Single pulse polarization study of pulsars B0950+08 and B1642-03: micropulse properties and mixing of orthogonal modes

We present the results of a high-time resolution polarization study of single pulses from pulsars B0950 + 08 and B1642 - 03. Single pulses from pulsar B0950 + 08 sometimes show isolated micropulses without any significant associated subpulse emission. Assuming that the properties of such micropulses represent the intrinsic nature of micropulse emission, we characterize the width and polarization properties of these 'intrinsic' microstructures. Most of the 'intrinsic' micropulses (similar to 90 per cent) follow common characteristic polarization properties, while the average width of these micropulses is consistent with the general micropulse population from this pulsar. Single pulses from these pulsars show a diverse range of polarization properties, including depolarization and mixing of two orthogonal modes resulting in polarization position angle jumps. We present a superposition model of the two orthogonal modes which can explain depolarization, the observed position angle jumps, and associated changes in other polarization parameters.