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Exploring the time variability of the Solar Wind using LOFAR pulsar data

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arxiv 2409.09838 v1 pith:RHJ7A5A5 submitted 2024-09-15 astro-ph.SR astro-ph.HEastro-ph.IM

Exploring the time variability of the Solar Wind using LOFAR pulsar data

classification astro-ph.SR astro-ph.HEastro-ph.IM
keywords solarwindpulsardataelectronpulsarsvariabilitydensities
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal T4 reserved
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High-precision pulsar timing is highly dependent on precise and accurate modeling of any effects that impact the data. It was shown that commonly used Solar Wind models do not accurately account for variability in the amplitude of the Solar wind on both short and long time scales. In this study, we test and validate a new, cutting-edge Solar wind modeling method included in the \texttt{enterprise} software suite through extended simulations, and we apply it to investigate temporal variability in LOFAR data. Our model testing scheme in itself provides an invaluable asset for pulsar timing array (PTA) experiments. As improperly accounting for the solar wind signature in pulsar data can induce false-positive signals, it is of fundamental importance to include in any such investigations. We employ a Bayesian approach utilizing a continuously varying Gaussian process to model the solar wind referred to as Solar Wind Gaussian Process (SWGP). We conduct noise analysis on eight pulsars from the LOFAR dataset with most pulsars having a timespan of $\sim 11$ years encompassing one full solar activity cycle. Our analysis reveals a strong correlation between the electron density at 1 AU and the ecliptic latitude (ELAT) of the pulsar. Pulsars with $|ELAT|< 3^{\circ}$ exhibit significantly higher average electron densities. We observe distinct temporal patterns in electron densities in different pulsars. In particular, pulsars within $|ELAT|< 3^{\circ}$ exhibit similar temporal variations, while the electron densities of those outside this range correlate with the solar activity cycle. The continuous variability in electron density offered in this model represents a substantial improvement over previous models, which assume a single value for piece-wise bins of time. This advancement holds promise for solar wind modeling in future International Pulsar Timing Array data combinations.

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Cited by 7 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Characterising the response of an International LOFAR Station

    astro-ph.IM 2026-07 conditional novelty 6.0

    International LOFAR stations are 20–45% more sensitive to sources on the rising side of the sky than the setting side, an asymmetry observed in all 11 tracked pulsars and across three stations.

  2. PSRDISP: A novel approach to modeling dispersive processes in single-pulsar noise analysis using epoch-wise dispersion measures

    astro-ph.IM 2026-07 conditional novelty 6.0

    PSRDISP is a Gaussian-process framework that fits dispersion-measure and solar-wind noise directly to epoch-wise dispersion measures, recovering injected signals in simulated pulsar data.

  3. PSRDISP: A novel approach to modeling dispersive processes in single-pulsar noise analysis using epoch-wise dispersion measures

    astro-ph.IM 2026-07 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    PSRDISP characterises deterministic and stochastic dispersive processes via Gaussian processes on epoch-wise DM estimates, recovering injected signals on simulated narrowband and wideband pulsar timing data.

  4. PSRDISP: A novel approach to modeling dispersive processes in single-pulsar noise analysis using epoch-wise dispersion measures

    astro-ph.IM 2026-07 conditional novelty 5.0

    A Fourier-domain Gaussian process fit to epoch-wise pulsar dispersion measures recovers injected DM and solar-wind noise in simulated narrowband and wideband timing data.

  5. The Lunar Farside Transients and Technology Telescope (LFT3) Mission

    astro-ph.IM 2026-07 conditional novelty 4.0

    Proposes a $150M-class lunar farside radio telescope (LFT3) to survey 0.1–2700 MHz in the RFI-pristine shielded zone before lunar-orbital interference closes the window.

  6. Exploring the Galactic plasma with pulsars in the SKA Era

    astro-ph.HE 2026-07 accept novelty 2.5

    Pulsars map Galactic, solar-wind, and ionospheric plasma via DM, RM, scintillation, and scattering; SKA-Low/Mid AA4 will push DM precision to ~10^{-8} pc cm^{-3} and transform IISM models.

  7. Exploring the Galactic plasma with pulsars in the SKA Era

    astro-ph.HE 2026-07 accept novelty 2.0

    Pulsars map Galactic, heliospheric and ionospheric plasma; SKA will deliver order-of-magnitude gains in DM/RM precision and scattering characterisation.