Parkes observations for project P1162 semester 2023APRS_02

Pulsar timing is a powerful tool in studying pulsar physics. Discovering more exotic pulsar systems or timing pulsars with higher precision is an essential part of pulsar astronomy. As a recently discovered millisecond pulsar, PSR J1402+13 is an interesting source for follow-up timing observations. First, its apparent spin-down rate is the highest among known millisecond pulsars. This spin-down rate, if confirmed, will place stringent constraints on the spin-up process predicted by pulsar recycling theories. Second, and more importantly, preliminary analysis shows that J1402+13 is a very promising candidate for pulsar timing arrays, with an achievable precision at the level of 6 nanoseconds for 60 minutes observation with Parkes. We have observed J1402+13 for 8 times in the past two months and propose to continue the observations in the coming semester. We apply for another 14 hours to observe the pulsar to extend the timing baseline to one year. This project will derive an ephemeris of the system, which is valuable to understand its formation and evolution history. Furthermore, the observations will allow us to evaluate the timing performance of J1402+13 and its suitability to be included in pulsar timing arrays.