Precise Timing and Phase-resolved Spectroscopy of the Young Pulsar J1617–5055 with NuSTAR

We report on a Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observation of the young, energetic pulsar PSR J1617–5055. Parkes Observatory 3 GHz radio observations of the pulsar (taken about 7 yr before the NuSTAR observations) are also reported here. NuSTAR detected pulsations at a frequency of f ≈ 14.4 Hz (P ≈ 69.44 ms) and, in addition, the observation was long enough to measure the source’s frequency derivative, f ̇ ≈ − 2.8 × 10 − 11 Hz s−1. We find that the pulsar shows one peak per period at both hard X-ray and radio wavelengths, but that the hard X-ray pulse is broader (having a duty cycle of ∼0.7), than the radio pulse (having a duty cycle of ∼0.08). Additionally, the radio pulse is strongly linearly polarized. J1617's phase-integrated hard X-ray spectrum is well fit by an absorbed power-law model, with a photon index Γ = 1.59 ± 0.02. The hard X-ray pulsations are well described by three Fourier harmonics, and have a pulsed fraction that increases with energy. We also fit the phase-resolved NuSTAR spectra with an absorbed power-law model in five phase bins and find that the photon index varies with phase from Γ = 1.52 ± 0.03 at phases around the flux maximum to Γ = 1.79 ± 0.06 around the flux minimum. Last, we compare our results with other pulsars whose magnetospheric emission is detected at hard X-ray energies and find that, similar to previous studies, J1617's hard X-ray properties are more similar to the MeV pulsars than the GeV pulsars.

A rectangular radio pulse propagation in a selectively absorbing medium

A pulse with rectangular envelope propagation, in which carrier frequency is close to the medium spectral absorption line’s one frequency, is considered. It is shown that when the signal carrier frequency is shifted relative to the spectral line centre, the primary interference and the response signal can lead to the total signal significant oscillations over time.

Development of an optimization method for measuring the Doppler frequency of a packet taking into account the fluctuations of the initial phases of its radio pulses

The necessity of estimating the decrease in the accuracy of measuring the informative parameters of a radar signal in real conditions of its propagation and reflection has been substantiated. The results of the estimation determine the requirements for optimizing this measurement to achieve the required efficiency. A numerical analysis of the decrease in the accuracy of measuring the Doppler frequency of a coherent packet is presented, depending on the statistical characteristics of fluctuations of the initial phases of its radio pulses. Expressions are given for calculating the fluctuation component of the measurement error of radio pulse packet frequency for various coefficients of interpulse correlation of phase fluctuations. An assessment is made of the possibility of increasing the accuracy of Doppler frequency measurement, which can be ensured by statistical optimization of the algorithm for time-frequency processing of a given radar signal by taking into account its phase fluctuations. The conditions for the multiplicative influence of phase fluctuations of radio pulses of the received packet are substantiated, which determine the efficiency of optimization of Doppler frequency measurement. Based on the results of the study, an optimization method for measuring the Doppler frequency of the packet taking into account fluctuations in the initial phases of its radio pulses is proposed. The accuracy of Doppler frequency measurement under the influence of both the internal noise of the radar receiver and the correlated phase fluctuations of its radio pulses is estimated. The efficiency of optimization of measuring the Doppler frequency of the packet is estimated taking into account fluctuations of the initial phases of its radio pulses by means of computer simulation. It is proved that, under the influence of phase fluctuations, the accuracy of Doppler frequency measurement can be increased due to the performed optimization from 1.86 to 6.29 times. This opens the way to improving the existing algorithms for measuring the higher time range derivatives to improve the quality of tracking complex maneuvering aerodynamic objects. This explains the importance and usefulness of the work for the radar theory.

Constraining the Origin Altitude of the first Satellite-Detected Reverse-Beam Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flash Produced by a Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Leader.

<p>We provide an updated analysis of the gamma-ray signature of a terrestrial gamma ray flash (TGF) detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor first reported by Pu et al. 2020. Gamma-ray photons were produced 3ms prior to a negative cloud-to-ground return stroke and were close to simultaneous with an isolated low frequency radio pulse during the leaders propagation, with a polarity indicating downward moving negative charge. This ‘slow’ low frequency signal occurring prior to the main discharge has previously been strongly correlated with upward directed TGF events (Pu et al. 2019, Cummer et al. 2011) leading the authors to conclude that the Fermi detected counts just prior to the return stroke are the result of a reverse positron beam generating upward directed gamma rays.<span>  </span>We investigate the feasibility of this scenario and constrain the limits on the origin altitude from the perspective of the gamma-ray signature timing uncertainties, TGF Monte Carlo simulations, estimates of intrinsic brightness as a function of altitude, and meteorological analysis of the storm and its possible charge structure and altitude.</p>

Dispersion distortions of wide spectrum signals during their propagation in the Earth ionosphere

The current trend in the development of radio engineering systems (RES) is to use wide spectrum signals, the application of which provides an increase in the resolution and secrecy of the radar operation, an increase in the speed and volume of transmitted information for communication and telemetry systems. The class of such signals includes ultrashort pulses (USP signals), radio pulses with linear frequency modulation (chirp signals). Also of interest are ultra-wideband (UWB) noise signals (UWBN signals), which have high electromagnetic compatibility, stealth and noise immunity. When designing promising ground-based and space-based RES using wide spectrum signals, an important task is to determine the distortions of their envelope shape and distortions of spectrum, as well as the change in the polarization of the emitted wave when passing through the Earth's ionosphere, since taking these distortions into account will provide conditions for optimal reception. This article presents the numerical assessment results of the expected distortions of the wide spectrum signals main types of the decimeter wavelength range, for middle latitudes at heights from 100 km to 1000 km. The conversion of the emitted pulse into a frequency modulated radio pulse is typical for the USP signal. For a chirp radio pulse with a monotonically increasing frequency, an initial decrease in duration with an increase in amplitude and subsequent stretching in time with further spread is typical (the amplitude change is estimated due to a change in the signal shape without taking into account spread). For a chirp radio pulse with a monotonically falling frequency and a UWBN signal, dispersion distortions manifest themselves as an increase in their duration with a decrease in amplitude. For all signal types under consideration that have passed through the ionosphere, a leading edge lag is observed, the dependences of frequency on time at an altitude of 1000 km are repeated and are close to hyperbolic character, the energy spectra envelope shape of the considered signals is almost not distorted. The polarization plane rotation for signals with a spectrum concentrated in the frequency range above 0.7 GHz does not exceed 45