Application of Millisecond Pulsar Timing to the Long-Term Stability of Clock Ensembles

Roger S. Foster, Demetrios N. Matsakis

Abstract: We review the application of millisecond pulsars to define a precise long-term time standard and positional reference system in a nearly inertial reference frame. We quantify the current timing precision of the best millisecond pulsars and define the required precise time and time interval (PTTI) accuracy and stability to enable time transfer via pulsars. Pulsars may prove useful as independent standards to examine decade-long timing stability and provide an independent natural system within which to calibrate any new, perhaps vastly improved atomic time scale. Since pulsar stability appears to be related to the lifetime of the pulsar, the new millisecond pulsar J1713 +0747 is projected to have a 100-day accuracy equivalent to a single HP507I cesium standard. Over the fast five years, dozens of new millisecond pulsars have been discovered. A few of the new millisecond pulsars may have even better timing properties.
Published in: Proceedings of the 27th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting
November 29 - 1, 1995
The Doubletree Hotel at Horton Plaza
San Diego, California
Pages: 447 - 456
Cite this article: Foster, Roger S., Matsakis, Demetrios N., "Application of Millisecond Pulsar Timing to the Long-Term Stability of Clock Ensembles," Proceedings of the 27th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, San Diego, California, November 1995, pp. 447-456.
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