Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We use the Bayesian methods in the ENTERPRISE package to examine the fully general parameterization of pulsar timing models in tandem with noise. We investigate four pulsars, PSRs J1600–3053, J2043+1711, J0740+6620, and J1640+2224, through the lens of Bayesian timing. We selected these pulsars as they are well studied but exhibit interesting characteristics through the lens of Bayesian timing. We generally find good agreement between best-fit and maximum a posteriori values, and in many cases more constrained parameter estimations, when comparing our method to various other Bayesian and frequentist generalized timing methods. We find tighter constraints on the estimated pulsar mass for three pulsars when using NANOGrav 12.5 yr data releases as compared to their published results. These constraints (medians and 68% confidence intervals) for our fully general nonlinear Bayesian timing models are m p = 1.6(1) M ⊙ for PSR J2043+1711 and m p = 2 . 3 − 0.7 + 0.9 M ⊙ for PSR J1600–3053 both using the NANOGrav 12.5 yr data release, and m p = 2.06(6) M ⊙ for PSR J0740+6620 using the data from E. Fonseca et al. We investigate the effects of placing physical priors on timing model parameters, including restricting the upper limit on the pulsar mass for PSR J1640+2224, which has a mass often estimated to be greater than 3 M ⊙ . We find that this results in a pulsar mass of m p = 2.2(5) M ⊙ for PSR J1640+2224 using the NANOGrav 12.5 yr data release. For the first time, we find evidence for intrinsic red noise in PSR J2043+1711. We show how fully general Bayesian timing can better model the interplay of the intrinsic noise and the timing parameters.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Authors: Andrew R. Kaiser, Jeffrey S. Hazboun, Maura A. McLaughlin, H. Thankful Cromartie, Emmanuel Fonseca, Joseph Simon, Stephen R. Taylor, Michele Vallisneri, Sarah J. Vigeland, Zaven Arzoumanian, Paul T. Baker, Harsha Blumer, Paul R. Brook, Ismael Cognard, Megan E. DeCesar, Paul B. Demorest, Timothy Dolch, F. Adam Dong, Justin A. Ellis, Robert D. Ferdman, Elizabeth C. Ferrara, William Fiore, Nate Garver-Daniels, Peter A. Gentile, Deborah C. Good, Lucas Guillemot, Ross J. Jennings, Megan L. Jones, David L. Kaplan, Matthew Kerr, Aida Yu. Kirichenko, Michael T. Lam, Duncan R. Lorimer, Jing Luo, Ryan S. Lynch, Alexander McEwen, James W. McKee, Natasha McMann, Bradley W. Meyers, Arun Naidu, Cherry Ng, David J. Nice, Aditya Parthasarathy, Timothy T. Pennucci, Benetge B. P. Perera, Nihan S. Pol, Henri A. Radovan, Scott M. Ransom, Paul S. Ray, Renée Spiewak, Brent J. Shapiro-Albert, Ingrid H. Stairs, Kevin Stovall, Joseph K. Swiggum, Chia Min Tan, Shriharsh P. Tendulkar, Haley M. Wahl, WeiWei Zhu
Institutions: West Virginia University, Oregon State University, Cornell University, Vanderbilt University, California Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Goddard Space Flight Center, Widener University, University of Birmingham, Université d'Orléans, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environnement et de l’Espace, George Mason University, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of New Mexico, Hillsdale College, Eureka Scientific, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, University of British Columbia, University of East Anglia, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Connecticut, Flatiron Institute, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ioffe Institute, University of Toronto, University of Hull, Curtin University, University of Oxford, Lafayette College, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Eötvös Loránd University, Arecibo Observatory, University of Puerto Rico System, University of Manchester, McGill University, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Centre for Radio Astrophysics
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Awards: NANOGrav Physics Frontier Center, MRI: Acquisition of Thorny Flat Next Generation Cluster for High-Performance Computing in West Virginia, G5541682171, Bionanotechnology for Public Security and Environmental Safety, The Construction of a Pulsar Interstellar Medium Array Detector, The NANOGrav Physics Frontiers Center
OpenAlex ID: W7162073540
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