Enhanced Optical Emission from the Crab Pulsar

Abstract

We have detected an enhancement in the optical emission from the Crab pulsar which is correlated with the presence of the giant radio pulses. Coincident optical pulses were found to be on average 3% brighter than those coincident with normal radio pulses. This enhancement, combined with the lack of any other pulse profile changes, indicates that both the giant radio pulses and the increased optical emission are most likely linked to an increase in the electron-positron plasma density.