GBT21B-996

The North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves

Abstract

The era of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy is underway, but the full GW spectrum has yet to be explored. Precision pulsar timing complements laser experiments by probing much lower (nHz) frequencies and thus different GW sources, especially supermassive black hole (MBH) binaries. Combining many pulsars' data into a Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) makes GW detection possible. Long timing baselines (10+ years) and large numbers of pulsars dramatically improve GW sensitivity. The NANOGrav PTA has observed 78 pulsars with the GBT and Arecibo, with longest timing baselines 16 years, and has recently published what could be the first hint of a GW background (GWB) signal in our 12.5-year data set. More data are needed to confirm a detection and begin characterizing the spectrum. The sudden and devastating loss of Arecibo necessitates a significant restructuring of our timing campaign to continue timing as many pulsars as possible. We propose a joint GBT/VLA campaign: moving most Arecibo pulsars to the GBT, dropping seven; dropping our GBT 820 MHz campaign except for pulsars not observable with CHIME; and expanding our VLA S-band program. Our simulations suggest that these data will provide an irrefutable GWB detection and allow us to begin characterizing the spectrum.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Alexander Saffer	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; West Virginia University
Ross Jennings	Cornell University; West Virginia University
Paul Demorest *	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Tasha Gautam	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Megan DeCesar	George Mason University
Joseph Swiggum	West Virginia University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
GBT Operator	Green Bank Observatory
Timothy Dolch	Cornell University; Oberlin College; Hillsdale College
Ryan Lynch	Green Bank Observatory; West Virginia University
Thankful Cromartie	Cornell University; Virginia, University of; Naval Research Laboratory
Harsha Blumer	West Virginia University
Xavier Siemens	Oregon State University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Deborah Good	Montana, University of
Brent Shapiro-Albert	West Virginia University
Nihan Pol	Oregon State University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Megan Jones	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Timothy Pennucci	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem
Scott Ransom	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Virginia, University of
Chiara Mingarelli	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Sarah Vigeland	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Caitlin Witt	Northwestern University; Adler Planetarium
Stephen Taylor	Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Ingrid Stairs	British Columbia, University of
David Nice	Lafayette College
Joe Lazio	Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Maura McLaughlin	West Virginia University
Dustin Madison	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Jing Luo	Toronto, University of
Dunc Lorimer	West Virginia University
Michael Lam	Cornell University; Rochester Institute of Technology; West Virginia University; SETI Institute
Elizabeth Ferrara	Goddard Space Flight Center
Paul Ray	Naval Research Laboratory
Tyler Cohen	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Fronefield Crawford	Franklin and Marshall College
David Kaplan	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Paul Baker	West Virginia University; Widener University
Zaven Arzoumanian	Goddard Space Flight Center
Jim Cordes	Cornell University
Daniel Stinebring	Oberlin College
Shami Chatterjee	Cornell University
Jeffrey Hazboun	Oregon State University; Washington Bothell, University of
Emmanuel Fonseca	British Columbia, University of; McGill University; West Virginia University

* indicates the PI