The frequency evolution of interstellar pulse broadening from radio pulsars

• Published in: Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2004-10, Vol.425 (2), p.569-575
• Main Authors: LÖHMER, O, MITRA, D, GUPTA, Y, KRAMER, M, AHUJA, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20035881

In this paper we report multi-frequency measurements of pulse broadening times ( tau sub(d)) for nine medium dispersion measure (DM approximately 150-400 pc cm super(-3)) pulsars observed over a wide frequency range. The low frequency data at 243, 325 and 610 MHz are new observations done with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). The frequency dependence of tau sub(d) for all but one (PSR B1933+16) of our sources is consistent with the Kolmogorov spectrum of electron density fluctuations in a turbulent medium. PSR B 1933+16, however, shows a very flat spectrum as previously observed for high DM pulsars. Our observations combined with earlier published results enable us to study the spectral index of tau sub(d) over the whole observed DM range. While the spectral properties are generally consistent with a Kolmogorov spectrum, pulsars seen along line-of-sights towards the inner Galaxy or complex regions often show deviations from this expected behaviour.