PSR B0826-34: Sometimes a rotating radio transient

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of sporadic strong pulses in PSR B0826-34's weak mode, resembling RRATs, indicating mode switching between pulsar-like and RRAT-like states.

Contribution

It is the first detailed observation of a pulsar oscillating between pulsar-like and RRAT-like emission modes, expanding understanding of pulsar emission variability.

Findings

Detection of sporadic strong pulses during weak mode

Pulses are similar in intensity and duration to strong mode sub-pulses

PSR B0826-34 is the second pulsar known to switch between pulsar and RRAT modes

Abstract

We report on the detection of sporadic, strong single pulses co-existing with a periodic weak emission in the duration of weak mode of PSR B0826-34. The intensities and durations of these pulses are comparable with that of the sub-pulses in the strong mode, and these pulses are distributed within the phase ranges of the main-pulse and interpulse of the strong-mode average profile. These results suggest that there are most possibly sporadic, very short timescale turn-on of strong-mode emission during the weak-mode state of the pulsar. The emission features of the bursts of strong pulses of PSR B0826-34 during its weak-mode state are similar to those of the rotating radio transients (RRATs). PSR B0826-34 is the second pulsar known which oscillates between pulsar-like and RRAT-like modes.