Intriguing Drifting Subpulses in the Vela Pulsar
Z. G. Wen, J. L. Chen, L. F. Hao, W. M. Yan, H. G. Wang, Jia-Shuo Li, J. P. Yuan, K. J. Lee, Na Wang, R. Yuen, Yonghua Xu, Z. X. Li, Yaohuan Huang
Abstract
Abstract We report on the discovery of drifting subpulses from the Vela pulsar, observed using the Yunnan 40 m radio telescope at 6800 MHz observing frequency. The single pulses show the presence of two distinct drifting patterns, where the central component is modulated in longitude and amplitude simultaneously with a period of 9 pulses, and the trailing component remains phase stationary within the pulse window but periodically changes in intensity with a period of 29 pulses. The leading component emission remains constant in intensity and pulse phase. Such periodic modulation in the Vela pulsar is a separate phenomenon from periodic nulling and traditional subpulse drifting, which may lead to a greater understanding of the pulse emission mechanism.