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[20.08] Radio Timing Observations of PSR B1509-58

M.A. Livingstone, V.M. Kaspi (McGill), R.N. Manchester (ATNF)

We present an updated timing solution for PSR B1509-58 for a twenty year data set, in an effort to determine a stable third derivative for this pulsar. We also present a computer simulation which determines how red noise affects our ability to accurately determine pulsar parameters, specifically, how red noise affects our ability to accurately determine parameters for PSR B1509-58. This method uses the TEMPO timing package to create pulsar arrival times then combines them with different levels and spectral indices of red noise and can be modified to be applied to any "noisy" pulsar, to determine errors for any astrometric quantity. We use these simulations to find true errors on the frequency derivatives of PSR B1509-58 to attempt to calculate this pulsar's second braking index, as well as to try to resolve the age discrepancy between PSR B1509-58 and SNR G320.4-01.2.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: maggie@physics.mcgill.ca

Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#2
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.