The international pulsar timing array project: Using pulsars as a gravitational wave detector

Abstract

The International Pulsar Timing Array project combines observations of pulsars from both northern and southern hemisphere observatories with the main aim of detecting ultra-low frequency (∼ 10-9-10-8 Hz) gravitational waves. Here we introduce the project, review the methods used to search for gravitational waves emitted from coalescing supermassive binary black-hole systems in the centres of merging galaxies and discuss the status of the project. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.