The High Time Resolution Universe Survey - V: Single-pulse energetics and modulation properties of 315 pulsars

TL;DR

This study analyzes pulse-to-pulse energy distributions and modulation properties of 315 pulsars, revealing diverse energetic behaviors, mode changes, and modulation patterns, with implications for understanding pulsar emission mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive analysis of single-pulse energetics and modulation in a large, unbiased pulsar sample, identifying new mode-change phenomena and energy regulation hints.

Findings

Many pulsars have log-normal energy distributions.

Evidence of mode changes and nulling behaviors.

No correlation between modulation and pulsar parameters.

Abstract

We report on the pulse-to-pulse energy distributions and phase-resolved modulation properties for catalogued pulsars in the southern High Time Resolution Universe intermediate-latitude survey. We selected the 315 pulsars detected in a single-pulse search of this survey, allowing a large sample unbiased regarding any rotational parameters of neutron stars. We found that the energy distribution of many pulsars is well-described by a log-normal distribution, with few deviating from a small range in log-normal scale and location parameters. Some pulsars exhibited multiple energy states corresponding to mode changes, and implying that some observed "nulling" may actually be a mode-change effect. PSRJ1900-2600 was found to emit weakly in its previously-identified "null" state. We found evidence for another state-change effect in two pulsars, which show bimodality in their nulling time scales; that is, they switch between a continuous-emission state and a single-pulse-emitting state. Large modulation occurs in many pulsars across the full integrated profile, with increased sporadic bursts at leading and trailing sub-beam edges. Some of these high-energy outbursts may indicate the presence of "giant pulse" phenomena. We found no correlation with modulation and pulsar period, age, or other parameters. Finally, the deviation of integrated pulse energy from its average value was generally quite small, despite the significant phase-resolved modulation in some pulsars; we interpret this as tenuous evidence of energy regulation between distinct pulsar sub-beams.