Multiple imaging of PSR B1133+16 by the interstellar medium

Abstract

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 × 10⁵ m. This translates to a minimum emission altitude of 2.6 × 10⁶ m. The nonmonotonic 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.