The Einstein@Home search for radio pulsars and PSR J2007+2722 discovery (1303.0028v2)

Abstract: Einstein@Home aggregates the computer power of hundreds of thousands of volunteers from 193 countries, to search for new neutron stars using data from electromagnetic and gravitational-wave detectors. This paper presents a detailed description of the search for new radio pulsars using Pulsar ALFA survey data from the Arecibo Observatory. The enormous computing power allows this search to cover a new region of parameter space; it can detect pulsars in binary systems with orbital periods as short as 11 minutes. We also describe the first Einstein@Home discovery, the 40.8 Hz isolated pulsar PSR J2007+2722, and provide a full timing model. PSR J2007+2722's pulse profile is remarkably wide with emission over almost the entire spin period. This neutron star is most likely a disrupted recycled pulsar, about as old as its characteristic spin-down age of 404 Myr. However there is a small chance that it was born recently, with a low magnetic field. If so, upper limits on the X-ray flux suggest but can not prove that PSR J2007+2722 is at least ~ 100 kyr old. In the future, we expect that the massive computing power provided by volunteers should enable many additional radio pulsar discoveries.

• The paper details how the Einstein@Home distributed computing project leveraged volunteer computational power to analyze Arecibo data and discover the isolated radio pulsar PSR J2007+2722.
• PSR J2007+2722 is characterized as an isolated neutron star potentially fitting the disrupted recycled pulsar model, based on its 40.8 Hz frequency and unusually broad pulse profile.
• This work highlights the efficacy of large-scale distributed computing for astronomical surveys and provides a scalable methodology for future deep searches for pulsars and other cosmic objects.

Analysis of the Einstein@Home Search for Radio Pulsars: PSR J2007+2722 Discovery

The academic paper titled "The Einstein@Home Search for Radio Pulsars and PSR J2007+2722 Discovery" marks a meticulous effort by Allen et al. in leveraging distributed computing for pulsar detection. The paper provides a comprehensive discussion on using the Einstein@Home (E@H) infrastructure to analyze data from the Arecibo Observatory in search of neutron stars, specifically focusing on the discovery of PSR J2007+2722.

Distributed Computing in Astrophysics

Einstein@Home is a volunteer-based distributed computing project aggregating computational power from global participants. The platform primarily focuses on gravitational-wave (GW) and electromagnetic data analysis. This paper emphasizes the radio pulsar survey aspect, utilizing computational resources equivalent to the world's largest supercomputers. The volunteer approach circumvents the high costs associated with supercomputing resources, demonstrating significant efficiency in scanning vast parameter spaces.

PSR J2007+2722 Discovery

The search led to the identification of PSR J2007+2722, an isolated neutron star. The pulsar, with a frequency of 40.8 Hz, was detected in data from the Arecibo Pulsar ALFA survey. Intriguingly, PSR J2007+2722 exhibits characteristics consistent with disrupted recycled pulsars (DRPs), displaying an unusually broad pulse profile over its entire spin period and a characteristic spin-down age of approximately 404 Myr. The potential categorization as a DRP suggests that this pulsar might have originated from a binary system, later disrupted, possibly due to a cosmic event such as a supernova.

The research involved refining the timing solution through follow-ups utilizing various radio observatories, including the Green Bank, Jodrell Bank, and Effelsberg telescopes. Such techniques yielded precise pulsar parameters such as the pulse period, initial frequency, and positional coordinates.

Computational Methodology

The paper elaborates on the E@H computational framework, detailing the search pipeline's mechanics, including data preprocessing, template bank creation, and candidate validation. The pipeline is optimized to detect binary pulsars with short orbital periods, employing a coherent demodulation strategy and meticulous candidate selection through harmonic-summing techniques. It underscores the capability of distributed computing to cover parameter ranges less explored by traditional telescopic surveys, bridging gaps in pulsar population understanding.

Implications and Future Prospects

PSR J2007+2722's detection underscores the potential of distributed computing to significantly contribute to pulsar astronomy. The methodology developed not only enhances pulsar surveys but also exemplifies a scalable model for future large-scale astronomical searches, such as those anticipated with the Square Kilometer Array. The success of E@H highlights the feasibility of expanding such infrastructure beyond desktop computing to include mobile devices as computational nodes, broadening the volunteer computing paradigm.

Overall, Allen et al.’s work provides an insightful advancement in the efficient use of computational resources for astronomical discoveries and sets a precedent for future large-scale distributed computing projects in the field. This enhances our ability to catalog and paper the neutron star population, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of astrophysical phenomena and the evolution of cosmic structures.