Search

We study an inflation model with nonminimal derivative coupling that features a coupling between the derivative of the inflaton field and the Einstein tensor. This model naturally amplifies curvature perturbations at small scales via gravitationally enhanced friction, a mechanism critical for the formation of primordial black holes and the associated production of potentially detectable scalar-induced gravitational waves. We derive analytical expressions for the primordial power spectrum, enabling efficient exploration of the model parameter space without requiring computationally intensive numerical solutions of the Mukhanov-Sasaki equation. Using the third data release of the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA DR3), we constrain the model parameters characterizing the coupling function: $\phi_c = 3.7^{+0.3}_{-0.5} M_\mathrm{P}$, $\log_{10} \omega_L = 7.1^{+0.6}_{-0.3}$, and $\log_{10} \sigma = -8.3^{+0.3}_{-0.6}$ at 90\% confidence level. Our results demonstrate the growing capability of pulsar timing arrays to probe early Universe physics, complementing traditional cosmic microwave background observations by providing unique constraints on inflationary dynamics at small scales., Comment: 14 pages, 5figures

We conduct the first-ever Pulsar Polarization Array (PPA) analysis to detect the ultralight Axion-Like Dark Matter (ALDM) using the polarization data of 22 millisecond pulsars from the third data release of Parkes Pulsar Timing Array. As one of the major dark matter candidates, the ultralight ALDM exhibits a pronounced wave nature on astronomical scales and offers a promising solution to small-scale structure issues within local galaxies. While the linearly polarized pulsar light travels through the ALDM galactic halo, its position angle (PA) can be subject to an oscillation induced by the ALDM Chern-Simons coupling with electromagnetic field. The PPA is thus especially suited for detecting the ultralight ALDM by correlating polarization data across the arrayed pulsars. To accomplish this task, we develop an advanced Bayesian analysis framework that allows us to construct pulsar PA residual time series, model noise contributions properly and search for pulsar cross-correlations. We find that for an ALDM density of $\rho_0=0.4\,\textrm{GeV}/\textrm{cm}^3$, the Parkes PPA offers the best global limits on the ALDM Chern-Simons coupling, namely $\lesssim 10^{-13.5}-10^{-12.2}~{\rm GeV}^{-1}$, for the mass range of $10^{-22} - 10^{-21}~{\rm eV}$. The crucial role of pulsar cross-correlation in recognizing the nature of the derived limits is also highlighted., Comment: 6+15 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables, submitted to the journal

The observation of neutron stars enables the otherwise impossible study of fundamental physical processes. The timing of binary radio pulsars is particularly powerful, as it enables precise characterization of their (three-dimensional) positions and orbits. PSR~J0437$-$4715 is an important millisecond pulsar for timing array experiments and is also a primary target for the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER). The main aim of the NICER mission is to constrain the neutron star equation of state by inferring the compactness ($M_p/R$) of the star. Direct measurements of the mass $M_p$ from pulsar timing therefore substantially improve constraints on the radius $R$ and the equation of state. Here we use observations spanning 26 years from Murriyang, the 64-m Parkes radio telescope, to improve the timing model for this pulsar. Among the new precise measurements are the pulsar mass $M_p=1.418\pm 0.044$ $M_{\odot}$, distance $D=156.96 \pm 0.11$ pc, and orbital inclination angle $i=137.506 \pm 0.016^\circ$, which can be used to inform the X-ray pulse profile models inferred from NICER observations. We demonstrate that these results are consistent between multiple data sets from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA), each modeled with different noise assumptions. Using the longest available PPTA data set, we measure an apparent second derivative of the pulsar spin frequency and discuss how this can be explained either by kinematic effects due to the proper motion and radial velocity of the pulsar or excess low-frequency noise such as a gravitational-wave background., Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters

PSR J0026-1955 was independently discovered by the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) recently. The pulsar exhibits subpulse drifting, where the radio emission from a pulsar appears to drift in spin phase within the main pulse profile, and nulling, where the emission ceases briefly. The pulsar showcases a curious case of drift rate evolution as it exhibits rapid changes between the drift modes and a gradual evolution in the drift rate within a mode. Here we report new analysis and results from observations of J0026-1955 made with the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) at 300-500 MHz. We identify two distinct subpulse drifting modes: A and B, with mode A sub-categorised into A0, A1, and A2, depending upon the drift rate evolutionary behaviour. Additionally, the pulsar exhibits short and long nulls, with an estimated overall nulling fraction of ~58%, which is lower than the previously reported value. Our results also provide evidence of subpulse memory across nulls and a consistent behaviour where mode A2 is often followed by a null. We investigate the drift rate modulations of J0026-1955 and put forward two different models to explain the observed drifting behaviour. We suggest that either a change in polar gap screening or a slow relaxation in the spark configuration could possibly drive the evolution in drift rates. J0026-1955 belongs to a rare subset of pulsars which exhibit subpulse drifting, nulling, mode changing, and drift rate evolution. It is, therefore, an ideal test bed for carousel models and to uncover the intricacies of pulsar emission physics., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The noise in millisecond pulsar (MSP) timing data can include contributions from observing instruments, the interstellar medium, the solar wind, solar system ephemeris errors, and the pulsars themselves. The noise environment must be accurately characterized in order to form the null hypothesis from which signal models can be compared, including the signature induced by nanohertz-frequency gravitational waves (GWs). Here we describe the noise models developed for each of the MSPs in the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) third data release, which have been used as the basis of a search for the isotropic stochastic GW background. We model pulsar spin noise, dispersion measure variations, scattering variations, events in the pulsar magnetospheres, solar wind variability, and instrumental effects. We also search for new timing model parameters and detected Shapiro delays in PSR~J0614$-$3329 and PSR~J1902$-$5105. The noise and timing models are validated by testing the normalized and whitened timing residuals for Gaussianity and residual correlations with time. We demonstrate that the choice of noise models significantly affects the inferred properties of a common-spectrum process. Using our detailed models, the recovered common-spectrum noise in the PPTA is consistent with a power law with a spectral index of $\gamma=13/3$, the value predicted for a stochastic GW background from a population of supermassive black hole binaries driven solely by GW emission., Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJL

