Grouping bi-chi-squared method for pulsar navigation experiment using observations of Rossi X-ray timing explorer

Abstract

X-ray pulsar-based navigation is a revolutionary technology which is capable of providing the required navigation information in the solar system. Performing as an important pulsar-based navigation technique, the Significance Enhancement of Pulse-profile with Orbit-dynamics (SEPO) can estimate orbital elements by using the distortion of pulse profile. Based on the SEPO technique, we propose a grouping bi-chi-squared technique and adopt the observations of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) to carry out experimental verification. The pulsar timing is refined to determine spin parameters of the Crab pulsar (PSR B0531+21) during the observation periods, and a short-term dynamic model for RXTE satellite is established by considering the effects of diverse perturbations. Experimental results suggest that the position and velocity errors are 16.3 km (3σ) and 13.3 m/s (3σ) with two adjacent observations split by one day (exposure time of 1.5 ks), outperforming those of the POLAR experiment whose results are 19.2 km (3σ) and 432 m/s (3σ). The approach provided is particularly applicable to the estimation of orbital elements via using high-flux observations.