Davide Gerosa

A PTA Primer

The next few years are expected to be a golden age for pulsar timing array (PTA) science. The recent tentative claim of a detection of an astrophysical signal in the NANOGrav 12.5-year data set is expected to be confirmed, thereby opening a new observational window on supermassive black holes. In order to better follow these developments, we will run a spring journal club in which we aim to review some key papers in the field. 

We will meet at 2.00 pm on Fridays starting on May 7th, 2021 and running for approximately 7 weeks.

Agenda

A rough plan/agenda, plus minutes and useful references will be kept up to date on this overleaf

The zoom link is available on our wiki (Birmingham ASR login required). If you can’t see it, please ask either Chris or Davide.

  • Episode 1. The birth of an idea.
  • Episode 2. The basic physics of PTAs.
  • Episode 3. Correlations are key, the Hellings and Downs curve.
  • Episode 4. A practical theorem.
  • Episode 5. The astro side of things, predicting the nHz GW spectrum.
  • Episode 6: A first detection of nHz GWs?
  • Episode 7: Anisotropy.

Episode 1. The birth of an idea

Led by Alberto.

Episode 2. The basic physics of PTAs

Led by Antoine

Episode 3. Correlations are key: the Hellings and Downs curve

Led by Chris

Episode 4. A practical theorem

Led by Natalie

Episode 5. The astro side of things: predicting the nHz GW spectrum

Led by Davide

Episode 6. A first detection of nHz GWs?

Led by Riccardo

Episode 7. Anisotropy

Led by Geraint

Other topics which we didn’t have time to cover