Pulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar Medium
Due to the inhomogeneity of electron number density, radio waves emitted by pulsars undergo scattering as they pass through the interstellar medium (ISM). However, a connection between large-scale pulsar scattering data and the structure of the Galactic ISM has yet to be established. In this paper,...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada4af |
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| author | Qiuyi He Xun Shi Guangxing Li |
| author_facet | Qiuyi He Xun Shi Guangxing Li |
| author_sort | Qiuyi He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to the inhomogeneity of electron number density, radio waves emitted by pulsars undergo scattering as they pass through the interstellar medium (ISM). However, a connection between large-scale pulsar scattering data and the structure of the Galactic ISM has yet to be established. In this paper, we explore the capability of pulsar scattering time data in discovering structures in the ISM. Using a large data set of scattering time measurements for 473 pulsars, we fit the pulsar reduced scattering intensity as a function of Galactic latitude and distance, constructing a smooth model of the Galactic pulsar scattering distribution. By comparing this smooth distribution with observational data, we identify two ISM structures responsible for pulsar scattering, one is associated with the Vela supernova remnant region within the Gum Nebula, while the other is a newly discovered structure—a distant superbubble, G38, located at a distance of 2.3 kpc with a size of ~50 pc. Analysis of the correlation coefficient of the pulsar scattering distribution shows that the correlation is dominated by structures smaller than 0.15 kpc—the closest separation approachable by the current data set. As measurements of the pulsar scattering time continue to increase in the future, they can potentially become an independent tool for exploring structures in the ISM. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-636e495faf4448b4881f1557495a3bef |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-636e495faf4448b4881f1557495a3bef2025-01-28T06:34:12ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01979219610.3847/1538-4357/ada4afPulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar MediumQiuyi He0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1205-7294Xun Shi1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2076-4510Guangxing Li2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3144-1952South-Western Institute for Astronomy Research (SWIFAR), Yunnan University , 650500 Kunming, People's Republic of ChinaSouth-Western Institute for Astronomy Research (SWIFAR), Yunnan University , 650500 Kunming, People's Republic of ChinaSouth-Western Institute for Astronomy Research (SWIFAR), Yunnan University , 650500 Kunming, People's Republic of ChinaDue to the inhomogeneity of electron number density, radio waves emitted by pulsars undergo scattering as they pass through the interstellar medium (ISM). However, a connection between large-scale pulsar scattering data and the structure of the Galactic ISM has yet to be established. In this paper, we explore the capability of pulsar scattering time data in discovering structures in the ISM. Using a large data set of scattering time measurements for 473 pulsars, we fit the pulsar reduced scattering intensity as a function of Galactic latitude and distance, constructing a smooth model of the Galactic pulsar scattering distribution. By comparing this smooth distribution with observational data, we identify two ISM structures responsible for pulsar scattering, one is associated with the Vela supernova remnant region within the Gum Nebula, while the other is a newly discovered structure—a distant superbubble, G38, located at a distance of 2.3 kpc with a size of ~50 pc. Analysis of the correlation coefficient of the pulsar scattering distribution shows that the correlation is dominated by structures smaller than 0.15 kpc—the closest separation approachable by the current data set. As measurements of the pulsar scattering time continue to increase in the future, they can potentially become an independent tool for exploring structures in the ISM.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada4afInterstellar mediumInterstellar scatteringInterstellar scintillationGalaxy structurePulsars |
| spellingShingle | Qiuyi He Xun Shi Guangxing Li Pulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar Medium The Astrophysical Journal Interstellar medium Interstellar scattering Interstellar scintillation Galaxy structure Pulsars |
| title | Pulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar Medium |
| title_full | Pulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar Medium |
| title_fullStr | Pulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar Medium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar Medium |
| title_short | Pulsar Scattering as a Probe for Structures in the Interstellar Medium |
| title_sort | pulsar scattering as a probe for structures in the interstellar medium |
| topic | Interstellar medium Interstellar scattering Interstellar scintillation Galaxy structure Pulsars |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada4af |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qiuyihe pulsarscatteringasaprobeforstructuresintheinterstellarmedium AT xunshi pulsarscatteringasaprobeforstructuresintheinterstellarmedium AT guangxingli pulsarscatteringasaprobeforstructuresintheinterstellarmedium |