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M McCarty (NRAO, MSU), S Ransom (NRAO)
Searching for binary pulsars is a relatively new science due to the development of computing technology allowing astronomers to implement complex algorithms that reduce and analyze data. One such algorithm creates a Dynamic Power Spectrum, yielding an extremely large matrix where binary millisecond pulsar (MSP) signals are represented as (typically) sinusoidal curves. These curves are often discontinuous and have very low signal-to-noise. The crux of the DPS algorithm is to automatically identify these curves while keeping the number of false positives low, all using a reasonable amount of computing time. We describe two independent methods for searching data sets from the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) for MSP signals. One of these methods has already uncovered a previously unknown MSP in the globular cluster Terzan 5. This new binary pulsar, Ter5AE, is 3.65ms pulsar in a 4.1 hour orbit with an approximately 20 Jupiter mass companion. The DPS method, used to find Ter5AE, shows strong potential for additional future discoveries.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.