We present the third data release from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) project. The release contains observations of 32 pulsars obtained using the 64-m Parkes "Murriyang" radio telescope. The data span is up to 18 years with a typical cadence of 3 weeks. This data release is formed by combining an updated version of our second data release with $\sim 3$ years of more recent data primarily obtained using an ultra-wide-bandwidth receiver system that operates between 704 and 4032 MHz. We provide calibrated pulse profiles, flux-density dynamic spectra, pulse times of arrival, and initial pulsar timing models. We describe methods for processing such wide-bandwidth observations, and compare this data release with our previous release., Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in PASA

Pulsar timing arrays aim to detect nanohertz-frequency gravitational waves (GWs). A background of GWs modulates pulsar arrival times and manifests as a stochastic process, common to all pulsars, with a signature spatial correlation. Here we describe a search for an isotropic stochastic gravitational-wave background (GWB) using observations of 30 millisecond pulsars from the third data release of the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA), which spans 18 years. Using current Bayesian inference techniques we recover and characterize a common-spectrum noise process. Represented as a strain spectrum $h_c = A(f/1 {\rm yr}^{-1})^{\alpha}$, we measure $A=3.1^{+1.3}_{-0.9} \times 10^{-15}$ and $\alpha=-0.45 \pm 0.20$ respectively (median and 68% credible interval). For a spectral index of $\alpha=-2/3$, corresponding to an isotropic background of GWs radiated by inspiraling supermassive black hole binaries, we recover an amplitude of $A=2.04^{+0.25}_{-0.22} \times 10^{-15}$. However, we demonstrate that the apparent signal strength is time-dependent, as the first half of our data set can be used to place an upper limit on $A$ that is in tension with the inferred common-spectrum amplitude using the complete data set. We search for spatial correlations in the observations by hierarchically analyzing individual pulsar pairs, which also allows for significance validation through randomizing pulsar positions on the sky. For a process with $\alpha=-2/3$, we measure spatial correlations consistent with a GWB, with an estimated false-alarm probability of $p \lesssim 0.02$ (approx. $2\sigma$). The long timing baselines of the PPTA and the access to southern pulsars will continue to play an important role in the International Pulsar Timing Array., Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJL

We have studied the pulse-to-pulse variability in PSR J1820--0427 and its frequency dependence using high-quality, wide-band observations made from the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT; 300-750 MHz) and the Murchison Widefield Array ($\sim$170-200 MHz). The low-frequency data reveal a previously unreported feature in the average profile (at 185 MHz) after accounting for the effects of temporal broadening arising from multi-path scattering due to the Interstellar Medium (ISM). We advance a new method for flux density calibration of beamformed data from the uGMRT and use it to measure the single pulse flux densities across the uGMRT band. Combined with previously published measurements, these flux densities are best fit with a power-law spectrum with a low-frequency turnover. We also use calibrated flux densities to explore the relationship between pulse-to-pulse variability and the spectral index of individual pulses. Our analysis reveals a large scatter in the single-pulse spectral indices and a general tendency for brighter pulses to show a steepening of the spectral index. We also examine the frequency-dependence of the pulse-fluence distribution and its relation to the Stochastic Growth Theory., Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The phenomenon of sub-pulse drifting is an important single-pulse phenomenon that can potentially provide important insights into the elusive radio emission mechanism in pulsars. We analyze the frequency behaviour of the single pulses of B0818-41, observed from 300 to 500 MHz (Band 3 of the uGMRT), and compare it to the evolution of the average profile to place constraints on the geometry of the pulsar's emission beam. We show that a circular carousel of discrete beamlets, where each beamlet has radial symmetry, is not consistent with the observed behaviour, and describe an alternative, consistent range of possible elliptical carousel geometries. We also combine the uGMRT data with some archival MWA observations and several other published profiles to characterize the profile evolution across a frequency range spanning ~170 MHz to ~1.4 GHz.

In 2018 an ultra-wide-bandwidth low-frequency (UWL) receiver was installed on the 64-m Parkes Radio Telescope enabling observations with an instantaneous frequency coverage from 704 to 4032 MHz. Here, we present the analysis of a three-year data set of 35 millisecond pulsars observed with the UWL by the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA), using wideband timing methods. The two key differences compared to typical narrow-band methods are, firstly, generation of two-dimensional templates accounting for pulse shape evolution with frequency and, secondly, simultaneous measurements of the pulse time-of-arrival (ToA) and dispersion measure (DM). This is the first time that wideband timing has been applied to a uniform data set collected with a single large-fractional bandwidth receiver, for which such techniques were originally developed. As a result of our study, we present a set of profile evolution models and new timing solutions including initial noise analysis. Precision of our ToA and DM measurements is in the range of 0.005 $-$ 2.08 $\mu$s and (0.043$-$14.24)$\times10^{-4}$ cm$^{-3}$ pc, respectively, with 94% of the pulsars achieving a median ToA uncertainty of less than 1 $\mu$s., Comment: 29 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

Composed of ultralight bosons, fuzzy dark matter provides an intriguing solution to challenges that the standard cold dark matter model encounters on sub-galactic scales. The ultralight dark matter with mass $m\sim10^{-23} \rm{eV}$ will induce a periodic oscillation in gravitational potentials with a frequency in the nanohertz band, leading to observable effects in the arrival times of radio pulses from pulsars. Unlike scalar dark matter, pulsar timing signals induced by the vector dark matter are dependent on the oscillation direction of the vector fields. In this work, we search for ultralight vector dark matter in the mass range of $[2\times 10^{-24}, 2\times 10^{-22}]{\rm{eV}}$ through its gravitational effect in the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) second data release. Since no statistically significant detection is made, we place $95\%$ upper limits on the local dark matter density as $\rho_{\rm{\tiny{VF}}} \lesssim 5{\rm{GeV/cm^{3}}}$ for $m\lesssim 10^{-23}{\rm{eV}}$. As no preferred direction is found for the vector dark matter, these constraints are comparable to those given by the scalar dark matter search with an earlier 12-year data set of PPTA., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication as a Letter in Phys. Rev. D

