User's Guide: Pulse Phase Predictor Configuration

Currently, PSRCHIVE supports the use of three different pulse phase predictor models:
  1. tempo polyco
  2. tempo2 predictor
  3. simple predictor (period, DM, acceleration)
By default, PSRCHIVE will use a phase prediction model of the same type that was stored with the data on which it is operating. However, you may wish to replace the current predictor with one of a different type, or establish the convention that only predictors of a certain type will be used from this point forward, for ever and ever.

This can be configured using PSRCHIVE configuration files, as described in the psrchive_config manual. For example, to use only tempo2 predictors:

  1. create a configuration file and edit it;
  2. change 
    ###########################################################################
#
# Predictor::default - Default predictor type
#
# The default phase predictor model type: 'polyco' or 'tempo2'
#
# Predictor::default = polyco
    to end with 
    Predictor::default = tempo2
  3. then change 
    ###########################################################################
#
# Predictor::policy - Policy for generating new predictors
#
# The type of predictor constructed when generating a new 
# pulse phase prediction model (in Archive::update_model). 
# There are currently two policies for choosing the type of 
# the new predictor: 
# 
#  'input'   - same as the currently installed predictor 
#  'default' - determined by Predictor::default
#
# Predictor::policy = input
    to end with 
    Predictor::policy = default
  4. put the configuration file where PSRCHIVE looks for it (see psrchive_config).