The North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves

Abstract

The North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) is a collaboration of researchers who are actively engaged in using North American radio telescopes to detect and study gravitational waves via pulsar timing. To achieve this goal, we regularly observe millisecond pulsars (MSPs) with the Arecibo and Green Bank Telescopes and develop and implement new instrumentation and algorithms for searching for and observing pulsars, calculating arrival times, understanding and correcting for propagation delays and sources of noise in our data, and detecting and characterizing a variety of gravitational wave sources. We collaborate on these activities with colleagues in the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA). We also educate students of all levels and the public about the detection and study of gravitational waves via pulsar timing.