Radio Pulsar "Shut Off"?

Has anyone heard of any cases where the radio pulses of a well-observed
radio pulsar suddenly stop being detected? I know that X-ray pulsars,
called X-ray transients, are observed to "turn on" and "shut off",
sometimes periodically and sometimes randomly. But has a radio pulsar
with a period of 0.001 sec to 4 sec ever gone silent?

Thanks for any information on this topic.

Rob Oldershaw

"r" == rloldershaw writes:

r Has anyone heard of any cases where the radio pulses of a
r well-observed radio pulsar suddenly stop being detected? I know
r that X-ray pulsars, called X-ray transients, are observed to "turn
r on" and "shut off", sometimes periodically and sometimes randomly.
r But has a radio pulsar with a period of 0.001 sec to 4 sec ever
r gone silent?

Yes, they are called nulling pulsars. (See the ADS for much more information.)

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