Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Nov 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996aps..dpp..7e03l&link_type=abstract
American Physical Society, Division of Plasma Physics Meeting, November 10-15, 1996, abstract #7E.03
Physics
Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
We discuss the problem of plasma penetration of magnetospheres, an important issue in a wide variety of astrophysical contexts, ranging from accretion in cataclysmic variables to flows in protostellar systems. It has been argued that cross-field accretion on strongly magnetized stars (e.g., white dwarfs and neutron stars) is impeded when the kinetic energy density of the free-falling plasma becomes comparable to or smaller than the magnetic field energy density; consequently, the accretion should occur only in the close vicinity of magnetic poles. Despite that, accretion is frequently observed in the vicinity of the magnetic equator (assuming the stellar magnetic field is dipolar). It is well known that high-permittivity, bounded plasma can E×B drift across the magnetic field due to the polarization charge build-up on the plasma stream boundary. We discuss this mechanism in application to the problem of accretion on AM Her magnetic cataclysmic variables. For typical parameters, we find that this mechanism can lead to deep penetration of the accreting matter, if depolarizing effects are weak. We consider various depolarization mechanisms and their effects on plasma propagation.
Litwin Christof
Rosner Robert
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