Simultaneous multi-frequency single-pulse properties of AXP XTE J1810-197

TL;DR

This study investigates the complex, frequency-dependent single-pulse emission properties of the magnetar XTE J1810-197 across multiple radio telescopes, revealing peculiar, highly variable pulse-energy distributions and subpulse behaviors that differ from normal pulsars.

Contribution

It provides the first simultaneous multi-frequency analysis of XTE J1810-197's single-pulse properties, highlighting unique variability and correlation patterns not seen in typical radio pulsars.

Findings

Pulse-energy distributions are highly variable and cannot be modeled by a single statistical distribution.

The magnetar exhibits strong, spiky subpulses that are not classical giant pulses.

Frequency evolution of modulation index differs from normal pulsars.

Abstract

We have used the 76-m Lovell, 94-m equivalent WSRT and 100-m Effelsberg radio telescopes to investigate the simultaneous single-pulse properties of the radio emitting magnetar AXP XTE J1810-197 at frequencies of 1.4, 4.8 and 8.35 GHz during May and July 2006. We study the magnetar's pulse-energy distributions which are found to be very peculiar as they are changing on time-scales of days and cannot be fit by a single statistical model. The magnetar exhibits strong spiky single giant-pulse-like subpulses, but they do not fit the definition of the giant pulse or giant micropulse phenomena. Measurements of the longitude-resolved modulation index reveal a high degree of intensity fluctuations on day-to-day time-scales and dramatic changes across pulse phase. We find the frequency evolution of the modulation index values differs significantly from what is observed in normal radio pulsars. We find that no regular drifting subpulse phenomenon is present at any of the observed frequencies at any observing epoch. However, we find a quasi-periodicity of the subpulses present in the majority of the observing sessions. A correlation analysis indicates a relationship between components from different frequencies. We discuss the results of our analysis in light of the emission properties of normal radio pulsars and a recently proposed model which takes radio emission from magnetars into consideration.