Effects of Rotation on Pulsar Radio Profiles

TL;DR

This paper presents a model for pulsar radio polarization that incorporates viewing geometry, rotation, and emission modulation, explaining various polarization phenomena and their effects on polarization position angle traverses.

Contribution

The study introduces a comprehensive model accounting for rotation, geometry, and modulation effects on pulsar polarization, including the derivation of electric field expressions and polarization patterns.

Findings

Both antisymmetric and symmetric circular polarization types are possible.

Aberration and modulation can create 'kinky' patterns in PPA traverses.

The model explains polarization features observed in pulsar radio profiles.

Abstract

We have developed a model for pulsar polarization by taking into account of viewing geometry, rotation and modulation of the emission region. By solving for the plasma dynamics, we deduced the expressions for curvature radiation electric field in time as well as frequency domains. We show that both the 'antisymmetric' and 'symmetric' types of circular polarization are possible due to the combined effect of aberration, viewing geometry and modulation. We argue that aberration combined with modulation can introduce 'kinky' pattern into the PPA traverses.