Physics of radio emission in the long-period pulsars

TL;DR

This paper investigates the radio emission mechanisms of long-period pulsars, proposing that plasma composition influences pulse width frequency dependence, with implications for understanding pulsar emission physics.

Contribution

It introduces a model explaining pulse width frequency dependence based on plasma composition, specifically ions and protons, in long-period pulsars.

Findings

Pulse width W50's frequency dependence supports plasma acceleration during emission.

Ion-proton plasma can sustain acceleration, unlike electron-positron pairs.

Extension of the model to general pulsars is briefly discussed.

Abstract

Recent multi-frequency measurements of pulse widths W50 for the long-period pulsar J0250+5854 by Agar et al provide a unique insight to the emission process owing to its small polar-cap radius. The frequency-dependence of W50 can be simply understood as a consequence of the emitting plasma remaining under acceleration during the interval of radio emission. This is possible in a plasma of ions and protons but not in one of high-multiplicity electron-positron pairs. Extension of the model to the pulse profiles of the general pulsar population is considered briefly.