Generalized Nonlinear Bayesian Pulsar Timing with ENTERPRISE
Abstract
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.
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Authors: Andrew Kaiser, Jeffrey S. Hazboun, M. A. McLaughlin, H. Thankful Cromartie, Emmanuel Fonseca, Joseph Simon, Stephen R. Taylor, Michele Vallisneri, Sarah J. Vigeland, Zaven Arzoumanian, P. T. Baker, Harsha Blumer, Paul R. Brook, Ismaël Cognard, Megan E. DeCesar, Paul B. Demorest, Timothy Dolch, Fengqiu Adam Dong, Justin A. Ellis, Robert D. Ferdman, E. 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 T. Kerr, A. Yu. Kirichenko, Michael T. Lam, Duncan R. Lorimer, Jing‐Jia Luo, Ryan S. Lynch, Alexander McEwen, James W. McKee, Natasha McMann, Bradley W. Meyers, Arun Naidu, Cherry Ng, David J. Nice, A. Parthasarathy, Timothy T. Pennucci, Benetge B. P. Perera, Nihan S. Pol, H. A. Radovan, S. M. Ransom, Paul S. Ray, R. 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: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, University of British Columbia, University of Oxford, Vanderbilt University, University of Manchester, Cornell University, University of Toronto, Curtin University, University of Connecticut, Goddard Space Flight Center, Oregon State University, University of Maryland, College Park, George Mason University, University of Birmingham, McGill University, West Virginia University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, University of East Anglia, Université d'Orléans, California Institute of Technology, University of New Mexico, Eötvös Loránd University, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Observatoire de Paris, University of Puerto Rico System, Lafayette College, University of Hull, Flatiron Institute, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Widener University, Ioffe Institute, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Laboratoire Chimie de l'Environnement, Hillsdale College, Eureka Scientific, Arecibo Observatory