Estimating the sensitivity of pulsar timing arrays. (30th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moore, C J; Taylor, S R; Gair, J R
• Is Part Of: Classical and quantum gravity. Volume 32:Number 5(2015:Mar.)
• Publication Date: 2015-01-30
• Subjects: pulsar timing -- gravitational waves -- black holes; Quantum gravity -- Periodicals; Gravitation -- Periodicals; Relativity (Physics) -- Periodicals; Space and time -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 521.1
• DOI: 10.1088/0264-9381/32/5/055004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-9381

Abstract

Abstract: The sensitivity curve of a canonical pulsar timing array is calculated for two types of source: a monochromatic wave and a stochastic background. These calculations are performed in both a Bayesian and frequentist framework, using both analytical and numerical methods. These calculations are used to clarify the interpretation of the sensitivity curves and to illustrate the sometimes overlooked fact that the sensitivity curve depends not only on the properties of the pulse time-of-arrival data set but also on the properties of the source being observed. The Bayesian and frequentist frameworks were found to give consistent results and the analytic and numerical calculations were also found to be in good agreement.