arXiv subjects

Shunshun Cao

Publications and source records attributed to Shunshun Cao.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Pulsar anti-glitches: starquakes driven by magnetism?

In the conventional starquake model of pulsar glitches, it is usually assumed that such events arise from fault slip induced by the self-gravity of compact objects. This inevitably decreases the moment of inertia, producing a glitch with an amplitude of only $Δν/ν> 0$. However, an increasing number of anti-glitches ($Δν/ν< 0$) have been observed in extremely magnetized pulsars, the magnetars, and this cannot be explained by that framework. In the present study, we hypothesis that magnetic stresses within a compact object can make for elastic deformations that trigger fault slipping, resulting in a ``magnetism-driven starquake'' when the local breaking threshold is exceeded. This process can then either decrease or increase the moment of inertia, naturally generating a glitch or an anti-glitch, respectively. With an order-of-magnitude calculation in this brief report, we present a simple relationship between the magnetic field $B$ and the amplitude $Δν/ν$, which is consistent with the observational distribution of existing glitch and anti-glitch data. Further discoveries of glitch/anti-glitch events, alongside more quantitative models of elastic-magnetic stress coupling, would be welcome and could eventually provide clear tests for the hypothesis.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Constraining Pulsar Radiative Geometry via Multi-wavelength Modeling

We propose that jointly modeling the thermal X-ray pulse profiles and the polarization position angles offers an effective means of locating the polarization orientation focus of the pulsar's coherent radiation. From the X-ray pulse-profile measurement we constrain the colatitude of the center of the thermal X-ray emission, which corresponds to the center of in-falling particles within the polar cap, while the RVM fitting yields the inclination angle of the focus point of polarization orientations. Thus, consistency between these two independent angle measurements would imply that the RVM fit faithfully recovers the inclination of the plasma flow center, and this center coincides with the polarization orientation focus. Conversely, the discrepancy would suggest that the polarization state of the radio emission changes as it propagates because the evolution of wave modes during wave propagation in the magnetosphere strongly depends on magnetic field orientations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Pulsar electrodynamics inferred from frequency-dependent circular polarization diversity

The nature of coherent radio emission is still challenging even after more than half a century of pulsar discovery, but it is generally a consensus that single-pulse observations are essential for probing the magnetospheric dynamics, especially with the largest single-dish telescope FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope). This paper aims to explain the observed diversity of single pulse circular polarization, and to constrain the multiplicity and Lorentz factor of pulsar magnetospheric plasma, with the mode coupling model in the limiting polarization region. Assuming that circular polarization comes only from wave mode coupling, we apply a Bayesian analysis to the FAST observed single pulse circular polarization spectra, involving numerical solving of wave mode coupling equations, and analyze the posterior probability distribution functions of the parameters. Although the model fails to quantitatively fit most circular polarization spectra, circular polarization of different frequency evolution is reproduced. For three chosen pulsars, the Bayesian analysis constrains the multiplicity to be approximately $10^{0}\sim10^{2}$, and the Lorentz factor to be approximately $10^{0.5}\sim10^{2}$. Pulsar circular polarization could be induced by wave mode coupling. The plasma flow responsible for coherent radio emission carries only a very small fraction of the pulsar spin-down energy loss.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

To understand the radiative processes of pulsars and fast radio bursts with the FAST

The radiative mechanism of coherent radio emission has remained an enigma since the discovery of pulsars, even the emergence of fast radio bursts (FRBs), which exhibit similarities to the single-pulse behavior of pulsars and have opened a new view for deciphering the long-standing mystery. Besides tremendous efforts in modelling, advanced facilities matter for solving the problem. The authors review the observational breakthroughs from the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), which are providing pivotal insights to unravel the underlying physics of pulsars and FRBs. This study offers a novel perspective in the era when pulsars meet FRBs, and further investigations are encouraged to utilize the highly sensitive telescope, the FAST.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

