Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) and a base station may identify a burst periodicity for communication bursts over one or more cells, such as secondary cells (SCells) in accordance with a multi-carrier communication scheme. The UE and the base station may determine a cell dormancy pattern for switching the SCells between an active state and a dormant state based on the burst periodicity. The base station and the UE may use one or more bandwidth parts (BWPs) for communications and may configure the UE to perform BWP switching over the SCell during the dormancy state switching operation. The base station and the UE may communicate the bursts while the SCells are in the active state and may switch the SCells between the active state and the dormant state based on the cell dormancy pattern.