Parkes observations for project P737 semester 2018APRS_12

Pulsar observations using the Parkes radio telescope have led to some of the most exciting astronomical results in the last few years. The aim of this proposal is to carry out tests of the new backend instruments which cannot be carried out during standard maintenance periods. High precision pulsar timing experiments require cross-coupling in the feed to be measured. This can only be done using observations of PSR J0437-4715 from rise-to-set. We propose to undertake such observations and make the results available for any users of the telescope. We will also use P737 to commission new receivers such as the UWB.

使用帕克斯射电望远镜（Parkes radio telescope）开展的脉冲星观测，在近数年取得了多项极具影响力的天文学研究成果。本次申请的核心目标，是对无法在常规维护时段内开展测试的新型后端设备（backend instruments）进行性能验证。高精度脉冲星计时实验需要对馈源（feed）的交叉耦合（cross-coupling）效应进行测量。该测量仅可通过对PSR J0437-4715进行从升起到落下的全时段观测来实现。我们申请开展此类观测，并将观测结果向该望远镜的所有使用者开放共享。此外，我们还将依托P737项目对包括超宽带接收机（UWB）在内的新型接收系统进行调试验收。