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Rotation measure variations for 20 millisecond pulsars

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Authors
Yan, W.
Manchester, R.
Hobbs, G.
van Straten, W.
Reynolds, J.
Wang, N.
Bailes, M.
Bhat, Ramesh
Burke-Spolaor, S.
Champion, D.
Chaudhary, A.
Coles, W.
Hotan, A.
Khoo, J.
Oslowski, S.
Sarkissian, J.
Yardley, D.
Date
2011
Type
Journal Article

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Citation
Yan, W. and Manchester, R. and Hobbs, G. and van Straten, W. and Reynolds, J. and Wang, N. and Bailes, M. et al. 2011. Rotation measure variations for 20 millisecond pulsars. Astrophysics and Space Science. 335 (2): pp. 485-498.
Source Title
Astrophysics and Space Science
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Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (Physics)
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Abstract

We report on variations in the mean position angle of the 20 millisecond pulsars being observed as part of the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) project. It is found that the observed variations are dominated by changes in the Faraday rotation occurring in the Earth's ionosphere. Two ionospheric models are used to correct for the ionospheric contribution and it is found that one based on the International Reference Ionosphere gave the best results. Little or no significant long-term variation in interstellar RM was found with limits typically about 0. 1 rad m -2 yr -1 in absolute value. In a few cases, apparently significant RM variations over timescales of a few 100 days or more were seen. These are unlikely to be due to localised magnetised regions crossing the line of sight since the implied magnetic fields are too high. Most probably they are statistical fluctuations due to random spatial and temporal variations in the interstellar electron density and magnetic field along the line of sight. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.