Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Mar 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001a%26a...368.1063z&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics, v.368, p.1063-1070 (2001)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
57
Stars: Pulsars: General, Acceleration Of Particles, Ism: Cosmic Rays
Scientific paper
We consider a possible contribution of mature gamma -ray pulsars (with ages of >= 105 yrs) to cosmic ray positrons. Within the framework of the gamma -ray pulsar outer gap model, e+/- pairs in the pulsar magnetosphere are produced by the cascade of e+/- pairs through synchrotron radiation of the return current from the outer gap. A good fraction of these cascade e+/- pairs are reflected by the hard X-rays from the polar cap via resonant scattering and escape from the pulsar through the light cylinder. The escaped pairs are accelerated to relativistic energies in the pulsar wind driven by low-frequency electromagnetic waves. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we generate a sample of the mature gamma -ray pulsars in our Galaxy and calculate the positron production rate from these pulsars. In a simple ``leaky box" model, we calculate the ratio of cosmic-ray positrons to total electrons. Our result indicates that the pulsar contribution to the cosmic ray positrons peaks at about 60 GeV and the observed e+/(e-+e+) ratio can be explained in this model.
Cheng Kwong Sang
Zhang Lianchang
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