Open AccessThe nature of the PSR J2051−0827 eclipses
Author(s) -
Stappers B. W.,
Bailes M.,
Lyne A. G.,
Camilo F.,
Manchester R. N.,
Sandhu J. S.,
Toscano M.,
Bell J. F.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04074.x
Subject(s) - physics , eclipse , pulsar , astrophysics , magnetosphere , flux (metallurgy) , pulse (music) , astronomy , cyclotron , computational physics , optics , plasma , materials science , quantum mechanics , detector , metallurgy
In the three years following the discovery of PSR J2051−0827, we have observed a large number of eclipse traverses over a wide frequency range. These data show that the pulsar usually undergoes complete eclipse at frequencies below 1 GHz. At higher frequencies the pulsar is often detected throughout this low‐frequency eclipse region with pulse times of arrival being significantly delayed relative to the best‐fitting timing model. Variability in the magnitude of the delay is clearly seen and occurs on time‐scales shorter than the orbital period. Simultaneous dual frequency observations highlight the difference in the eclipse behaviour for two widely separated frequencies. The low‐frequency eclipses are accompanied by a significant decrease in pulsed flux density, while the flux density variations during higher frequency eclipses are not well defined. We consider a number of eclipse mechanisms and find that scattering and cyclotron absorption in the magnetosphere of the companion are consistent with the phenomena presented here.