Mode Changing in PSR B0844-35 and PSR B1758-29 with Enhanced Emission at the Profile Centers

Abstract

We have studied the single pulse emission from two pulsars, PSR B0844-35 and PSR B1758-29, over a wide frequency range of 300–750 MHz using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. The two pulsars have relatively wide profiles with multiple components, which are a result of the line of sight traversing near the center of the emission beam. In both pulsars, the single pulse sequences show the presence of two distinct emission states, where the profiles become much brighter at the center, with prominent core components during one of the modes, while in the other mode the single pulses show odd–even subpulse drifting with a periodicity of around 2P, P being the rotation period of the pulsar. The centrally bright mode was seen for 10% of the observing duration in PSR B0844-35, which usually lasted for short durations of around 10 pulses, but had two longer sequences of around 100 pulses. On the contrary, the centrally bright mode was dominant in PSR B1758-29 and was seen for around 60% of the observing duration. PSR B1758-29 also showed period amplitude modulations of 60P–70P in both modes. The mode changing in these two pulsars facilitates investigation of the sparking process in the inner acceleration region, dominated by nondipolar magnetic fields. The change in the surface magnetic field configurations likely results in the emission mode change.