Giant pulses in Millisecond Pulsars

Abstract

Giant pulses (GPs), occasional individual pulses with an intensity 100 times the average intensity, have been detected in four pulsars todate. Their origin is not well understood, but studies suggest a connection between the strength of magnetic field at the light cylinder B_lc and the existence of GPs. Here, we report on detection of significant Large Amplitude Pulses (LAPs) in two more pulsars with high values of B_lc, PSRs J0218+4232 and B1957+20, observed using Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT).

2 pages, 2 figures, To appear in "Young Neutron Stars and Their Environments"(IAU Symposium 218, ASP Conference Proceedings), eds F. Camilo and B. M. Gaensler