Mode Switching and Subpulse Drifting in PSR B 0826 − 34

We present high-quality observations of PSR B0826−34 at 1374 MHz. The emission from this pulsar exhibits strong bursts of pulses followed by long periods of ‘null’ pulses. When it is strong, the radiation extends through the whole pulse period. We show for the first time that there is weak emission during the ‘null’ phases, which should therefore be considered to be a different mode rather than a null. During this weak mode the profile is similar to that observed in the strong mode at low radio frequency. Using a phase-tracking method, the pattern of drifting subpulses during the strong mode is seen to be coherent across the whole profile. The drift rate is variable and includes positive and negative values. Thirteen subpulse bands have been directly observed, covering the whole longitude range. The subpulses and their spacings (P2) are wider in one half of the profile than those in the other half. This difference, and the variation of observed P2 within the two regions, can be accounted for if the magnetic pole is inclined to the rotation axis by about 0.5◦. These two regions appear to represent radiation from outer and inner cones. The intensity modulation of subpulses in all longitude ranges is related to the magnitude of the drift rate.