Long-term project observations for project P456 semester 2024OCTS_07

The Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) project has three primary goals: (a) detection of gravitational waves\n from astronomical sources, (b) establishment of a pulsar timescale, and (c) improvement of our understanding of Solar-system dynamics. We are now in an exciting regime where a signal detected in our (and other data sets) has the form expected for a gravitational wave background. We are therefore now attempting to confirm, or deny, this exciting result. With this proposal we aim to maintain our pre-eminent position in the field. Unlike most observing proposals, this is a continuing proposal for which the observations will continue to improve bounds on ultra-low-frequency gravitational waves until they are finally detected. Continued Parkes observations will remain valuable at least until the first stage of the SKA is able to improve on our sensitivity and observing cadence. Even after the gravitational wave background is detected we will want to continue observations in support of the nascent field of gravitational wave astronomy!

帕克斯脉冲星计时阵列（Parkes Pulsar Timing Array, PPTA）项目共有三大核心目标：（a）探测来自各类天文源的引力波；（b）建立脉冲星时标系统；（c）深化我们对太阳系动力学的认知。当前我们正处于一段令人振奋的研究阶段，我们（及其他相关数据集）中探测到的信号符合引力波背景的理论预期特征。因此，我们正尝试验证或驳斥这一振奋人心的发现。通过本提案，我们旨在巩固本领域的领先地位。与多数观测提案不同，本项目属于持续性观测计划，观测工作将持续收紧超低频引力波的探测边界，直至最终成功捕获该信号。帕克斯望远镜的持续观测至少将在平方千米阵列（Square Kilometre Array, SKA）第一阶段能够提升我们的观测灵敏度与观测频次之前，持续保有其科研价值。即便引力波背景被成功探测，我们仍将继续开展观测工作，以支撑新兴的引力波天文学领域的发展！