H I absorption line and anomalous dispersion in the radio pulses of PSR B1937+21

We use the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope to observe the bright millisecond pulsar PSR B1937+21 (J1939+2134) and record the data in the band from 1.0 to 1.5 GHz. We measure the neutral hydrogen (HI) emission and absorption lines near 1420 MHz ($λ\simeq 21$ cm). We derive the kinematic distance of the pulsar with the HI observation. By comparing this with the archival absorption spectra observed decades ago, we notice possible variations in the absorption spectra toward this pulsar, which correspond to a possible tiny-scale atomic structure of a few astronomical units in size. We also verify the apparent faster-than-light anomalous dispersion at the HI absorption line of this pulsar previously reported.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

The radiative subpulse modulation and spectral features of PSR B1929$+$10 with the whole pulse phase emission

In this work, we observe the nearby pulsar, PSR B1929$+$10, using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). We find, for the first time, two new emission components with an extremely weak observed flux density of about $10^{-4}$ of the magnitude of the peak radio emission of PSR B1929$+$10. Our results show that the intrinsic radio emission of PSR B1929$+$10 covers the $360^{\circ}$ of longitude, demonstrating that this pulsar is a whole $360^{\circ}$ of longitude emission pulsar. We find at least 15 components of pulse emission in the average pulse profile. Additionally, we identify 5 modes of subpulse modulation in different emission regions, which differ from the pulse components. Moreover, the narrowband emission feature and the frequent jumps in the observed linear polarization position angle (PPA) are also detected in the single pulse of this pulsar. To understand the magnetosphere of this pulsar, we analyze the observed PPA variations across the whole $360^{\circ}$ of longitude and fit them using the classical rotating vector model (RVM). For the best-fit model, the inclination angle,$α$, and the impact angle, $β$, of this pulsar are $55^{\circ}.56$ and $53^{\circ}.47$, respectively. Using the rotating magnetosphere approximation of the magnetic dipole field, we investigate the three-dimensional pulsar magnetosphere and the sparking pattern on the polar cap surface. Our analysis indicates that the extremely narrow zone of the polar cap, which is associated with a high-altitude magnetospheric region, is responsible for the weak emission window. This pulsar has extremely high-altitude magnetospheric radio emissions.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

First Constraint on Axion-Photon Coupling $g_γ$ from Neutron Star Observations

We propose a novel method to detect axions which uniquely depends on the dimensionless axion-photon coupling $g_γ$, independent of the suppressive axion decay constant $f_a$. Using neutron star PSR B1919+21 data from the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, we derive the first constraint $|g_γ|<0.93$ at $1σ$ confidence level for ultra-light axions ($m_a < 10^{-11}$ eV).

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Rapid Rotation of Polarization Orientations in PSR B1919+21's Single Pulses: Implications On Pulsar's Magnetospheric Dynamics

We analyze and model rapid rotations of polarization orientations in PSR B1919+21's single pulses based on Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope observation data. In more than one-third of B1919+21's single pulses, the polarization position angle (PA) is found to rotate quasi-monotonically with pulse longitude, by over 180 degrees or even 360 degrees. Some single pulse PA even rotates by over 540 degrees. Most of these quasi-monotonic PA curves have negative slopes with respect to pulse longitude. Oscillations of circular polarization fraction accompany these PA rotations. This rapid rotation could be induced by a quick change of phase lag between two normal wave modes within an individual pulse. We propose a phenomenological model to reproduce the observed polarization rotations in single pulses, and calculate phase lags in a dipolar magnetic field of an aligned rotating pulsar, with a dispersion relation of orthogonal wave modes in strongly magnetized electron-positron plasma. According to the dispersion relation, the weak frequency dependence of observed polarization rotation requires small angles between the radio wavevector and local magnetic fields, which requires the radio emission height to be low, on the order of 10 times neutron star radius.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

