Timing properties of PSR 1951+32 in the CTB 80 supernova remnant

Timing observations of PSR 1951 + 32, the 39.5 ms pulsar found in the CTB 80 supernova remnant, have detected a spin-up in the rotation rate of the neutron star. The fractional change in the rotational frequency of 2.1 × 10^-9 was accompanied by a fractional change in the frequency derivative of -1.9 × 10^-4 which has persisted for 1 yr after the event. Updated VLA astrometric observations of the pulsar are presented. Dispersion measure variations have been measured between 430 MHz and 1400 MHz at the level of 0.02 pc cm^-3. Together, dispersion measure fluctuations and diffractive scintillations indicate a power-law electron density turbulence spectrum on scale sizes of 10^9-14 cm that may be relevant to cosmic-ray propagation.