PROPERTIES OF THE EMISSION OF SHORT-PERIOD PULSARS

Modern observational data confirm the hypothesis that short-period pul sars (P less than or similar to 0.1 s) are a special group of objects, with their own emission mechanism and location of the emission region near the light cylinder. The conventional assumptions of nonrelativis tic rotation (alpha much less than 1) and low plasma energy compared t o the magnetic field energy in the magnetospheres of these pulsars (sp ecified by the parameter xi) are incorrect. It is therefore necessary to develop a magnetosphere model for pulsars with P less than or simil ar to 0.1 s for alpha and xi values of the order of unity. Plasma inst abilities that could be sources of the observed emission from short-pe riod pulsars are indicated.