Frequency dependence of pulsar integrated profiles

Abstract

The dependence of component separation on observingfrequency has been studied for seven pulsars that exhibit double- ormultiple-component average profiles. In each case, a review of all availabledata shows a smooth variation of given form. No evidence is foundfor a 'break frequency' at which the separation behavior discretelychanges. It is argued that previous reports of such a discontinuity aredue to insufficiently sampled data together with a prejudice towardpure power-law functional behaviors. The absence of such a breakhas implications for theories of the pulsar emission mechanism andof the propagation of radio waves in the pulsar magnetosphere.