Frederick Jenet, Univ. Texas at Brownsville

Pulsar Timing As A Probe of Exotic Physics: Gravitational Waves and Faster-Than-Light Pulse Propagation

Radio pulsars are unique objects that allow us to study many different physical and astrophysical processes. Recently, a world wide effort has emerged that is focused on significantly improving pulsar observational techniques to probe exotic physics, in particular gravitational waves. This global effort consists of the North American Nano-Hertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) and its international partners: the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array and the European Pulsar Timing Array. The status and future of pulsar timing and gravitational wave detection will be discussed.  We will also present a discovery made possible by the recent advances in pulsar timing: the detection of anomalous dispersion, or "faster-than-light" pulse propagation, in the interstellar medium.

Host:  James Cordes