Radio pulsar variability

TL;DR

This paper reviews the various instabilities and variabilities in pulsar emission and rotation, emphasizing their importance for understanding pulsar physics and improving their use in precise astrophysical measurements.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of pulsar variability across different timescales and discusses implications for pulsar timing accuracy.

Findings

Identification of multiple variability timescales

Implications for improving pulsar timing precision

Understanding pulsar emission instabilities

Abstract

Pulsars are potentially the most remarkable physical laboratories we will ever use. Although in many senses they are extremely clean systems there are a large number of instabilities and variabilities seen in the emission and rotation of pulsars. These need to be recognised in order to both fully understand the nature of pulsars, and to enable their use as precision tools for astrophysical investigations. Here I describe these effects, discuss the wide range of timescales involved, and consider the implications for precision pulsar timing.