Pulsar timing array collaborations have recently reported evidence for a noise process with a common spectrum among the millisecond pulsars in the arrays. The spectral properties of this common-noise process are consistent with expectations for an isotropic gravitational-wave background (GWB) from inspiralling supermassive black-hole binaries. However, recent simulation analyses based on Parkes Pulsar Timing Array data indicate that such a detection may arise spuriously. In this paper, we use simulated pulsar timing array datasets to further test the robustness of the inference methods for spectral and spatial correlations from a GWB. Expanding on our previous results, we find strong support (Bayes factors exceeding $10^5$) for the presence of a common-spectrum noise process in datasets where no common process is present, under a wide range of timing noise prescriptions per pulsar. We show that these results are highly sensitive to the choice of Bayesian priors on timing noise parameters, with priors that more closely match the injected distributions of timing noise parameters resulting in diminished support for a common-spectrum noise process. These results emphasize shortcomings in current methods for inferring the presence of a common-spectrum process, and imply that the detection of a common process is not a reliable precursor to detection of the GWB. Future searches for the nanohertz GWB should remain focussed on detecting spatial correlations, and make use of more tailored specifications for a common-spectrum noise process., Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Pulsar timing array experiments have recently reported strong evidence for a common-spectrum stochastic process with a strain spectral index consistent with that expected of a nanohertz-frequency gravitational-wave background, but with negligible yet non-zero evidence for spatial correlations required for a definitive detection. However, it was pointed out by the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) collaboration that the same models used in recent analyses resulted in strong evidence for a common-spectrum process in simulations where none is present. In this work, we introduce a methodology to distinguish pulsar power spectra with the same amplitude from noise power spectra of similar but distinct amplitudes. The former is the signature of a spatially uncorrelated pulsar term of a nanohertz gravitational-wave background, whereas the latter could represent ensemble pulsar noise properties. We test the methodology on simulated data sets. We find that the reported common process in PPTA pulsars is indeed consistent with the spectral feature of a pulsar term. We recommend this methodology as one of the validity tests that the real astrophysical and cosmological backgrounds should pass, as well as for inferences about the spatially uncorrelated component of the background., Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures

We report the independent discovery of PSR J0027-1956 with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in the ongoing Southern-sky MWA Rapid Two-meter (SMART) pulsar survey. J0027-1956 has a period of ~1.306 s, a dispersion measure (DM) of ~20.869 pc cm^-3 , and a nulling fraction of ~77%. This pulsar highlights the advantages of the survey's long dwell times (~80 min), which, when fully searched, will be sensitive to the expected population of similarly bright, intermittent pulsars with long nulls. A single-pulse analysis in the MWA's 140-170 MHz band also reveals a complex sub-pulse drifting behavior, including both rapid changes of the drift rate characteristic of mode switching pulsars, as well as a slow, consistent evolution of the drift rate within modes. In some longer drift sequences, interruptions in the otherwise smooth drift rate evolution occur preferentially at a particular phase, typically lasting a few pulses. These properties make this pulsar an ideal test bed for prevailing models of drifting behavior such as the carousel model., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ

Making precise measurements of pulsar dispersion measures (DMs) and applying suitable corrections for them is amongst the major challenges in high-precision timing programmes such as pulsar timing arrays (PTAs). While the advent of wide-band pulsar instrumentation can enable more precise DM measurements and thence improved timing precision, it also necessitates doing careful assessments of frequency-dependent (chromatic) DMs that was theorised by Cordes et al. (2016). Here we report the detection of such an effect in broadband observations of the millisecond pulsar PSR J2241-5236, a high-priority target for current and future PTAs. The observations were made contemporaneously using the wide-band receivers and capabilities now available at the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) and the Parkes telescopes, thus providing an unprecedentedly large frequency coverage from 80 MHz to 4 GHz. Our analysis shows the measurable changes in DM that scale with the observing frequency ($\nu$) as $\rm \delta DM \sim \nu^{2.5 \pm 0.1}$. We discuss the potential implications of such a frequency dependence in the measured DMs, and the likely impact on the timing noise budget, and comment on the usefulness of low-frequency observations in advancing PTA efforts., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, Accepted for publication in The ApJ Letters

The nature of dark matter remains obscure in spite of decades of experimental efforts. The mass of dark matter candidates can span a wide range, and its coupling with the Standard Model sector remains uncertain. All these unknowns make the etection of dark matter extremely challenging. Ultralight dark matter, with $m \sim10^{-22}$ eV, is proposed to reconcile the disagreements between observations and predictions from simulations of small-scale structures in the cold dark matter paradigm, while remaining consistent with other observations. Because of its large de Broglie wavelength and large local occupation number within galaxies, ultralight dark matter behaves like a coherently oscillating background field with an oscillating frequency dependent on its mass. If the dark matter particle is a spin-1 dark photon, such as the $U(1)_B$ or $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge boson, it can induce an external oscillating force and lead to displacements of test masses. Such an effect would be observable in the form of periodic variations in the arrival times of radio pulses from highly stable millisecond pulsars. In this study, we search for evidence of ultralight dark photon dark matter (DPDM) using 14-year high-precision observations of 26 pulsars collected with the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array. While no statistically significant signal is found, we place constraints on coupling constants for the $U(1)_B$ and $U(1)_{B-L}$ DPDM. Compared with other experiments, the limits on the dimensionless coupling constant $\epsilon$ achieved in our study are improved by up to two orders of magnitude when the dark photon mass is smaller than $3\times10^{-22}$~eV ($10^{-22}$~eV) for the $U(1)_{B}$ ($U(1)_{B-L}$) scenario., Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures

Sub-pulse drifting in pulsar radio emission is considered to be one of the most promising phenomenon for uncovering the underlying physical processes. Here we present a detailed study of such a phenomenon in observations of PSR J1822$-$2256, made using the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (uGMRT). Observations were made simultaneously using the Band 3 (300-500 MHz) and Band 4 (550-750 MHz) receivers of the uGMRT. The pulsar is known to exhibit subpulse drifting, mode changing, and nulling. Our observations reveal four distinct sub-pulse drifting modes of emission (A, B, C, and D) for this pulsar, with the drift periodicities of 17.9 $P_1$, 5.8 $P_1$, 8 $P_1$, 14.1 $P_1$, respectively (where $P_1$ is the pulsar rotation period), two of which exhibit some new features that were not reported in the previous studies. We also investigate the possible spark configuration, characterised by the number of sparks ($n$) in the carousel patterns of these four drift modes, and our analysis suggests two representative solutions for the number of sparks for a carousel rotation period, $P_4$, which lies in the range of $13$ to $16$. The large frequency coverage of our data (300-750 MHz) is also leveraged to explore the frequency dependence of single-pulse characteristics of the pulsar emission, particularly the frequency-dependent subpulse behaviour and the emission heights for the observed drift modes. Our analysis suggests a clear modal dependence of inferred emission heights. We discuss the implications for the pulsar emission mechanism and its relation to the proposed spark configuration., Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures

