Glossary of PRESTO Search Information

a$_1$ sin(i)/c: A way of describing the size of the pulsar's orbit if it is in a binary system.

Candidate: The name or label assigned to the current pulsar candidate.

Data Avg: The average value of the data.

Data Folded: The size of the data set being worked on.

Data StdDev: The standard deviation, a way of characterizing the spread in the values of the data.

Dec$_{\mathrm{J2000}}$: The declination of the source in the J2000 coordinate system. Declination is like a line of constant latitude on the sky.

Dispersion Measure: See the glossary above.

e: The eccentricity of the pulsar's orbit, if it is in a binary system. Eccentricity measures how elliptical the orbit is, with a high eccentricity indicating a very elliptical orbit.

Epoch$_\mathrm{{bary}}$: The Modified Julian Date of the start of the observation accounting for slight shifts due to the motion of the Earth.

Epoch$_\mathrm{{topo}}$: The Modified Julian Date of the start of the observation.

Profile Avg: The average value of the pulse profile.

Profile Bins: The number of phase bins in the pulse profile.

Profile StdDev: A way of characterizing the spread in the values of the pulse profile.

P$_{\mathrm{bary}}$: The period of the pulsar, adjusted as if it were measured from the center of mass of the solar system.

P$'_{\mathrm{bary}}$: The P-dot of the pulsar, adjusted as if it were measured from the center of mass of the solar system..

P$''_{\mathrm{bary}}$: The second derivative of the period of the pulsar, adjusted as if it were measured from the center of mass of the solar system. The P-double-dot is the rate of change of the P-dot.

P$_{\mathrm{orb}}$: The orbital period of the pulsar, if it is in a binary system. This is the length of time it takes for the pulsar to go through one full revolution.

P$_{\mathrm{topo}}$: The period of the pulsar as measured from the observatory.

P$'_{topo}$: The P-dot of the pulsar as measured from the observatory.

P$''_{\mathrm{topo}}$: The P-double-dot of the pulsar as measured from the observatory. The P-double-dot is the rate of change of the P-dot.

RA$_{\mathrm{J2000}}$: The right ascension of the source in the J2000 coordinate system. Right ascension is like a line of constant longitude on the sky.

Reduced $\chi^2$: See the glossary above.

Telescope: The name of the telescope used to make the current observation.

T$_{\mathrm{peri}}$: A way of describing when the pulsar is closest to the center of mass of its system, if it is in a binary system.

$\omega$: The longitude of periastron. This is a way of describing the orientation of the pulsar's orbit, if it is in a binary system. (This symbol is the Greek letter omega.)


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