Tracking dispersion measure variations of timing array pulsars with the GMRT

We present the results from nearly three years of monitoring of the variations in dispersion measure (DM) along the line-of-sight to 11 millisecond pulsars using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). These results demonstrate accuracies of single epoch DM estimates of the order of 5 × 10-4 cm-3 pc. A preliminary comparison with the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) data shows that the measured DM fluctuations are comparable. We show effects of DM variations due to the solar wind and solar corona and compare with the existing models.

Citation

Kumar, U. and Gupta, Y. and Van Straten, W. and Oslowski, S. and Roy, J. and Bhat, R. and Bailes, M. et al. 2012. Tracking dispersion measure variations of timing array pulsars with the GMRT, in van Leeuwen, J. (ed), Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union (IAU): Neutron Stars and Pulsars: Challenges and Opportunities after 80 years Symposium No. 291, Aug 20 2012, pp. 434-436. Bejing, China: IAUS.

Source Title

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union

School

Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (Physics)

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/50727

Collection

Curtin Research Publications