Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars characterized by the regular emission of radio (and in some cases optical) signals. The pulsation frequency of different pulsars ranges from seconds down to milliseconds. The Principal Investigator proposes to continue with his radio observations of pulsars, concentrating on: 1. high-precision pulsar timing observations, in part in preparation for the NASA Gamma Ray Observatory (to be launched in 1990), 2. search for millisecond pulsars, and 3. initiate a "glitch patrol" of daily observations of selected pulsars. The motivation for this work is to achieve a better understanding of the nature of pulsars, their place in stellar and galactic evolution, and to apply the data to gravitation physics, cosmology, astrometry, and timekeeping.