A cosmological first-order phase transition is expected to produce a stochastic gravitational wave background. If the phase transition temperature is on the MeV scale, the power spectrum of the induced stochastic gravitational waves peaks around nanohertz frequencies, and can thus be probed with high-precision pulsar timing observations. We search for such a stochastic gravitational wave background with the latest data set of the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array. We find no evidence for a Hellings-Downs spatial correlation as expected for a stochastic gravitational wave background. Therefore, we present constraints on first-order phase transition model parameters. Our analysis shows that pulsar timing is particularly sensitive to the low-temperature ($T \sim 1 - 100$ MeV) phase transition with a duration $(\beta/H_*)^{-1}\sim 10^{-2}-10^{-1}$ and therefore can be used to constrain the dark and QCD phase transitions., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

We present the discovery and timing of the young (age $\sim 28.6$ kyr) pulsar PSR J0837$-$2454. Based on its high latitude ($b = 9.8^{\circ}$) and dispersion measure (DM $ = 143$~pc~cm$^{-3}$), the pulsar appears to be at a $z$-height of $>$1 kpc above the Galactic plane, but near the edge of our Galaxy. This is many times the observed scale height of the canonical pulsar population, which suggests this pulsar may have been born far out of the plane. If accurate, the young age and high $z$-height imply that this is the first pulsar known to be born from a runaway O/B star. In follow-up imaging with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), we detect the pulsar with a flux density $S_{1400} = 0.18 \pm 0.05$ mJy. We do not detect an obvious supernova remnant around the pulsar in our ATCA data, but we detect a co-located, low-surface-brightness region of $\sim$1.5$^\circ$ extent in archival Galactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA Survey data. We also detect co-located H$\alpha$ emission from the Southern H$\alpha$ Sky Survey Atlas. Distance estimates based on these two detections come out to $\sim$0.9 kpc and $\sim$0.2 kpc respectively, both of which are much smaller than the distance predicted by the NE2001 model ($6.3$ kpc) and YMW model ($>25$ kpc) and place the pulsar much closer to the plane of the Galaxy. If the pulsar/remnant association holds, this result also highlights the inherent difficulty in the classification of transients as "Galactic" (pulsar) or "extragalactic" (fast radio burst) toward the Galactic anti-center based solely on the modeled Galactic electron contribution to a detection., Comment: Published in ApJ. 12 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables

Intensity scintillations of radio pulsars are known to originate from interference between waves scattered by the electron density irregularities of interstellar plasma, often leading to parabolic arcs in the two-dimensional power spectrum of the recorded dynamic spectrum. The degree of arc curvature depends on the distance to the scattering plasma and its transverse velocity with respect to the line-of-sight. We report the observation of annual and orbital variations in the curvature of scintillation arcs over a period of 16 years for the bright millisecond pulsar, PSR J0437-4715. These variations are the signature of the relative transverse motions of the Earth, pulsar, and scattering medium, which we model to obtain precise measurements of parameters of the pulsar's binary orbit and the scattering medium itself. We observe two clear scintillation arcs in most of our $>$5000 observations and we show that they originate from scattering by thin screens located at distances $D_1 = 89.8 \pm 0.4$ pc and $D_2 = 124 \pm 3$ pc from Earth. The best-fit scattering model we derive for the brightest arc yields the pulsar's orbital inclination angle $i = 137.1 \pm 0.3^\circ$, and longitude of ascending node, $\Omega=206.3\pm0.4^\circ$. Using scintillation arcs for precise astrometry and orbital dynamics can be superior to modelling variations in the diffractive scintillation timescale, because the arc curvature is independent of variations in the level of turbulence of interstellar plasma. This technique can be used in combination with pulsar timing to determine the full three-dimensional orbital geometries of binary pulsars, and provides parameters essential for testing theories of gravity and constraining neutron star masses., Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ

It is widely accepted that dark matter contributes about a quarter of the critical mass-energy density in our Universe. The nature of dark matter is currently unknown, with the mass of possible constituents spanning nearly one hundred orders of magnitude. The ultralight scalar field dark matter, consisting of extremely light bosons with $m \sim 10^{-22}$ eV and often called "fuzzy" dark matter, provides intriguing solutions to some challenges at sub-Galactic scales for the standard cold dark matter model. As shown by Khmelnitsky and Rubakov, such a scalar field in the Galaxy would produce an oscillating gravitational potential with nanohertz frequencies, resulting in periodic variations in the times of arrival of radio pulses from pulsars. The Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) has been monitoring 20 millisecond pulsars at two to three weeks intervals for more than a decade. In addition to the detection of nanohertz gravitational waves, PPTA offers the opportunity for direct searches for fuzzy dark matter in an astrophysically feasible range of masses. We analyze the latest PPTA data set which includes timing observations for 26 pulsars made between 2004 and 2016. We perform a search in this data set for evidence of ultralight dark matter in the Galaxy using Bayesian and Frequentist methods. No statistically significant detection has been made. We therefore place upper limits on the local dark matter density. Our limits, improving on previous searches by a factor of two to five, constrain the dark matter density of ultralight bosons with $m \leq 10^{-23}$ eV to be below $6\,\text{GeV}\,\text{cm}^{-3}$ with 95\% confidence in the Earth neighborhood. Finally, we discuss the prospect of probing the astrophysically favored mass range $m \gtrsim 10^{-22}$ eV with next-generation pulsar timing facilities., Comment: Fixed a typo in Fig. 5; Published in Phys. Rev. D as Editor's Suggestion article, 17 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables

