2003A&A...397..969K

The method of emission altitude estimation in radio pulsars based on pulse width measurements at the low intensity profile wings is reviewed. Both measurement details and model assumptions are discussed. It is argued that the pulse width measurement technique is sensitive enough to detect the radio emission generated at the beam edge near the last open field lines. We give the refined version of the formula for the radio emission altitudes and compare it with values obtained independently using a method based on measurements of separation between peaks of the outermost profile components. We show that both methods give comparable results.