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Extreme scattering events caused by compact structures in the interstellar medium

Nature volume 326, pages 675–678 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Daily flux density measurements of 36 extragalactic radio sources over a seven year period reveal several unusual minima in the light curves that do not follow typical source variations. The observations were performed using the Green Bank interferometer operating at 2.7 and 8.1 GHz1. The most significant departure from typical source variability occurred at both frequencies in the quasar 0954 + 658 between 1980.95 and 1981.3. It is unlikely that this event can be explained by intrinsic variability. The most satisfactory explanation appears to involve refractive focusing by small-scale inhomogeneities in an ionized structure in the interstellar medium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. E. O. Hulburt Center for Space Research, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA

    R. L. Fiedler, B. Dennison & K. J. Johnston

  2. Department of Physics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, 24061, USA

    B. Dennison

  3. Mulliard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cavendish Laboratory, Madingly Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

    A. Hewish

Authors
  1. R. L. Fiedler
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  2. B. Dennison
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  3. K. J. Johnston
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  4. A. Hewish
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Fiedler, R., Dennison, B., Johnston, K. et al. Extreme scattering events caused by compact structures in the interstellar medium. Nature 326, 675–678 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/326675a0

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