Pulsar Magnetic Axis Alignment and Counteralignment.

A model is proposed for the alignment or counteralignment of the magnetic axis of a pulsar with its symmetry axis by the motion of the magnetic distortion through the star due to the same kind of secular instability that has been proposed to cause polar wandering on the Earth. The evolution of various observable characteristics is determined by simultaneously integrating the equations for the rate of change of the magnetic-axis inclination and for the angular momentum. The observable parameters calculated for aligning models are found to be similar to those of Type D pulsars while parameters calculated for counteraligning models are similar to those of Type C pulsars. Type S pulsars will evolve into Type C or Type D pulsars but have not yet significantly aligned or counteraligned. The damping time of the precession about the average rotation axis is considered for two different crust materials. For one crust material the damping time is found to be greater than the braking time while for the other it is found to be on the order of the precession period which is much less than the braking time. Subject headings: magnetic fields - pulsars - rotation, stellar