GBT18B-226

The North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves

Abstract

Direct detection of gravitational waves (GW) has opened an entirely new astronomical spectrum for exploration of the universe. High-precision millisecond pulsar timing is sensitive to nHz-frequency GW, an area of parameter space complementary to higher-frequency experiments such as LIGO. Combining data from many objects into a Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) makes GW detection possible. Long timing baselines (>10 years) dramatically improve GW sensitivity. Increasing the number of pulsars in the array also improves sensitivity, and the past several years have continued to see large numbers of new MSPs discovered. In this Large Proposal, we request time to continue and expand our ongoing PTA project over the next two years, adding four newly discovered pulsars. These results will provide the best nHz GW sensitivity yet achieved, and will likely result in the first direct detection of nHz-frequency GW.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Paul Demorest *	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
GBT Operator	Green Bank Observatory
Ann Schmiedekamp	Pennsylvania State University Abington
Jing Luo	Toronto, University of
Brent Shapiro-Albert	West Virginia University
Maura McLaughlin	West Virginia University
Zaven Arzoumanian	Goddard Space Flight Center
Paul Baker	West Virginia University; Widener University
Paul Brook	West Virginia University
Thankful Cromartie	Cornell University; Virginia, University of; Naval Research Laboratory
Megan DeCesar	George Mason University
Timothy Dolch	Cornell University; Oberlin College; Hillsdale College
Robert Ferdman	McGill University; East Anglia, University of
Elizabeth Ferrara	Goddard Space Flight Center
Emmanuel Fonseca	British Columbia, University of; McGill University; West Virginia University
Peter Gentile	West Virginia University
Megan Jones	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Michael Lam	Cornell University; Rochester Institute of Technology; West Virginia University; SETI Institute
Lina Levin	Manchester, University of; Manchester, University of
Dunc Lorimer	West Virginia University
Ryan Lynch	Green Bank Observatory
Cherry Ng	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; Toronto, University of
Timothy Pennucci	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem
Scott Ransom	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Virginia, University of
Renee Spiewak	Manchester, University of
Ingrid Stairs	British Columbia, University of
Kevin Stovall	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; New Mexico, University of; Texas at Brownsville, University of
Joseph Swiggum	West Virginia University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Weiwei Zhu	British Columbia, University of; Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; National Astronomical Observatories, CAS
William Fiore	British Columbia, University of; West Virginia University
Zachary Komassa	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Natasha McMann	Fisk University
Nihan Pol	Oregon State University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of; Texas Tech University
Alexander McEwen	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Deborah Good	Montana, University of
Gabriella Agazie	West Virginia University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Kathryn Crowter	British Columbia, University of
Shami Chatterjee	Cornell University
Kaleb Maraccini	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Jim Cordes	Cornell University
David Nice	Lafayette College
Xavier Siemens	Oregon State University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of

* indicates the PI