How Can I Sync with Pulsar PSR B1919+21 in Real Time?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of synchronizing a program with the pulsar PSR B1919+21 to produce an audio indication of its cycle in real time. Participants explore the possibility of accessing real-time data streams from radio telescopes and the challenges associated with achieving synchronization.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in syncing with PSR B1919+21 and seeks online data streams or assistance from radio telescopes to achieve this.
  • Another participant suggests that while creating a pulse train program is straightforward, actual synchronization with the pulsar's pulses would be nearly impossible without a local radio telescope due to network delays.
  • A participant questions whether it is feasible to sync using previous known pulses, acknowledging that precision would be limited without an atomic clock.
  • One participant clarifies that the phase relationship of the pulse train does not affect the audio perception, indicating that slight timing differences would not alter the sound.
  • A participant notes the limitations of terrestrial radio telescopes in tracking celestial objects continuously due to geometric constraints.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the technical challenges of achieving real-time synchronization with PSR B1919+21, but there is no consensus on the feasibility of syncing using previous pulses or the implications of phase relationships for audio signals.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependency on the availability of real-time data from radio telescopes and the inherent challenges posed by network delays and geometric constraints of terrestrial telescopes.

dzucconi
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Soo...

I'm trying to "sync" something up with PSR B1919+21. (so in essence I'm just looking to have an indication (preferably audio) of its cycle/period in real time. (PSR B1919+21 has a period of 1.337 seconds and a pulse width of 0.04 second.) I'm wondering if there any online streams of data that are available online or that can be somehow be arranged. (I tried searching. Are there any radio telescopes that would be willing to provide this data?) An audio stream of its "sound" would be ideal. (i realize that, probably, none of these are "real" time) Alternatively a list of its pulses and their exact moments in time... I was thinking I could write a small program that would sync with it using that as a base to start from. Anyway... I'm more or less wondering if this is feasible and perhaps if anyone could point me to someone who can help.

:/
 
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It would be very easy to write a program that produces a pulse train of 0.04 second pulses with a period of 1.337 seconds, and then dumps that into a .wav file.

Synchronizing this program so that it actually produces pulses at the same time that the pulsar "lights up" would be essentially impossible, unless you had your own local radio telescope. Otherwise, network delays, etc. would ruin any synchrony. Besides, the phase relationship wouldn't matter at all for an audio signal.

- Warren
 
hmmm.
yeah i can handle the quasi-simulation easily in Max/MSP.
my understanding of pulsars (of which i have little), is that they follow a very strict pattern. You don't think it would be possible to have something more or less check the time and then sync up using some previous known pulse? (i understand that it wouldn't be _exact_ unless I am using an atomic clock or something.) or is my understanding of their cycles completely off.

What do you mean when you say the phase relationship wouldn't matter for an audio signal?
 
Your ear is not going to care whether this pulse train starts at t=0 seconds or t=0.1 seconds. It'll sound the same.

- Warren
 
No radiotelescope placed on Earth surface is able to trace any point on the sky 24 hours a day. That's simple geometry :)

Even if you happen to build it on the pole (be it South or North) half the sky is beyond your reach.
 

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