An Ensemble Pulsar Time

Abstract

Millisecond pulsars are galactic objects that exhibit a very stable spinning period. Several tens of these celestial clocks have now been discovered, which opens the possibility that an average time scale may be deduced through a long-term stability algorithm. Such an ensemble average makes it possible to reduce the level of the instabilities originating from the pulsars or from other sources of noise, which are unknown but independent. We present the basis for such an algorithm and apply if to real pulsar data. It is shown that pulsar time could shortly become more stable than the present atomic time, for averaging times of a few years. Pulsar time can also be used as a flywheel to maintain the accuracy of atomic time in case of temporary failure of the primary standards, or to transfer the improved accuracy of future standards back to the present.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA502231

Entities

People

  • Claudine Thomas
  • Gerard Petit
  • Patrizia Tavella

Organizations

  • International Bureau of Weights and Measures

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Algorithms
  • Atomic Clocks
  • Clocks
  • Computations
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Sets
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Standards
  • Measurement
  • Observation
  • Observatories
  • Physical Properties
  • Quantum Properties
  • Square Roots
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.