The discovery of a transitive phenomenon in the radio emission of the mode-switcher PSR B0943+10

Abstract

PSR B0943+10 is known to switch between two distinct, hour-long modes of radio emission, bright (B) and quiet (Q). The switches in both directions have so far been thought to occur instantly (on the scale of the 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.