We developed a generic formalism to estimate the event rate and the redshift distribution of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) in our previous publication (Bera et al. 2016), considering FRBs are of an extragalactic origin. In this paper we present (a) the predicted pulse widths of FRBs by considering two different scattering models, (b) the minimum total energy required to detect events, (c) the redshift distribution and (d) the detection rates of FRBs for the Ooty Wide Field Array (OWFA). The energy spectrum of FRBs is modelled as a power law with an exponent $-\alpha$ and our analysis spans a range $-3\leq \alpha \leq 5$. We find that OWFA will be capable of detecting FRBs with $\alpha\geq 0$. The redshift distribution and the event rates of FRBs are estimated by assuming two different energy distribution functions; a Delta function and a Schechter luminosity function with an exponent $-2\le \gamma \le 2$. We consider an empirical scattering model based on pulsar observations (model I) as well as a theoretical model (model II) expected for the intergalactic medium. The redshift distributions peak at a particular redshift $z_p$ for a fixed value of $\alpha$, which lie in the range $0.3\leq z_p \leq 1$ for the scattering model I and remain flat and extend up to high redshifts ($z\lesssim 5$) for the scattering model II., Comment: To appear in the Special Section of the JAA on the Ooty Wide Field Array

We extend profile domain pulsar timing to incorporate wide-band effects such as frequency-dependent profile evolution and broadband shape variation in the pulse profile. We also incorporate models for temporal variations in both pulse width and in the separation in phase of the main pulse and interpulse. We perform the analysis with both nested sampling and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo methods. In the latter case we introduce a new parameterisation of the posterior that is extremely efficient in the low signal-to-noise regime and can be readily applied to a wide range of scientific problems. We apply this methodology to a series of simulations, and to between seven and nine yr of observations for PSRs J1713$+$0747, J1744$-$1134, and J1909$-$3744 with frequency coverage that spans 700-3600MHz. We use a smooth model for profile evolution across the full frequency range, and compare smooth and piecewise models for the temporal variations in DM. We find the profile domain framework consistently results in improved timing precision compared to the standard analysis paradigm by as much as 40% for timing parameters. Incorporating smoothness in the DM variations into the model further improves timing precision by as much as 30%. For PSR J1713+0747 we also detect pulse shape variation uncorrelated between epochs, which we attribute to variation intrinsic to the pulsar at a level consistent with previously published analyses. Not accounting for this shape variation biases the measured arrival times at the level of $\sim$30ns, the same order of magnitude as the expected shift due to gravitational-waves in the pulsar timing band., Comment: 22 pages, submitted to MNRAS

Assuming that Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are of extragalactic origin, we have developed a formalism to predict the FRB detection rate and the redshift distribution of the detected events for a telescope with given parameters. We have adopted FRB 110220, for which the emitted pulse energy is estimated to be $E_0 = 5.4 \times 10^{33}J$, as the reference event. The formalism requires us to assume models for (1) pulse broadening due to scattering in the ionized inter-galactic medium - we consider two different models for this, (2) the frequency spectrum of the emitted pulse - we consider a power law model $E_{\nu} \propto \nu^{-\alpha}$ with $-5 \leq \alpha \leq 5$, and (3) the comoving number density of the FRB occurrence rate $n(E,w_i,z)$ - we ignore the z dependence and assume a fixed intrinsic pulse width $w_i = 1$ms for all the FRBs. The distribution of the emitted pulse energy $E$ is modelled through (a) a delta-function where all the FRBs have the same energy $E = E_0$ , and (b) a Schechter luminosity function where the energies have a spread around $E_0$. The models are all normalized using the 4 FRBs detected by Thornton et al. (2013). Our model predictions for the Parkes telescope are all consistent with the inferred redshift distribution of the fourteen FRBs detected there to date. We also find that scattering places an upper limit on the redshift of the FRBs detectable by a given telescope; for the Parkes telescope this is $z \sim 2$. Considering the upcoming Ooty Wide Field Array, we predict a FRB detection rate of $\sim 0.01$ to $\sim 10^3$ per day., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures and 2 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS main journal

Quantum fluctuations of the gravitational field in the early Universe, amplified by inflation, produce a primordial gravitational-wave background across a broad frequency band. We derive constraints on the spectrum of this gravitational radiation, and hence on theories of the early Universe, by combining experiments that cover 29 orders of magnitude in frequency. These include Planck observations of cosmic microwave background temperature and polarization power spectra and lensing, together with baryon acoustic oscillations and big bang nucleosynthesis measurements, as well as new pulsar timing array and ground-based interferometer limits. While individual experiments constrain the gravitational-wave energy density in specific frequency bands, the combination of experiments allows us to constrain cosmological parameters, including the inflationary spectral index, $n_t$, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio, $r$. Results from individual experiments include the most stringent nanohertz limit of the primordial background to date from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array, $\Omega_{\rm gw}(f)<2.3\times10^{-10}$. Observations of the cosmic microwave background alone limit the gravitational-wave spectral index at 95\% confidence to $n_t\lesssim5$ for a tensor-to-scalar ratio of $r = 0.11$. However, the combination of all the above experiments limits $n_t<0.36$. Future Advanced LIGO observations are expected to further constrain $n_t<0.34$ by 2020. When cosmic microwave background experiments detect a non-zero $r$, our results will imply even more stringent constraints on $n_t$ and hence theories of the early Universe., Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review X

We report on the detection of the millisecond pulsar PSR J0437-4715 with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) at a frequency of 192 MHz. Our observations show rapid modulations of pulse intensity in time and frequency that arise from diffractive scintillation effects in the interstellar medium (ISM), as well as prominent drifts of intensity maxima in the time-frequency plane that arise from refractive effects. Our analysis suggests that the scattering screen is located at a distance of $\sim$80-120 pc from the Sun, in disagreement with a recent claim that the screen is closer ($\sim$10 pc). Comparisons with higher frequency data from Parkes reveals a dramatic evolution of the pulse profile with frequency, with the outer conal emission becoming comparable in strength to that from the core and inner conal regions. As well as demonstrating high time resolution science capabilities currently possible with the MWA, our observations underscore the potential to conduct low-frequency investigations of timing-array millisecond pulsars, which may lead to increased sensitivity for the detection of nanoHertz gravitational waves via the accurate characterisation of ISM effects., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

We present multi-wavelength observations of the radio magnetar PSR J1622-4950 and its environment. Observations of PSR J1622-4950 with Chandra (in 2007 and 2009) and XMM (in 2011) show that the X-ray flux of PSR J1622-4950 has decreased by a factor of ~50 over 3.7 years, decaying exponentially with a characteristic time of 360 +/- 11 days. This behavior identifies PSR J1622-4950 as a possible addition to the small class of transient magnetars. The X-ray decay likely indicates that PSR J1622-4950 is recovering from an X-ray outburst that occurred earlier in 2007, before the 2007 Chandra observations. Observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array show strong radio variability, including a possible radio flaring event at least one and a half years after the 2007 X-ray outburst that may be a direct result of this X-ray event. Radio observations with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope reveal that PSR J1622-4950 is 8' southeast of a diffuse radio arc, G333.9+0.0, which appears non-thermal in nature and which could possibly be a previously undiscovered supernova remnant. If G333.9+0.0 is a supernova remnant then the estimates of its size and age, combined with the close proximity and reasonable implied velocity of PSR J1622-4950, suggests that these two objects could be physically associated., Comment: 14 pages with 3 tables and 3 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ

