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21st of June 2017
ATNF Colloquium
Pulsar observations with LOFAR, SKA low pathfinder
by Stefan Oslowski (Swinburne University of Technology)
Abstract. Pulsars are extremely versatile laboratories of physics. While in the last years most of the pulsar studies were undertaken at higher radio frequencies, we are witnessing the renaissance of the low-frequency observations. Numerous low frequency experiments are running, such as MWA or LOFAR. In this talk I will give an overview of pulsar observations with LOFAR with focus on high-cadence observations in single station mode. Observations of pulsars at low frequencies allow to study a number of areas in modern astrophysics. Since propagation effects display a strong inverse dependence on frequency, they are more pronounced at the low frequencies probed by LOFAR and other SKA-low pathfinders. This enables more detailed studies of the ISM than ever before. The benefits are not only the obvious, like an improved understanding of the ionized medium in our Galaxy but also indirect, such as improvements to high-precision experiments conducted at higher radio frequencies which attempt to detect nanoHertz gravitational waves. Some specific examples of science in this talk are: testing models of Earth's ionosphere, studies of the solar wind, probing variability of the ISM with unprecedented precision, as well as an example of a wide angle refractive event.


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