FREQUENCY-DEPENDENCE OF PULSAR INTEGRATED PROFILES

We have studied the dependence of component separation on observing frequency for seven pulsars that exhibit double- or multiple-component average profiles. In each case, a review of all available data shows a smooth variation of the form DELTA-theta = A-nu-alpha + DELTA-theta-min. No evidence is found for a "break frequency" at which the separation behavior discretely changes. It is argued that previous reports of such a discontinuity are due to insufficiently sampled data together with a prejudice toward pure power-law functional behaviors. The absence of such a break has implications for theories of the pulsar emission mechanism and of the propagation of radio waves in the pulsar magnetosphere.