A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics

Details A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics

2006-04-28

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0604605v1

Science 312:549-551,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

12 pages, 2 figures

Scientific paper

10.1126/science.1124060

PSR B1931+24 (J1933+2421) behaves as an ordinary isolated radio pulsar during active phases that are 5-10 days long. However, the radio emission switches off in less than 10 seconds and remains undetectable for the next 25-35 days, then it switches on again. This pattern repeats quasi-periodically. The origin of this behaviour is unclear. Even more remarkably, the pulsar rotation slows down 50% faster when it is on than when it is off. This indicates a massive increase in magnetospheric currents when the pulsar switches on, proving that pulsar wind plays a substantial role in pulsar spin-down. This allows us, for the first time, to estimate the currents in a pulsar magnetospheric during the occurrence of radio emission.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-326271