Radio Pulsar Phenomenology: What can we learn from pulsar profiles?

Summary• The integrated profiles give information on– Geometry, emission heights, the static magnetosphere• Beam models and observations tell us– Clear evidence of conal emission, beam is patchy, emission heightvaries across polar cap• High Edot (non MSP) pulsars– Highly polarized, from high emission heights, implying a highbeaming fraction– Geometry poorly constrained in most cases.– Distances are poorly known (until the SKA?)– Often (always?) γ-ray emitters• MSPs– Polarization low– Better handle on (low DM) distances