Mechanisms for pulsar eclipse

Abstract

The steady (DC) component of the 318 MHz emission ofpulsar 1957 + 20 appears to be eclipsed by plasma that is too tenuousfor a plasma frequency cutoff. Alternative eclipse mechanisms areconsidered, including (1) scattering by plasma turbulence, (2) nonlineardecay of electromagnetic waves, and (3) absorption by nonthermalelectrons. Several possible observational consequences are discussed.