Broadband nulling behaviour of PSR B2319+60

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that pulse nulling in PSR B2319+60 occurs simultaneously across multiple radio frequencies, indicating a broadband phenomenon likely caused by a global magnetospheric process.

Contribution

First coordinated multi-frequency observations of nulling pulsar PSR B2319+60 showing broadband nulling behavior and its correlation across frequencies.

Findings

Nulling fractions are similar across all observed frequencies.

Nulling is largely a broadband phenomenon for PSR B2319+60.

Supports the idea of a global magnetospheric failure causing nulling.

Abstract

Pulse nulling is one of many single pulse phenomena exhibited by radio pulsars. The broadband nature of this phenomena remained unexplained due to lack of coordinated observations. We are reporting broadband nulling behaviour of a well known nulling pulsar PSR B2319+60. The simultaneous observations were carried out at four different frequencies using the Giant Meterwave Radio telescope (325 and 610 MHz), the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (1420 MHz) and the Effelsberg radio telescope (5100 MHz). The nulling fractions were estimated at all four observed frequencies, which suggest similar degree of nulling across these frequencies. To comment on the broadband behaviour of pulse nulling, we calculated the Pearson cross-correlation coefficients for the occurrence of null and burst pulses between all four frequencies. We conclude that nulling is largely a broadband phenomenon for this pulsar and it points towards a global failure of the magnetospheric currents which produces radio emission at these frequencies.