Pair formation above pulsar polar caps - Structure of the low altitude acceleration zone

Details Pair formation above pulsar polar caps - Structure of the low altitude acceleration zone Pair formation above pulsar polar caps - Structure of the low altitude acceleration zone

Aug 1979

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979apj...231..854a&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 231, Aug. 1, 1979, p. 854-879.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

373

Electron Beams, Magnetohydrodynamic Flow, Polar Caps, Pulsars, X Ray Sources, Gamma Rays, Magnetic Dipoles, Magnetohydrodynamics, Plasma Diodes, Poisson Equation, Steady Flow

Scientific paper

Solutions are presented for a steady space-charge-limited flow of an electron beam above the polar cap of a pulsar in the case where the vector product of the neutron star's angular velocity and surface magnetic field is greater than zero over the whole polar-cap region and the flow is shorted out by pair creation. The flow has the characteristics of a space-charge-limited diode, with the stellar surface acting as a cathode and the lower boundary of the pair plasma acting as a conducting anode at a finite height above the surface. Reasons are given for believing that this flow is stable. The minimum photon energy absorbed in the hypothesized magnetic-field structure is computed and used to calculate the maximum period for pair creation in a dipole field. The maximum period for pair creation in more compex geometries is also estimated. It is shown that the dynamical structure of the plasma layer at the anode surface is such as to lead to a small reversed positron flux. Implications of this theory for understanding and predicting pulsar observations are discussed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Pair formation above pulsar polar caps - Structure of the low altitude acceleration zone does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Pair formation above pulsar polar caps - Structure of the low altitude acceleration zone, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pair formation above pulsar polar caps - Structure of the low altitude acceleration zone will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1483538