Radio luminosities of pulsars and the electron density distribution in the galaxy

Abstract

The radio luminosities o f pulsars are given as functions of their period and the time variation of the period. The parameters of that dependence are calculated and independent distances are determined for 288 pulsars. The average electron densities toward the pulsars are determined from the known dispersion measures. The results obtained are used to study the large-scale electron density distribution in the Galaxy at a distance of 4-5 kpc from the sun. The distribution maximum lies at a distance of 9 kpc from the center o f the Galaxy in the vicinity of the Sagittarius spiral arm. The electron density falls o f f exponentially in the regions between arms (toward the Perseus and Centaurus spiral arms).