The Light Curve and Internal Magnetic Field of the Mode-Switching Pulsar PSR B0943+10

Abstract

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.

5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to ApJL

References in corpus (7)

• Switched magnetospheric regulation of pulsar spin-down
• A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics
• Model X-ray Spectra of Magnetic Neutron Stars with Hydrogen Atmospheres
• Radio and X-ray observations of the intermittent pulsar J1832+0029
• Constraining the Geometry of the Neutron Star RX J1856.5-3754
• The Topology and Polarisation of Subbeams Associated with the `Drifting' Subpulse Emission of Pulsar B0943+10 -- IV. Q-to-B-Mode Recovery Dynamics
• Mimicking neutron star precession by polar cap current-pattern drifting

Cited by in corpus (9)

• A NICER view of PSR J0030+0451: evidence for a global-scale multipolar magnetic field
• A deep campaign to characterize the synchronous radio/X-ray mode switching of PSR B0943+10
• Heat blanketing envelopes of neutron stars
• Magnetic Axis Drift and Magnetic Spot Formation in Neutron Stars with Toroidal Fields
• Simultaneous X-ray and radio observations of the radio-mode switching pulsar PSR B1822-09
• Emission Properties of Periodic Fast Radio Bursts from the Motion of Magnetars: Testing Dynamical Models
• Twist-induced Magnetosphere Reconfiguration for Intermittent Pulsars
• Thermal emission and magnetic beaming in the radio and X-ray mode-switching PSR B0943+10
• The radio and X-ray mode-switching pulsar PSR B0943+10