The ORT and the uGMRT pulsar monitoring program: Pulsar timing irregularities & the Gaussian process realisation

Abstract

Abstract The spin-down law of pulsars is generally perturbed by two types of timing irregularities: glitches and timing noise. Glitches are sudden changes in the rotational frequency of pulsars, while timing noise is a discernible stochastic wandering in the phase, period, or spin-down rate of a pulsar. We present the timing results of a sample of glitching pulsars observed using the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) and the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT). Our findings include timing noise analysis for 17 pulsars, with seven being reported for the first time. We detected five glitches in four pulsars and a glitch-like event in PSR J1825–0935. The frequency evolution of glitches in pulsars, J0742–2822 and J1740–3015, is presented for the first time. Additionally, we report timing noise results for three glitching pulsars. The timing noise was analysed separately in the pre-glitch and post-glitch regions. We observed an increase in the red noise parameters in the post-glitch regions, where exponential recovery was considered in the noise analysis. Timing noise can introduce ambiguities in the correct evaluation of glitch observations. Hence, it is important to consider timing noise in glitch analysis. We propose an innovative glitch verification approach designed to discern between a glitch and strong timing noise. The novel glitch analysis technique is also demonstrated using the observed data.