The Southern Coalsack is located in the interior of the Upper Centaurus-Lupus (UCL) super bubble and shows many traits that point to a much more energetic environment than might be expected from a dark, starless molecular cloud. A hot, X-ray emitting, envelope surrounds the cloud, it has a very strong internal magnetic field and its darkest core seems to be on astronomical time scales "just about" to start forming stars. In order to probe the magnetic environment of the cloud and to compare with the optical/near infrared polarimetry-based field estimates for the cloud, we have acquired Faraday Rotation measurements towards the pulsar PSR J1210$-$6550, probing the magnetic field in the vicinity of the cloud, and a comparison target, PSR J1435$-$5954, at a similar line of sight distance but several degrees from the cloud. Both lines of sight hence primarily probe the UCL super bubble. The earlier estimates of the magnetic field inside the Coalsack, using the Chandrasekhar-Fermi method on optical and near-infrared polarimetry, yield B$_\perp$ = 64--93 $\mu$G. However, even though PSR J1210$-$6550 is located only $\sim$30 arc minutes from the (CO) edge of the cloud, the measured field strength is only B$_\parallel$ = 1.1$\pm$0.2 $\mu$G. While thus yielding a very high field contrast to the cloud we argue that this might be understood as due to the effects on the cloud by the super bubble., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

As part of a survey for radio pulsars with the Parkes 64-m telescope we have discovered PSR J1622-4950, a pulsar with a 4.3-s rotation period. Follow-up observations show that the pulsar has the highest inferred surface magnetic field of the known radio pulsars (B ~ 3e14 G), exhibits significant timing noise and appears to have an inverted spectrum. Unlike the vast majority of the known pulsar population, PSR J1622-4950 appears to switch off for many hundreds of days and even in its on-state exhibits extreme variability in its flux density. Furthermore, the integrated pulse profile changes shape with epoch. All of these properties are remarkably similar to the only two magnetars previously known to emit radio pulsations. The position of PSR J1622-4950 is coincident with an X-ray source that, unlike the other radio pulsating magnetars, was found to be in quiescence. We conclude that our newly discovered pulsar is a magnetar - the first to be discovered via its radio emission., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

Pulsars in close binary orbit around another neutron star or a massive white dwarf make ideal laboratories for testing the predictions of gravitational radiation and self-gravitational effects. We report new timing measurements of the pulsar-white-dwarf binary PSR J1141-6545, providing strong evidence that such asymmetric systems have gravitational wave losses that are consistent with general relativity. The orbit is found to be decaying at a rate of $1.04\pm0.06$ times the general relativistic prediction and the Shapiro delay is consistent with the orbital inclination angle derived from scintillation measurements. The system provides a unique test-bed for tensor-scalar theories of gravity; our current measurements place stringent constraints in the theory space, with a limit of $\alpha_0^2 < 2.1 \times 10^{-5}$ for weakly non-linear coupling and an asymptotic limit of $\alpha_0^2 < 3.4 \times 10^{-6}$ for strongly non-linear coupling, where $\alpha_0$ is the linear coupling strength of matter to an underlying scalar field. This asymptotic limit is nearly three times smaller than the Cassini bound ($\alpha_0^2 \approx 10^{-5}$)., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, To Appear in Physical Review D

We report observations of Crab giant pulses made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array and a baseband recorder system, made simultaneously at two frequencies, 1300 and 1470 MHz. These observations were sensitive to pulses with amplitudes \ga 3 kJy and widths \ga 0.5 $\mu$s. Our analysis led to the detection of more than 700 such bright giant pulses over 3 hours, and using this large sample we investigate their amplitude, width, arrival time and energy distributions. The brightest pulse detected in our data has a peak amplitude of $\sim$ 45 kJy and a width of $\sim$ 0.5 $\mu$s, and therefore an inferred brightness temperature of $\sim 10^{35}$ K. The duration of giant-pulse emission is typically $\sim$1 $\mu$s, however it can also be as long as 10 $\mu$s. The pulse shape at a high time resolution (128 ns) shows rich diversity and complexity in structure and is marked by an unusually low degree of scattering. We discuss possible implications for scattering due to the nebula, and for underlying structures and electron densities., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

We report on the detection of giant pulses from the Crab Nebula pulsar at a frequency of 200 MHz using the field deployment system designed for the Mileura Widefield Array's Low Frequency Demonstrator (MWA-LFD). Our observations are among the first high-quality detections at such low frequencies. The measured pulse shapes are deconvolved for interstellar pulse broadening, yielding a pulse-broadening time of 670$\pm$100 $\mu$s, and the implied strength of scattering (scattering measure) is the lowest that is estimated towards the Crab nebula from observations made so far. The sensitivity of the system is largely dictated by the sky background, and our simple equipment is capable of detecting pulses that are brighter than $\sim$9 kJy in amplitude. The brightest giant pulse detected in our data has a peak amplitude of $\sim$50 kJy, and the implied brightness temperature is $10^{31.6}$ K. We discuss the giant pulse detection prospects with the full MWA-LFD system. With a sensitivity over two orders of magnitude larger than the prototype equipment, the full system will be capable of detecting such bright giant pulses out to a wide range of Galactic distances; from $\sim$8 to $\sim$30 kpc depending on the frequency. The MWA-LFD will thus be a highly promising instrument for the studies of giant pulses and other fast radio transients at low frequencies., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Experiments were performed with prototype antenna tiles for the Mileura Widefield Array--Low Frequency Demonstrator (MWA-LFD) to better understand the widefield, wideband properties of their design and to characterize the radio frequency interference (RFI) between 80 and 300 MHz at the site in Western Australia. Observations acquired during the six month deployment confirmed the predicted sensitivity of the antennas, sky-noise dominated system temperatures, and phase-coherent interferometric measurements. The radio spectrum is remarkably free of strong terrestrial signals, with the exception of two narrow frequency bands allocated to satellite downlinks and rare bursts due to ground-based transmissions being scattered from aircraft and meteor trails. Results indicate the potential of the MWA-LFD to make significant achievements in its three key science objectives: epoch of reionziation science, heliospheric science, and radio transient detection., Comment: Accepted by AJ. 17 pages with figures

