THE LIGHT CURVE AND INTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE MODE-SWITCHING PULSAR PSR B0943+10

A number of radio pulsars exhibit intriguing mode-switching behavior. Recent observations of PSR B0943+10 revealed correlated radio and X-ray mode switches, providing a new avenue for understanding this class of objects. The large X-ray pulse fraction observed during the radio-quiet phase (Q-mode) w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astrophysical journal. Letters 2014-07, Vol.789 (2), p.1-5
Main Authors: Storch, Natalia I, Ho, Wynn C G, Lai, Dong, Bogdanov, Slavko, Heinke, Craig O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
Constraints
Correlation
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
Light curve
MAGNETIC DIPOLES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRONS
PLASMA
PULSARS
Radio
STARS
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
VISIBLE RADIATION
X RADIATION
X-rays
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Summary:A number of radio pulsars exhibit intriguing mode-switching behavior. Recent observations of PSR B0943+10 revealed correlated radio and X-ray mode switches, providing a new avenue for understanding this class of objects. The large X-ray pulse fraction observed during the radio-quiet phase (Q-mode) was previously interpreted as a result of changing obscuration of X-rays by dense magnetosphere plasma. We show that the large X-ray pulse fraction can be explained by including the beaming effect of a magnetic atmosphere, while remaining consistent with the dipole field geometry constrained by radio observations. We also explore a more extreme magnetic field configuration, where a magnetic dipole displaced from the center of the star produces two magnetic polar caps of different sizes and magnetic field strengths. These models are currently consistent with data in radio and X-rays and can be tested or constrained by future X-ray observations.
ISSN:2041-8205
2041-8213
DOI:10.1088/2041-8205/789/2/L27