The MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: first data release

• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stac3644
• Publication Date: 2022-12-12T15:48:18Z
• Authors: M T Miles; R M Shannon; M Bailes; D J Reardon; M J Keith; A D Cameron; A Parthasarathy; M Shamohammadi; R Spiewak; W van Straten; S Buchner; F Camilo; M Geyer; A Karastergiou; M Kramer; M Serylak; G Theureau; V Venkatraman Kri...
• Keywords: Ephemeris; Time of arrival

We present the first 2.5 years of data from MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array (MPTA), part MeerTime, a Large Survey Project. The MPTA aims to precisely measure pulse arrival times an ensemble 88 pulsars visible Southern Hemisphere, with goal contributing search, detection and study nanohertz-frequency gravitational waves as International Array. This project makes use telescope, operates typical observing cadence two weeks using L-band receiver that records 856-1712 MHz. provide comprehensive description system, software, pipelines used developed for MeerTime project. products made available this release are 78 had at least $30$ observations between start programme in February 2019 October 2021. These include both sub-banded band-averaged times, well initial timing ephemerides, noise models, frequency-dependent standard templates (portraits) derive times. After accounting detected processes data, frequency-averaged residuals $67$ achieved root-mean-square residual precision $< 1 \mu \rm{s}$. also novel recovery clock correction waveform solely pulsar residuals, exploration into preliminary findings interest international community. standards full Stokes parameter calibrated archives publicly available.