An Extreme Radio Fluctuation of Pulsar B1929$+$10

We report the detection of an extreme flux decrease accompanied by clear dispersion measure (DM) and rotation measure (RM) variations for pulsar B1929+10 during the 110-minute radio observation with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The radio flux decreases by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude within a rapid time scale of about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the variations of DM and RM are approximately 0.05 pc cm$^{-3}$ and 0.7 rad m$^{-2}$, respectively. Frequency-dependent analysis of DM indicates an extremely weak chromatic DM feature, which does not notably affect the radiative behavior detected. Moreover, the pulsar timing analysis shows an additional time delay from 100 $μ$s to 400 $μ$s in the event. These results are speculated to be due to the eclipse and bend for the radio emission of pulsar B1929+10 by a highly dense outflow from the pulsar. This not only impacts the intrinsic radio emission feature but also affects the pulsar timing behavior. Nevertheless, a plasma lens effect lasting around 20 minutes could also be responsible for the event.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Radio Pulsar B0950$+$08: Radiation in Magnetosphere and Sparks above Surface

We observed the nearby 100$\%$-duty-cycle radio pulsar B0950+08 using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). We obtained the polarization profile for its entire rotation, which enabled us to investigate its magnetospheric radiation geometry and the polar cap sparking pattern. After we excluded part of the profile in which the linear polarization factor is low ($\lesssim 30 \%$) and potentially contaminated by position angle jumps, the rest of the polarization position angle swing fits a classical rotating vector model (RVM) well. The bestfit RVM indicates that the inclination angle, $α$, and the impact angle, $β$, of this pulsar, are 100.5$^{\circ}$ and $-$33.2$^{\circ}$, respectively, suggesting that the radio emission comes from two poles.We find that, in such RVM geometry, either the annular vacuum gap or the core vacuum gap model would require that the radio emissions come from a high-altitude magnetosphere with heights from $\sim 0.25~R_{\rm LC}$ to $\sim 0.56~R_{\rm LC}$, with $R_{\rm LC}$ being the light cylinder radius. Both the main and inter-pulses' sparking points are located away from the magnetic pole, which could be relevant to the physical conditions on the pulsar surface.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

PSR B0943+10: Mode Switch, Polar Cap Geometry, and Orthogonally Polarized Radiation

As one of the paradigm examples to probe into pulsar magnetospheric dynamics, PSR B0943+10 (J0946+0951) manifests representatively, showing mode switch, orthogonal polarization and subpulse drifting, frequently studied below 600 MHz. Here both integrated and single pulses are studied at a high frequency (1.25 GHz) with FAST. The mode switch is studied using a profile decomposition method. A phase space evolution for the pulsar's mode switch shows a strange-attractor-like pattern. The radiative geometry is proposed by fitting polarization position angles with the rotating vector model. The pulsar pulse profile is then mapped to the sparking locations on pulsar surface, and the differences between the main pulse's and the precursor component's radiative processes may explain the X-ray's synchronization with radio mode switch. Detailed single pulse studies on B0943+10's orthogonally polarized radiation are presented, which may support for certain models of radiative transfer of polarized emission. Especially, the difference in OPMs' circular polarization might reflect the cyclotron absorption in pulsar magnetospheres. B0943+10's B and Q modes evolve differently with frequency and have different proportions of orthogonal modes, which indicates possible magnetospheric changes during mode switch. For Q mode pulse profile, the precursor and the main pulse components are orthogonally polarized, and are probably originated from different depths in the magnetosphere. The findings could impact significantly on pulsar electrodynamics and the radiative mechanism related.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Non-symmetrical sparking may hint "zits'' on a pulsar surface

Pulsar electrodynamics could be relevant to the physics of stellar surface, which remains poorly understood for more than half a centenary and is difficult to probe due to the absence of direct and clear observational evidence. Nevertheless, highly-sensitive telescopes (e.g., China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope, FAST) may play an essential role in solving the problem since the predicted surface condition would have quite different characteristics in some models of pulsar structure, especially after the establishment of the standard model of particle physics. For instance, small hills (or ``zit'') may exist on solid strangeon star surface with rigidity, preferential discharge, i.e., gap sparking, may occur around the hills in the polar cap region. In this work, with the 110-min polarization observation of PSR B0950+08 targeted by FAST, we report that the gap sparking is significantly non-symmetrical to the meridian plane on which the rotational and magnetic axes lie. It is then speculated that this asymmetry could be the result of preferential sparking around zits which might rise randomly on pulsar surface. Some polarization features of both single pulses and the mean pulse, as well as the cross-correlation function of different emission regions, have also been presented.

astro-ph.HE↗