gtptest Help File

Applies statistical tests to a series of pulse phase values stored in
given event file(s).

Usage: gtptest evfile outfile numphase numharm maxharm

gtptest applies all the statistical tests available with gtpsearch application to a series of pulse phase values stored in given event files. The tool supports several test statistics available, including Chi-squared (X2), Z-squared-n ( Z2N), H, and Rayleigh (Z2N with N == 1).

Example: gtptest

The example below shows how to perform periodicity tests on an event file that has been processed by gtpphase application, where a pulse phase has already been assigned to each photon and is stored in a default FITS column (PULSE_PHASE column).

> gtptest evfile=fakepulsar_event_phase.fits \
outfile=gtptest_example_1.fits numphase=10 numharm=10 maxharm=10

This command produces an output message that describes the types and the parameters of the periodicity tests that are performed, and explains the test results. A plot will also be produced, which shows a folded-light curve used in the chi-squared test.