Year: 1998
Type: article
Abstract: We present here a method to study the distribution of electron density fluctuations in pulsar directions as well as to estimate pulsar distances. The method, based on a simple two-component model of the scattering medium discussed by Gwinn, Bartel & Cordes, uses scintillation and proper motion data in addition to the measurements of angular broadening and temporal broadening to solve for the model parameters, namely, the fractional distance to a discrete scatterer and the associated relative scattering strength. We show how this method can be used to estimate pulsar distances reliably, when the location of a discrete scatterer (e.g. an H ii region), if any, is known. Considering the specific example of PSR B0736–40, we illustrate how a simple characterization of the Gum nebula region (using the data on the Vela pulsar) is possible and can be used along with the temporal broadening measurements to estimate pulsar distances.
Authors: A. A. Deshpande, R. Ramachandran
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2160685075