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Demorest, Paul

Publications and source records attributed to Demorest, Paul.

5 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Snowmass2021 Cosmic Frontier White Paper: Observational Facilities to Study Dark Matter

We present an overview of future observational facilities that will significantly enhance our understanding of the fundamental nature of dark matter. These facilities span a range of observational techniques including optical/near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy, measurements of the cosmic microwave background, pulsar timing, 21-cm observations of neutral hydrogen at high redshift, and the measurement of gravitational waves. Such facilities are a critical component of a multi-pronged experimental program to uncover the nature of dark matter, while often providing complementary measurements of dark energy, neutrino physics, and inflation.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS2018

SEXTANT X-Ray Pulsar Navigation Demonstration: Additional On-Orbit Results

The Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) is a technology demonstration enhancement to the Neutron-star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission, a NASA Astrophysics Explorer Mission of Opportunity to the International Space Station, launched in June of 2017. In late 2017, SEXTANT successfully completed a first demonstration of in-space and autonomous X-ray pulsar navigation (XNAV). This form of navigation relies on processing faint signals from millisecond pulsars-rapidly rotating neutron stars that appear to pulsate in the X-ray band-and could potentially provide a GPS-like navigation capability applicable throughout the solar-system and beyond. In this work, we briefly review prior SEXTANT results and then present new results focusing on: making use of the high- flux but rotationally unstable Crab pulsar, and using XNAV to estimate position, velocity, and time in the presence of an imperfect local clock.

Navigation↗
NASA NTRS2018

SEXTANT X-Ray Pulsar Navigation Demonstration: Initial On-Orbit Results

Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are rapidly rotating neutron stars that appear to pulsate across the electromagnetic spectrum. Some MSPs have long-term timing stability that rivals that of atomic clocks. Pulse arrival phase can be predicted with great accuracy at any reference point in the Solar System through use of a pulsar timing model on a spacecraft. Comparing observed phase to predictions gives information that may be used in a navigation process. Why X-rays? Some stable MSPs have conveniently detectable X-ray emissions. X-rays are immune to interstellar dispersion effects thought to limit radio pulsar timing models. Highly directional compact detectors possible.

Navigatio↗
NASA NTRS2018

Sextant X-Ray Pulsar Navigation Demonstration: Initial On-Orbit Results

The Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) is a technology demonstration enhancement to the Neutron-star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission. SEXTANT will be a first demonstration of in-space, autonomous, X-ray pulsar navigation (XNAV). Navigating using millisecond X-ray pulsars which could provide a GPS-like navigation capability available throughout our Solar System and beyond. NICER is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer Mission of Opportunity to the International Space Station that was launched and installed in June of 2017. During NICER's nominal 18-month base mission, SEXTANT will perform a number of experiments to demonstrate XNAV and advance the technology on a number of fronts. In this work, we review the SEXTANT, its goals, and present early results from SEXTANT experiments conducted in the first six months of operation. With these results, SEXTANT has made significant progress toward meeting its primary and secondary mission goals. We also describe the SEXTANT flight operations, calibration activities, and initial results.

Navigatio↗