The Discovery of Transitive Phenomenon in the Radio Emission of the mode-switcher PSR B0943+10

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a transitive process involving two short-lived modes during the Q-to-B mode switch in pulsar PSR B0943+10, challenging the previous belief of instantaneous mode changes.

Contribution

It introduces the identification of a transitive phenomenon with intermediate modes during mode switching, providing new insights into pulsar emission dynamics.

Findings

Discovery of two short-lived transitive modes during Q-to-B switch

Distinct average profiles and subpulse drift rates for the transitive modes

Implications for the carousel model of drifting subpulses

Abstract

B0943+10 is known to switch between two distinct, hours-long modes of radio emission, Bright (B) and Quiet (Q). Up to now the switches in both directions were believed to occur instantly (on the scale of a spin period). We have found a transitive process around the Q-to-B-mode switch, which consists of two additional short-lived modes, each with distinct average profiles and subpulse drift rates. Based on observations at low radio frequencies, we examine the properties of these transitive modes and discuss their implications in the framework of the traditional carousel model of drifting subpulses.