GBT20A-998

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

* indicates the PI