The irregularity spectrum in interstellar space

Abstract

We analyze published data on the interstellar scintillations of three pulsars, using a theory based on the Markov approximation for strong scintillations. The data are found to be consistent with either a Gaussian or Kolmogorov-like power-law irregularity spectrum for the interstellar material. For two of the pulsars, application of the Kolmogorov power law suggests the presence of regions of larger than normal electron density between us and the pulsar. The parameters of the deduced power-law spectrum are consistent with independent measures of the large-scale structures of the gas and indicate the possibility of a broadly turbulent interstellar medium with a Kolmogorov-like spectrum. iSwtyeci interstellar: matter