YANG Ting-gao1,2, GAO Yu-ping1,2

(1. National Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi′an 710600, China;

2. Key Laboratory of Time and Frequency Primary Standards, National Time Service Center,

Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi′an 710600, China)

Abstract: Based on the time scales TCB and TDB defined by International Astronomical Union (IAU), the time coordinate relativistic transformation for pulsar timing data analysis is discussed with emphasis. The terrestrial time (TT) should be used as reference time scale and the time coordinate transformation TCB—TT or time transformation TCB—TT should be made in pulsar timing data analysis. Based on the definition of TDB revised by IAU, the numerical integration method using JPL ephemeris and the traditional analytical method for calculating relativistic transformation of time coordinates are analyzed and compared. The effects of TCB or TDB on the measurements of pulsar rotational parameters are discussed. A preliminary analysis of the prediction of the time of arrival (TOA) of pulse is made by using PSR B1855+09 rotation models as an example.

Key words: pulsar; time scales; TOA prediction