On the origin of the quasi-periodic micro-pulses observed in the radio-frequency emission of some neutron stars

Abstract

The linear relationship between pulsar micro-pulse widths and rotation period is consistent with the existence of a physical length L on the neutron-star surface and seen on the observer arc of transit across the polar cap. Within the ion-proton model it is the width of the minimum area of surface that can support the critical growth rate of the unstable two-beam Langmuir mode that is the source of the radio emission.

arXiv comment4 pages: to be published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters