Nonlinear temporal modulation of pulsar radioemission

A nonlinear theory is discussed for self-modulation of pulsar radio pulses. A nonlinear Schrodinger equation is derived for strong electromagnetic waves propagating in an electron-positron plasma. The nonlinearities arising from wave intensity induced relativistic particle mass variation may excite the modulational instability of circularly and linearly polarized pulsar radiation. The resulting wave envelopes can take the form of periodic wave trans or solitons. These nonlinear stationary waveforms may account for the formation of pulsar microstructures