Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T05:01:04.588Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

psrchive and psrfits: An Open Approach to Radio Pulsar Data Storage and Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2013

A. W. Hotan ,
W. van Straten  and
R. N. Manchester
A. W. Hotan*
Affiliation:
Swinburne Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Australia Australia Telescope National Facility, Epping NSW 1710, Australia
W. van Straten
Affiliation:
Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy, 7990 AA Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
R. N. Manchester
Affiliation:
Australia Telescope National Facility, Epping NSW 1710, Australia
*
DE-mail: ahotan@astro.swin.edu.au
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A new set of software applications and libraries for use in the archival and analysis of pulsar astronomical data is introduced. Known collectively as the psrchive scheme, the code was developed in parallel with a new data storage format called psrfits, which is based on the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS). Both of these projects utilise a modular, object-oriented design philosophy. psrchive is an open source development environment that incorporates an extensive range of c++ object classes and pre-built command line and graphical utilities. These deal transparently and simultaneously with multiple data storage formats, thereby enhancing data portability and facilitating the adoption of the psrfits file format. Here, data are stored in a series of modular header–data units that provide flexibility and scope for future expansion. As it is based on FITS, various standard libraries and applications may be used for data input, output, and visualisation. Both psrchive and psrfits are made publicly available to the academic community in the hope that this will promote their widespread use and acceptance.

Keywords

pulsars: generalmethods: data analysis
Type
Research Article
Information
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , 2004 , pp. 302 - 309
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 2004

References

Dodson, R. G., McCulloch, P. M., & Lewis, D. R. 2002, ApJ, 564, 85 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foster, R. S., & Backer, D. C. 1990, ApJ, 361, 300 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gold, T. 1968, Natur, 218, 731 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanisch, R. J., Farris, A., Greisen, E. W., Pence, W. D., Schlesinger, B. M., Teuben, P. J., Thompson, R. W., & Warnock, A. III 2001, A&A, 376, 359 Google Scholar
Helfand, D. J., Manchester, R. N., & Taylor, J. H. 1975, ApJ, 198, 661 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hellings, R. W., & Downs, G. S. 1983, ApJ, 265, L39 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Straten, W. 2004, ApJS, in pressGoogle Scholar
Stinebring, D. R., Ryba, M. F., Taylor, J. H., & Romani, R. W. 1990, PhRvL, 65, 285 Google Scholar
Taylor, J. H., & Cordes, J. M. 1993, ApJ, 411, 674 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, J. H., & Weisberg, J. M. 1982, ApJ, 253, 908 CrossRefGoogle Scholar