Radiation properties of extreme nulling pulsar J1502-5653

TL;DR

This study investigates the radiation properties of the nulling pulsar J1502-5653, revealing its null fraction, pulse modulation, and phase drifting, providing insights into pulsar nulling behavior and emission stability.

Contribution

It presents detailed analysis of nulling, pulse intensity, and phase modulation in J1502-5653, highlighting systematic behaviors and correlations not previously documented in this pulsar type.

Findings

Null fraction estimated at 93.6%

Pulse intensity peaks then decays exponentially

Phase drifts systematically during burst sequences

Abstract

We report on radiation properties of extreme nulling pulsar J1502-5653, by analyzing the data acquired from the Parkes 64-m telescope at 1374 MHz. The radio emission from this pulsar exhibits sequences of several tens to several hundreds consecutive burst pulses, separated by null pulses, and the appearance of the emission seems quasi-periodic. The null fraction from the data is estimated to be 93.6%. No emission is detected in the integrated profile of all null pulses. Systematic modulations of pulse intensity and phase are found at the beginning of burst-pulse sequences just after null. The intensity usually rises to a maximum for the first few pulses, then declines exponentially afterwards, and becomes stable after few tens of pulse periods. The peak phase appears at later longitudes for the first pulse, then drifts to earlier longitudes rapidly, and then systematic drifting gradually vanishes while the intensity becomes stable. In this pulsar, the intensity variation and phase modulation of pulses are correlated in a short duration after the emission starts following a null. Observed properties of the pulsar are compared with other nulling pulsars published previously, and the possible explanation for phase modulation is discussed.