The Topology and Polarisation of Subbeams Associated with the `Drifting' Subpulse Emission of Pulsar B0943+10 -- IV. Q-to-B-Mode Recovery Dynamics

Abstract

Pulsar B0943+10 is well known for its `B' (burst) mode, characterized by accurately drifting subpulses, in contrast to its chaotic `Q' (quiet) mode. Six new Arecibo observations at 327 MHz with durations of 2+ hours each have shed considerable light on the modal dynamics of this pulsar. Of these, three were found to be exclusively `B' mode, and three were discovered to exhibit transitions from the `Q' to the `B' mode. One of these observations has permitted us to determine the circulation time of the subbeam carousel in the `Q' mode for the first time, at some 36.4$\pm$0.9 stellar rotation periods. The onset of the `B' mode is then observed to commence similarly in all three observations. The initial circulation time is about 36 periods and relaxes to nearly 38 periods in a roughly exponential fashion with a characteristic time of some 1.2 hours. This is the longest characteristic time ever found in a mode-switching pulsar. Moreover, just after the `B'-mode onset the pulsar exhibits a symmetrical resolved-double profile form with a somewhat stronger trailing component, but this second component slowly dies away leaving the usual single `B'-mode profile with the longitude of the magnetic axis falling at about its trailing half power point. Thus it would appear that Q-to-B- and B-to-Q-transitions have different characteristic times. Some speculations are given on the nature of this slow modal alternation.