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The Galactic Distribution of Electron Density Microstructure Inferred from Radio Scattering Observations*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

James Cordes*
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department, Cornell University

Abstract

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I first review the observables and optics of interstellar seeing associated with radio wave scattering in the interstellar medium. I then describe the Galactic distribution of electron density and its fluctuations, as inferred from a number of observables, including angular and pulse broadening, diffractive scintillations, and dispersion measures. Propects for improving the Galactic model are outlined.

Type
Chapter One Introduction to Interstellar Scintillation
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 2001

Footnotes

*

Work supported by NSF Grant 9819931.

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