We have made observations of 98 low-Galactic-latitude pulsars to measure pulse broadening caused by multipath propagation through the interstellar medium. Data were collected with the 305-m Arecibo telescope at four radio frequencies between 430 and 2380 MHz. We used a CLEAN-based algorithm to deconvolve interstellar pulse broadening from the measured pulse shapes. We employed two distinct pulse broadening functions (PBFs): PBF$_1$ is appropriate for a thin screen of scattering material between the Earth and a pulsar, while PBF$_2$ is appropriate for scattering material uniformly distributed along the line of sight from the Earth to a pulsar. We found that some observations were better fit by PBF$_1$ and some by PBF$_2$. Pulse broadening times ($\tau_d$) are derived from fits of PBFs to the data, and are compared with the predictions of a smoothed model of the Galactic electron distribution. Several lines of sight show excess broadening, which we model as clumps of high density scattering material. A global analysis of all available data finds that the pulse broadening scales with frequency, $\nu$, as $\taud \propto\nu^{-\alpha}$ where $\alpha\sim 3.9\pm 0.2$. This is somewhat shallower than the value $\alpha=4.4$ expected from a Kolmogorov medium, but could arise if the spectrum of turbulence has an inner cutoff at $\sim $300--800 km. A few objects follow particularly shallow scaling laws (the mean scaling index $\meanalpha \sim 3.1 \pm 0.1$ and $ \sim 3.8 \pm 0.2$ respectively for the case of PBF$_1$ and PBF$_2$), which may arise from large scale refraction or from the truncation of scattering screens transverse to the Earth--pulsar line of sight., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal; 32 pages, 11 figures

Recent pulsar scintillation measurements from Ooty, in conjunction with those from Parkes and other large radio telescopes, are used for a systematic investigation of the Local Interstellar Medium (LISM) towards the general direction of the Loop I Bubble. For several pulsars, clear evidence is found for an enhanced level of scattering which is over and above what can be accounted for by the enhanced scattering model for the Local Bubble. These results are interpreted in terms of enhanced scattering due to turbulent plasma associated with the Loop I shell. Useful constraints are obtained for the scattering properties of the shell. The inferred value for the scattering measure for the Loop I shell is found to be ~0.3 pc m^{-20/3}. Assuming a shell thickness ~5-10 pc, this implies an average strength of scattering in the shell that is ~100-200 times larger than that in the ambient ISM. An alternative explanation, where the enhanced level of scattering is due to a possible "interaction zone" between the Local Bubble and the Loop I Bubble, is also considered; it is found to be somewhat less satisfactory in explaining the observations. The best fit value for the scattering measure for such an interaction zone region is estimated to be ~1.1 pc m^{-20/3}. Further, several pulsars beyond ~1 kpc are found to show enhanced levels of scattering over and above that expected from this "two-bubble model." For some of the low-latitude pulsars, this is found to be due to enhanced scattering from plasma inside the intervening Sagittarius spiral arm. We discuss the implications of our results for the interpretation of scintillation data and for the general understanding of the LISM., Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in APJ

Refractive Interstellar Scintillation (RISS) effects on pulsar signals are powerful techniques for discriminating between different models that have been proposed for the power spectrum of plasma density fluctuations in the Interstellar Medium. The nature of the spectrum is considered to be a major input for understanding the underlying mechanism of interstellar plasma turbulence. Data from our long-term pulsar scintillation observations using the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) at 327 MHz are used to investigate the nature of the spectrum in the Local Interstellar Medium. The emerging picture is that the spectrum is Kolmogorov-like ($ \beta \approx 11/3 $) in the spatial scale range $\sim 10^6$ m to $\sim 10^{11}$ m, and there is evidence for excess power at larger spatial scales ($ \sim 10^12 - 10^13 $ m)., Comment: 2 Pages, 1 Figure, To Appear in the Proceedings of the IAU Colloquium 177: "Pulsar Astronomy - 2000 and Beyond", ASP Conference Series, Eds. M. Kramer, N. Wex, and R. Wielebinski

Results from new observations of pulsars using the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) are used for investigating the structure of the Local Interstellar Medium (LISM). The observations show anomalous scintillation effects towards several nearby pulsars, and these are modeled in terms of large-scale spatial inhomogeneities in the distribution of plasma density fluctuations in the LISM. A 3-component model, where the Solar neighbourhood is surrounded by a shell of enhanced plasma turbulence, is proposed for the LISM. The inferred scattering structure is strikingly similar to the Local Bubble. Further, analysis based on recent scintillation measurements show evidence for enhanced scattering towards pulsars located in the general direction of the Loop I Superbubble. The model for the LISM has been further extended by incorporating the scattering due to turbulent plasma associated with Loop I., Comment: 4 Pages, 2 Figues, To Appear in the Proceedings of the IAU Colloquium 177: "Pulsar Astronomy - 2000 and Beyond", ASP Conference Series, Eds. M. Kramer, N. Wex, and R. Wielebinski

Refraction of pulsar radiation by electron density irregularities in the interstellar medium sometimes produces multiple imaging of pulsars which can lead to periodic oscillations of intensity in pulsar dynamic spectra records. Such events can be used as tools to resolve the emission regions in pulsar magnetospheres. Here we describe results from the recent observation of a double imaging event for PSR B1133+16, which place fairly tight constraints on the location of the emission regions. Our analysis constrains the location of the scattering object to the shell of the Local Bubble. The phase of the oscillations shows significant variations across the pulse. The minimum value for the transverse separation of the emitting regions at the two edges of the pulse is inferred to be 3 x 10^5 m. This translates to a minimum emission altitude of 2.6 x 10^6 m. The non-monotonic variations of the fringe phase with pulse longitude are interpreted as variations of the altitude of the emission regions for the orthogonal polarization modes of this pulsar. This is in agreement with theories where propagation effects, such as refraction, are responsible for the orthogonal modes., Comment: 24 pages, 5 figures, prepared using aasms4.sty, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal (July 1999)

