One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer gap accelerator - II. gamma-ray production resulting from inverse Compton scattering

Details One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer gap accelerator - II. gamma-ray production resulting from inverse Compton scattering One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer gap accelerator - II. gamma-ray production resulting from inverse Compton scattering

Sep 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999mnras.308...67h&link_type=abstract

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 308, Issue 1, pp. 67-76.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

28

Scientific paper

We study the structure of a stationary and axisymmetric charge-deficient region (or a potential gap) in the outer magnetosphere of a spinning neutron star. A large electric field along the magnetic field lines is created in this potential gap and accelerates migratory electrons (e^-) and/or positrons (e^+) to ultrarelativistic energies. Assuming that the gap is immersed in a dense soft photon field, these relativistic e^+/- radiate gamma-ray photons via inverse Compton (IC) scattering. These gamma-rays, in turn, produce yet more radiating particles by colliding with ambient soft photons, leading to a pair-production cascade in the gap. The replenished charges partially screen the longitudinal electric field, which is self-consistently solved together with the distribution of e^+/- and gamma-ray photons. It is demonstrated that the voltage drop in the gap is not more than 10^10 V when the background X-ray radiation is as luminous as 10^37ergs^-1. However, this value increases with decreasing X-ray luminosity and attains 10^12 V when the X-ray radiation is 10^36ergs^-1. In addition, we find useful expressions of the spatial distribution of the particle fluxes and longitudinal electric field, together with the relationship between the voltage drop and the current density. Amazingly, these expressions are valid not only when IC scattering dominates but also when curvature radiation dominates.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer gap accelerator - II. gamma-ray production resulting from inverse Compton scattering 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 One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer gap accelerator - II. gamma-ray production resulting from inverse Compton scattering, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer gap accelerator - II. gamma-ray production resulting from inverse Compton scattering will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-987445