LOFAR observations of the mode-switching pulsar B0943+10

TL;DR

This paper presents LOFAR radio observations of pulsar B0943+10, revealing dynamic profile morphology and single-pulse properties at low frequencies, contributing to understanding its global magnetospheric changes and multiwavelength behavior.

Contribution

It provides new low-frequency radio data that enhance understanding of the pulsar's mode switching and magnetospheric transformations.

Findings

Dynamic profile morphology at low frequencies

Single-pulse properties vary with mode

Insights into polar gap conditions

Abstract

PSR B0943+10 is an old non-recycled pulsar which for decades has been mostly known for its rapid and spontaneous radio mode switching. Recently, Hermsen et al. (2013) discovered correlated changes in the thermal X-ray emission from the polar cap, thus demonstrating that radio modes are not just a product of the local changes in the radio emission region, but a sign of some global magnetospheric transformation. At about the same time, owing to the commissioning of the new generation of low-frequency radio arrays, the broadband observations at the lowest edge of ionospheric transparency window became available. At these radio frequencies profile morphology and the single-pulse properties of PSR B0943+10's emission become very dynamic, providing details not only about the emission itself, but also about the conditions in the polar gap. Here, I will present the recent results of the LOFAR observations of PSR B0943+10 and discuss their contribution to the multiwavelength picture.