Bayesian inference for complex regression models using mixtures. The project will use mixtures to flexibly model complex regression functions and will develop Bayesian methods for carrying out statistical inference on these models. The models will deal with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian data. Multiple explanatory variables are dealt with by mixing simple additives to produce flexible high dimensional function estimates. Variable selection and model averaging will be used to identify important v ....Bayesian inference for complex regression models using mixtures. The project will use mixtures to flexibly model complex regression functions and will develop Bayesian methods for carrying out statistical inference on these models. The models will deal with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian data. Multiple explanatory variables are dealt with by mixing simple additives to produce flexible high dimensional function estimates. Variable selection and model averaging will be used to identify important variables and thus make the estimation more efficient. The methods will be extended to multivariate responses where account will taken be taken of the structure of the dependence between responses.Read moreRead less
Precision Pulsar Timing and its Applications. The rapidly rotating pulsars known as millisecond pulsars have period stabilities which rival that of the best terrestrial clocks. Observations of many millisecond pulsars spread across the sky should allow detection of the gravitational-wave background - likely to be the first direct detection of gravity waves. It will also enable establishment of a long-term time standard which is independent of and probably superior to that derived from terrestria ....Precision Pulsar Timing and its Applications. The rapidly rotating pulsars known as millisecond pulsars have period stabilities which rival that of the best terrestrial clocks. Observations of many millisecond pulsars spread across the sky should allow detection of the gravitational-wave background - likely to be the first direct detection of gravity waves. It will also enable establishment of a long-term time standard which is independent of and probably superior to that derived from terrestrial clocks. New analysis techniques and establishment of an international observing network will be required. Investigation and application of techniques for overcoming radio interference will be an important part of the project.Read moreRead less
Defeating Radio Frequency Interference. The radio spectrum is a valuable resource. Development of techniques which minimize the impact of various users on one another, allowing this resource to be shared, will benefit the entire community. For astronomy in particular, shared use is essential because of the very wide bandwidths needed to obtain sufficient sensitivity. Usage of the radio spectrum is increasing rapidly and radio telescopes are becoming more and more sensitive, compounding the probl ....Defeating Radio Frequency Interference. The radio spectrum is a valuable resource. Development of techniques which minimize the impact of various users on one another, allowing this resource to be shared, will benefit the entire community. For astronomy in particular, shared use is essential because of the very wide bandwidths needed to obtain sufficient sensitivity. Usage of the radio spectrum is increasing rapidly and radio telescopes are becoming more and more sensitive, compounding the problems. The digital signal processing techniques developed under this project will be widely applicable, not only to future radio astronomy facilities such as the Square Kilometer Array, but also to the communications industry generally.Read moreRead less