Giant Pulses with Nanosecond Time Resolution detected from the Crab Pulsar at 8.5 and 15.1 GHz

TL;DR

This study analyzes giant pulses from the Crab pulsar at 8.5 and 15.1 GHz with nanosecond resolution, revealing distinct properties and spectra for main pulse and interpulse GPs, and proposing new emission models.

Contribution

First detection of Crab pulsar GPs at 15.1 GHz and detailed analysis of their shape, polarization, and spectra with nanosecond resolution, introducing a new emission scenario.

Findings

Main pulse GPs show regular frequency domain patterns.

Interpulse GPs have spectra resembling amplitude-modulated noise.

Evidence supports nano-shot discharges in the pulsar magnetosphere.

Abstract

We present a study of shape, spectra and polarization properties of giant pulses (GPs) from the Crab pulsar at the very high frequencies of 8.5 and 15.1 GHz. Studies at 15.1 GHz were performed for the first time. Observations were conducted with the 100-m radio telescope in Effelsberg in Oct-Nov 2007 at the frequencies of 8.5 and 15.1 GHz as part of an extensive campaign of multi-station multi-frequency observations of the Crab pulsar. A selection of the strongest pulses was recorded with a new data acquisition system, based on a fast digital oscilloscope, providing nanosecond time resolution in two polarizations in a bandwidth of about 500 MHz. We analyzed the pulse shapes, polarisation and dynamic spectra of GPs as well as the cross-correlations between their LHC and RHC signals. No events were detected outside main pulse and interpulse windows. GP properties were found to be very different for GPs emitted at longitudes of the main pulse and the interpulse. Cross-correlations of the LHC and RHC signals show regular patterns in the frequency domain for the main pulse, but these are missing for the interpulse GPs. We consider consequences of application of the rotating vector model to explain the apparent smooth variation in the position angle of linear polarization for main pulse GPs. We also introduce a new scenario of GP generation as a direct consequence of the polar cap discharge. We find further evidence for strong nano-shot discharges in the magnetosphere of the Crab pulsar. The repetitive frequency spectrum seen in GPs at the main pulse phase is interpreted as a diffraction pattern of regular structures in the emission region. The interpulse GPs however have a spectrum that resembles that of amplitude modulated noise. Propagation effects may be the cause of the differences.