How shall we determine detection sensitivity in radio pulsar search?

Abstract

Determination of detection sensitivity in a number of previous pulsar search programmes was done via the straightfoward use of the radiometer equation. In the same surveys, the Fourier domain method was used to search for pulsars. As detection sensitivity is partially a function of the searching method, the straightfoward use of the radiometer equation for detection sensitivity determination is not consistent with the Fourier searching method. In this proceeding, I clarify the problem and note the way for sensitivity determination which is consistent with the Fourier searching method. More details can be found in Yu (2018).