The international pulsar timing array project: using pulsars as a gravitational wave detector

TL;DR

The paper discusses the International Pulsar Timing Array project, which uses pulsar observations from multiple observatories to detect ultra-low frequency gravitational waves from supermassive black-hole mergers.

Contribution

It introduces the project, reviews detection methods for gravitational waves from supermassive black-hole systems, and discusses the current status of the international collaboration.

Findings

Combines data from Northern and Southern hemisphere observatories.

Develops methods for detecting gravitational waves from supermassive black-hole binaries.

Provides an update on the project's progress and status.

Abstract

The International Pulsar Timing Array project combines observations of pulsars from both Northern and Southern hemisphere observatories with the main aim of detecting ultra-low frequency (~10^-9 to 10^-8 Hz) gravitational waves. Here we introduce the project, review the methods used to search for gravitational waves emitted from coalescing supermassive binary black-hole systems in the centres of merging galaxies and discuss the status of the project.