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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.17201 |
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| _version_ | 1866909970725863424 |
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| author | Cao, Tian-Yong Zheng, Shi-jie Yi, Shu-Xu Ge, Ming-Yu Yin, Yi-Tao Duan, Yao-Ming Yang, Xiang Wen |
| author_facet | Cao, Tian-Yong Zheng, Shi-jie Yi, Shu-Xu Ge, Ming-Yu Yin, Yi-Tao Duan, Yao-Ming Yang, Xiang Wen |
| contents | We present constraints on the nanohertz gravitational wave background (GWB) using X-ray pulsar timing data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer(\textit{NICER}). By analyzing six millisecond pulsars over a six-year observational baseline, we employed a Bayesian framework to model noise components and search for a common red signal consistent with a GWB from supermassive black hole binaries (assuming a spectral index $γ_{\rm gwb}=13/3$). Our results show no significant evidence for a GWB, yielding a 95\% upper limit of $\log_{10}(A_{\rm gwb})<-13.4$. Weak evidence for Hellings-Downs spatial correlations was found (S=2.5), though the signal remains statistically inconclusive. Compared to radio and $γ$-ray pulsar timing arrays, the \textit{NICER} constraint is currently less stringent but demonstrates the feasibility of X-ray timing with \textit{NICER} for GWB studies and highlights the potential for improved sensitivity with future X-ray missions. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_17201 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Constraining the Nanohertz Gravitational Wave Background with an X-ray Pulsar Timing Array from NICER observations Cao, Tian-Yong Zheng, Shi-jie Yi, Shu-Xu Ge, Ming-Yu Yin, Yi-Tao Duan, Yao-Ming Yang, Xiang Wen High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology We present constraints on the nanohertz gravitational wave background (GWB) using X-ray pulsar timing data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer(\textit{NICER}). By analyzing six millisecond pulsars over a six-year observational baseline, we employed a Bayesian framework to model noise components and search for a common red signal consistent with a GWB from supermassive black hole binaries (assuming a spectral index $γ_{\rm gwb}=13/3$). Our results show no significant evidence for a GWB, yielding a 95\% upper limit of $\log_{10}(A_{\rm gwb})<-13.4$. Weak evidence for Hellings-Downs spatial correlations was found (S=2.5), though the signal remains statistically inconclusive. Compared to radio and $γ$-ray pulsar timing arrays, the \textit{NICER} constraint is currently less stringent but demonstrates the feasibility of X-ray timing with \textit{NICER} for GWB studies and highlights the potential for improved sensitivity with future X-ray missions. |
| title | Constraining the Nanohertz Gravitational Wave Background with an X-ray Pulsar Timing Array from NICER observations |
| topic | High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.17201 |