Single Epoch Measurements of Dispersion Measure Gradients Towards PSR B0834+06

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method using pulsar scintillometry to measure dispersion measure gradients along multiple sight lines simultaneously, enhancing understanding of interstellar medium effects on pulsar timing.

Contribution

The novel approach leverages multipath propagation to measure dispersion measure gradients from a single observation, demonstrated on PSR B0834+06 data.

Findings

Measured dispersion measure gradient of 9.7±0.3×10^{-6} pc cm^{-3} mas^{-1}

Demonstrated the method's effectiveness with existing pulsar data

Provides a new tool for high-precision pulsar timing and astrometry

Abstract

Understanding the evolution of pulsar dispersion measures is vital to high precision timing experiments, as well as astrometric experiments to determine pulsar positions and proper motions. In this work, we present a novel approach to measuring dispersion measure gradients using pulsar scintillometry. This approach makes use of the multipath propagation through the interstellar medium to simultaneously probe dispersion measures along multiple sight lines from a single observation. Using existing data of PSR B0834+06, we are able to measure gradients of $9.7\pm0.3\times10^{-6}~\rm{pc}~\rm{cm}^{-3}~\rm{mas}^{-1}$.