Are the pulses of the Crab pulsar modulated?

Abstract

We present the results of optical Crab pulsar observations which were designed to search for short-time variations in pulsar's light-curve. Hubble Space Telescope (High Speed Photometer) data and photometric data obtained at the Asiago 1.82m telescope using a specially designed stroboscopic chopper have been analysed and compared. We find a very weak common modulation with the period of 60 seconds which is consistent with all data sets. Such periodic variations in Crab pulsar's light-curve might reflect the pertained free precession of the young Crab pulsar.