{"id":145589,"date":"2026-07-01T08:56:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T00:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/?post_type=hdr-r-projects&p=145589"},"modified":"2026-07-01T10:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T02:18:17","slug":"cosmic-clocks-and-their-application-to-position-navigation-and-timing","status":"publish","type":"hdr-r-projects","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/hdr-r-projects\/cosmic-clocks-and-their-application-to-position-navigation-and-timing\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmic clocks and their application to position, navigation and timing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pulsars are rapidly-spinning neutron stars that act as extremely stable cosmic clocks. They can be used for stringent tests of Einstein\u2019s General Relativity, to probe the equation of state of nuclear matter, to detect the gravitational wave background from merging supermassive black holes across the Universe, and to investigate how massive stars end their lives. Their importance to fundamental astrophysics has made the study of pulsars one of the most high-profile science goals of the upcoming Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Wide-field radio sky surveys with facilities such as the Murchison Widefield Array, MeerKAT and FAST are uncovering large numbers of new pulsars, to augment the several thousand currently known. Follow-up astrometric and timing observations are then required to ascertain their properties, and to determine the stability of the known pulsar clocks over time. Building from these fundamental science outcomes, the project will investigate how the known positions and spin rates can be use with time series and\/or interferometric radio data to provide a time standard and assist in localisation, independent of global positioning system (GPS) data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Aim\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project aims to refine the properties of known and newly-discovered pulsars via astrometric and timing observations. The successful candidate will determine the effectiveness of simultaneously observing of multiple pulsars within the field of view, and explore the optimal array configurations for interferometric observations of selected pulsars. With this information in hand, the project will explore the potential for deriving independent time and position measurements in an environment where global positioning system data was unavailable (for instance, during geomagnetic storms).<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Objectives\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientifically, the project will improve our understanding of newly-discovered pulsars, augmenting the known pulsar population, and testing their stability over long periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In parallel, it will address the problem of how time series and interferometric measurements could be best used to measure time and position, independent of satellite data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Significance\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much effort has been devoted to the discovery of new pulsars, but to derive new astrophysical insights from them, astronomers must conduct resource-intensive follow up observations to determine the pulse period and the rate at which this changes, as well as an accurate measurement of the position and the motion of the pulsar across the sky. The project will seek to determine how best to follow up the large number of new pulsar discoveries anticipated with the SKAO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In parallel, the project will seek to translate these astrophysical advances into more applied outcomes. Our society is heavily dependent on GPS for accurate timing, positioning, and navigation, creating significant risks should GPS access become compromised, whether through severe geomagnetic storms such as the Carrington event, or through more deliberate jamming, spoofing or hacking. As broadband cosmic sources, pulsars are immune to such disruptions, and the project will explore how they could be used to provide a fallback capability. While work has been done in this space, the low technical readiness level (TRL) and the advent of new technologies open up new avenues for progressing such a system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Ideal Candidate\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a challenging project, open to high-performing students with a background in physics\/astronomy, mathematics\/statistics, or computer science. Strong technical skills would be an advantage. Additionally, the applicants should meet the eligibility criteria for entry into a PhD program at Curtin University.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project is open to Domestic applicants only.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Scholarship\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are identified as the preferred candidate for this project, you may be considered for an RTP scholarship<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Enquires and How to Apply\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For enquires about this opportunity contact Professor James Miller-Jones at\u00a0James.Miller-Jones@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To formally apply submit an\u00a0Expression of Interest<\/a>\u00a0to Professor James Miller-Jones during the Central Scholarship round (July 1st – July 31st 2026)\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":0,"template":"","faculties":[51],"hdr_types":[5487],"research_areas":[35],"class_list":["post-145589","hdr-r-projects","type-hdr-r-projects","status-publish","hentry","faculties-science-and-engineering","hdr_types-rtp-scholarship","research_areas-space"],"acf":false,"featured_image":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hdr-r-projects"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145589\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"faculties","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faculties?post=145589"},{"taxonomy":"hdr_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr_types?post=145589"},{"taxonomy":"research_areas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_areas?post=145589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}