The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis

We present the search methods and initial results for transient radio signals in the High Time Resolution Universe (HTRU) survey. The HTRU survey's single-pulse search, the software designed to perform the search and a determination of the HTRU survey's sensitivity to single pulses are des...

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Main Authors: Burke-Spolaor, S., Bailes, M., Johnston, S., Bates, S., Bhat, Ramesh, Burgay, M., D'Amico, N., Jameson, A., Keith, M., Kramer, M., Levin, L., Milia, S., Possenti, A., Stappers, B., van Straten, W.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Oxford University Press 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/55193
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author Burke-Spolaor, S.
Bailes, M.
Johnston, S.
Bates, S.
Bhat, Ramesh
Burgay, M.
D'Amico, N.
Jameson, A.
Keith, M.
Kramer, M.
Levin, L.
Milia, S.
Possenti, A.
Stappers, B.
van Straten, W.
author_facet Burke-Spolaor, S.
Bailes, M.
Johnston, S.
Bates, S.
Bhat, Ramesh
Burgay, M.
D'Amico, N.
Jameson, A.
Keith, M.
Kramer, M.
Levin, L.
Milia, S.
Possenti, A.
Stappers, B.
van Straten, W.
author_sort Burke-Spolaor, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We present the search methods and initial results for transient radio signals in the High Time Resolution Universe (HTRU) survey. The HTRU survey's single-pulse search, the software designed to perform the search and a determination of the HTRU survey's sensitivity to single pulses are described. Initial processing of a small fraction of the survey has produced 11 discoveries, all of which are sparsely emitting neutron stars, as well as provided confirmation of two previously unconfirmed neutron stars. Most of the newly discovered objects lie in regions surveyed previously, indicating both the improved sensitivity of the HTRU survey observing system and the dynamic nature of the radio sky. The cycles of active and null states in nulling pulsars, rotating radio transients (RRATs) and long-term intermittent pulsars are explored in the context of determining the relationship between these populations and of the sensitivity of a search to the various radio-intermittent neutron star populations. This analysis supports the case that many RRATs are in fact high-null-fraction pulsars (i.e. with a null fraction of ?0.95) and indicates that intermittent pulsars appear distinct from nulling pulsars in their activity cycle time-scales. We find that in the measured population, there is a deficit of pulsars with typical emission time-scales greater than ~300s that is not readily explained by selection effects. The HTRU low-latitude survey will be capable of addressing whether this deficit is physical. We predict that the HTRU survey will explore pulsars with a broad range of nulling fractions (up to and beyond 0.999), and at its completion is likely to increase the currently known RRATs by a factor of more than 2. © 2011 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2011 RAS.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-551932023-02-22T06:24:22Z The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis Burke-Spolaor, S. Bailes, M. Johnston, S. Bates, S. Bhat, Ramesh Burgay, M. D'Amico, N. Jameson, A. Keith, M. Kramer, M. Levin, L. Milia, S. Possenti, A. Stappers, B. van Straten, W. We present the search methods and initial results for transient radio signals in the High Time Resolution Universe (HTRU) survey. The HTRU survey's single-pulse search, the software designed to perform the search and a determination of the HTRU survey's sensitivity to single pulses are described. Initial processing of a small fraction of the survey has produced 11 discoveries, all of which are sparsely emitting neutron stars, as well as provided confirmation of two previously unconfirmed neutron stars. Most of the newly discovered objects lie in regions surveyed previously, indicating both the improved sensitivity of the HTRU survey observing system and the dynamic nature of the radio sky. The cycles of active and null states in nulling pulsars, rotating radio transients (RRATs) and long-term intermittent pulsars are explored in the context of determining the relationship between these populations and of the sensitivity of a search to the various radio-intermittent neutron star populations. This analysis supports the case that many RRATs are in fact high-null-fraction pulsars (i.e. with a null fraction of ?0.95) and indicates that intermittent pulsars appear distinct from nulling pulsars in their activity cycle time-scales. We find that in the measured population, there is a deficit of pulsars with typical emission time-scales greater than ~300s that is not readily explained by selection effects. The HTRU low-latitude survey will be capable of addressing whether this deficit is physical. We predict that the HTRU survey will explore pulsars with a broad range of nulling fractions (up to and beyond 0.999), and at its completion is likely to increase the currently known RRATs by a factor of more than 2. © 2011 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2011 RAS. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/55193 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18521.x Oxford University Press unknown
spellingShingle Burke-Spolaor, S.
Bailes, M.
Johnston, S.
Bates, S.
Bhat, Ramesh
Burgay, M.
D'Amico, N.
Jameson, A.
Keith, M.
Kramer, M.
Levin, L.
Milia, S.
Possenti, A.
Stappers, B.
van Straten, W.
The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis
title The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis
title_full The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis
title_fullStr The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis
title_full_unstemmed The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis
title_short The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - III. Single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis
title_sort high time resolution universe pulsar survey - iii. single-pulse searches and preliminary analysis
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/55193