Parkes observations for project P1321 semester 2024OCTS_03

We propose to search for temporal variations in HI absorption spectra seen against background pulsars to characterise Tiny Scale Atomic Structure (TSAS) in the Milky Way interstellar medium (ISM). We will re-observe seven previously studied bright pulsars at two observing epochs in this semester, resulting in minimum and maximum experimental baselines of 0.25 and 50 years. These observations will test predictions that there is a minimum size scale set by the thermal and turbulent properties of the ISM, below which TSAS is only sporadically seen, and will potentially provide the first direct measurements of pressures in "large" TSAS features of > 1000 AU. By using a new phase-resolved spectral line mode that we have recently implemented on Parkes, we will cut data rates and processing times by factors of ~1000. This project successfully observed in 2024APR and will be expanded to a Long Term Project when that scheme reopens for applications in 2025APR. Successful demonstration of our techniques will lay the groundwork for future programmes on the SKA.