Refractive interstellar scintillation (RISS) is thought to be the cause behind a variety of phenomena seen at radio wavelengths in pulsars and compact radio sources. Though there is substantial observational data to support several consequences of it, the quantitative predictions from theories have not been thoroughly tested. In this paper, data from our long-term scintillation study of 18 pulsars are used to test the predictions. The fluctuations of decorrelation bandwidth ($\nu_d$), scintillation time scale ($\tau_d$) and flux density (F) are examined for their cross-correlations and compared with the predictions. The theory predicts a strong correlation between $\nu_d$ and $\tau_d$, and strong anti-correlations between $\nu_d$ and F, and $\tau_d$ and F. For 5 pulsars, we see a reasonable agreement. There is considerable difficulty in reconciling the results for the rest of the pulsars. Our analysis shows the underlying noise sources can sometimes reduce the correlation, but cannot cause an absence of correlation. It is also unlikely that the poor flux correlations arise from a hitherto unrecognized intrinsic flux variations. For PSR B0834+06, which shows anomalous behaviour of persistent drift slopes, positive correlation is found between $\tau_d$ and the drift-corrected $\nu_d$. Many pulsars show an anti-correlation between $\nu_d$ and the drift slope, and this is in accordance with the simple models of RISS. The detections of correlated variations of observables and a reasonable agreement between the predicted and measured correlations for some pulsars confirm RISS as the primary cause of the observed fluctuations. However, the complexity seen with the detailed results suggests the necessity of more comprehensive theoretical treatments for describing refractive fluctuations and their correlations., Comment: 27 pages, 6 Figures, 6 Tables. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

Refractive scintillation effects are powerful techniques for discriminating between different models proposed for the electron density fluctuation spectrum in the ISM. Data from our long-term scintillation study of 18 pulsars in the DM range 3-35 pc cm^{-3} (Paper I) are used to investigate two important observable effects of refractive scintillation: (i) modulations of DISS observables and flux, and (ii) drifting bands. Our data provide simultaneous measurements of decorrelation bandwidth, scintillation time scale, flux density and drift slope of patterns. The observed modulations of the first 3 are compared with the theoretical predictions, and constraints are placed on the density spectral form. The measured modulation indices are larger than predicted by a Kolmogorov form. Measurements of drift slopes and DISS parameters are used to independently estimate the slope of the density spectrum, which is found to be consistent with a Kolmogorov form for several pulsars.The contradictory results from these 2 independent methods are not reconcilable with the simple theoretical models. Our observations show anomalous behaviour like persistent drifting bands for some pulsars.This can be interpreted as an excess power in the low wavenumber range (~10^{-12} - 10^{-13} m^{-1}) compared to the Kolmogorov expectations or the existence of localized density structures.The results from our observations and those from the earlier studies are examined for understanding the overall nature of the density spectrum.The emerging picture is a Kolmogorov-like form in the wavenumber range ~10^{-6} m^{-1} to ~10^{-11} m^{-1}, which either steepens or has a bump near ~ 10^{-12} - 10^{-13} m^{-1}. We also discuss possible implications of our results for the current theoretical models., Comment: 42 pages, 5 Figures (7 pages), 10 Tables, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

We report long-term scintillation observations of 18 pulsars in the DM range 3-35 pc cm^{-3} carried out during 1993-1995 using the Ooty Radio Telescope at 327 MHz. These observations were made with the aim of studying refractive effects in pulsar scintillation, and obtaining reliable estimates of diffractive and refractive scintillation properties. Dynamic scintillation spectra of pulsars were regularly monitored at 10-90 epochs spanning 100-1000 days. Significant changes are observed in the dynamic spectra over time scales as short as a few days. Large-amplitude fluctuations are observed in quantities such as decorrelation bandwidth, scintillation time scale, drift rate, and flux density. Several pulsars show organized features such as drifting bands in a highly pronounced manner. For some pulsars, gradual and systematic variations are seen in the drift rate of patterns which undergo several sign reversals during the observing time spans. Anomalous behaviour such as persistent drifts lasting over many months are seen for PSRs B0834+06 & B1919+21. Four pulsars were studied for 2-4 well separated observing sessions, each lasting over ~ 100 days. In some cases, significant variations are seen in the average scintillation properties and/or flux densities between successive observing sessions. From our data, we have been able to obtain more accurate and reliable estimates of scintillation properties and flux densities than those from the earlier observations, by averaging out the fluctuations due to refractive scintillation effects. These measurements are used to derive parameters such as the strength of scattering and scintillation speeds. The present measurements are compared with earlier measurements and the long-term stability of scintillation properties and flux densities is discussed., Comment: 39 pages, 7 Figures (21 pages) [All in "gif" format], 6 Tables (7 pages), Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

We present here the results from an extensive scintillation study of twenty pulsars in the dispersion measure (DM) range 3 - 35 pc cm^-3 carried out using the Ooty Radio Telescope, to investigate the distribution of ionized material in the local interstellar medium (LISM). Our analysis reveals several anomalies in the scattering strength, which suggest that the distribution of scattering material in the Solar neighborhood is not uniform. Our model suggests the presence of a low density bubble surrounded by a shell of much higher density fluctuations. We are able to put some constraints on geometrical and scattering properties of such a structure, and find it to be morphologically similar to the Local Bubble known from other studies., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We present here the results from an extensive scintillation study of twenty pulsars in the dispersion measure (DM) range 3 - 35 pc cm^-3 caried out using the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) at 327 MHz, to investigate the distribution of ionized material in the local interstellar medium. Observations were made during the period January 1993 to August 1995, in which the dynamic scintillation spectra of these pulsars were regularly monitored over 10 - 90 epochs spanning 100 days. Reliable and accurate estimates of strengths of scattering have been deduced from the scintillation parameters averaged out for their long-term fluctuations arising from refractive scintillation (RISS) effects. Our analysis reveals several anomalies in the scattering strength, which suggest tht the distribution of scattering material in the Solar neighborhood is not uniform. We have modelled these anomalous scattering effects in terms of inhomogeneities in the distribution of electron dnsity fluctuations in the local interstellar medium (LISM). Our model suggests the presence of a low density bubble surrounded by a shell of much higher density fluctuations. We are able to put constraints on geometrical and scattering properties of such a structure, and find it to be morphologically similar to the Local Bubble known from other studies., Comment: 35 pages, 12 figures