nano-Hertz frequency band which may be detected by pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) in the coming years. The signal is composed of both stochastic and individually resolvable components. Here we develop a generic Bayesian method for the analysis of resolvable sources based on the construction of ‘null-streams’ which cancel the part of the signal held in common for each pulsar (the Earth-term). For an array of N pulsars there are N − 2 independent null-streams that cancel the GW signal from a particular sky location. This method is applied to the localisation of quasi-circular binaries undergoing adiabatic inspiral. We carry out a systematic investigation of the scaling of the localisation accuracy with signal strength and number of pulsars in the PTA. Additionally, we find that source sky localisation with the International PTA data release one is vastly superior than what is achieved by its constituent regional PTAs.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:JV and AV were supported by UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) grant ST/K005014/1 and ST/N000633/1, respectively.
Keywords:Space and planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Veitch, Dr John
Authors: Goldstein, J., Veitch, J., Sesana, A., and Vecchio, A.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Research Centre:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy > Institute for Gravitational Research
Journal Name:Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0035-8711
ISSN (Online):1365-2966
Published Online:10 April 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 477(4):5447-5459
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher
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