Single-Pulse Correlations in PSR B0329+54: Implications for Radio Emission Zones

TL;DR

This study investigates single-pulse correlations in PSR B0329+54 across a broad frequency range, revealing strong, consistent inter-frequency correlations centered near the main pulse component, and discusses implications for radio emission mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed low-frequency correlation analysis of PSR B0329+54 with well-sampled data, revealing strong correlations and spectral features, and explores their implications for emission physics.

Findings

Maximum correlations exceed 69% across frequencies.

Correlations are strongest near the central component of the pulse.

No anticorrelations or cross-component correlations observed.

Abstract

Individual radio pulses from a pulsar are directly linked to the underlying emission processes and the associated magnetic field geometry within its magnetosphere. Thus, single-pulse studies across frequencies can provide crucial insights into the physics of radio emission. Multiple studies have investigated single-pulse correlations in PSR B0329+54 with widely separated discrete frequencies, reporting the broadband nature of pulsar emission. However, understanding the frequency evolution of these correlations has been limited by poor frequency sampling, and the physical origin of these correlations remains unexplored. We present a detailed study of single-pulse correlations in PSR B0329+54 at low radio frequencies using the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (uGMRT), with well-sampled time series spanning 300-1460 MHz. We derived an inverted flux spectrum for this pulsar, with a turnover near 470 MHz. We used flux-calibrated and scintillation-corrected single pulses to study correlations across frequencies. Our results show that maximum correlations consistently occur near the longitude of the central component, with correlation strength exceeding 69\% for all frequency combinations, while outer components exhibit correlations above 46\%. These findings indicate very strong inter-frequency correlations, with no anticorrelations detected. No cross-component correlations were observed; only corresponding components correlate across frequencies. The longitudes of maximum correlation do not coincide with the intensity peaks of the average profile. We also examine how correlations vary with frequency at selected fiducial longitudes. The observations reported in this work favor curvature radiation from relativistic charge bunches in the pulsar plasma; however, reproducing the correlation curves along with spectra remains an open challenge.