2006A&A...460L..31R

We propose a model for rotating current patterns within radiopulsar polar cap accelerators which has observational consequences that mimic those which have been attributed to neutron star precession. The model is a simple extension of a commonly used one for the origin of the ``drifting subpulses'' often observed within the pulse envelope of radiopulsars. The new model's current pattern rotation period (with respect to the neutron star) is estimated to be of order a year. Associated with that rotation are small oscillations in spin-down torque, pulse arrival time, and radiobeam direction with this same period. These have estimated magnitudes which support a possible reinterpretation of precession ``observations'' which could resolve the problem of obtaining the required precession parameters with canonical neutron star models.