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Title: RADIATIVE DAMPING AND EMISSION SIGNATURES OF STRONG SUPERLUMINAL WAVES IN PULSAR WINDS

Abstract

We analyze the damping of strong, superluminal electromagnetic waves by radiation reaction and Compton drag in the context of pulsar winds. The associated radiation signature is found by estimating the efficiency and the characteristic radiation frequencies. Applying these estimates to the gamma-ray binary containing PSR B1259–63, we show that the GeV flare observed by the Fermi Large Area Telescope can be understood as inverse-Compton emission by particles scattering photons from the companion star, if the pulsar wind termination shock acquires a precursor of superluminal waves roughly 30 days after periastron. This requirement constrains the mass-loading factor of the wind μ=L/ N-dot mc{sup 2}, where L is the luminosity and N-dot is the rate of loss of electrons and positrons, to be roughly 6 × 10{sup 4}.

Authors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22270724
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 776; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; ASTRONOMY; ASTROPHYSICS; DAMPING; ELECTRONS; GAMMA RADIATION; GEV RANGE; LUMINOSITY; PHOTONS; POSITRONS; PRECURSOR; PULSARS; STARS; STELLAR WINDS; TELESCOPES

Citation Formats

Mochol, Iwona, and Kirk, John G., E-mail: iwona.mochol@mpi-hd.mpg.de, E-mail: john.kirk@mpi-hd.mpg.de. RADIATIVE DAMPING AND EMISSION SIGNATURES OF STRONG SUPERLUMINAL WAVES IN PULSAR WINDS. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/776/1/40.
Mochol, Iwona, & Kirk, John G., E-mail: iwona.mochol@mpi-hd.mpg.de, E-mail: john.kirk@mpi-hd.mpg.de. RADIATIVE DAMPING AND EMISSION SIGNATURES OF STRONG SUPERLUMINAL WAVES IN PULSAR WINDS. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/776/1/40
Mochol, Iwona, and Kirk, John G., E-mail: iwona.mochol@mpi-hd.mpg.de, E-mail: john.kirk@mpi-hd.mpg.de. 2013. "RADIATIVE DAMPING AND EMISSION SIGNATURES OF STRONG SUPERLUMINAL WAVES IN PULSAR WINDS". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/776/1/40.
@article{osti_22270724,
title = {RADIATIVE DAMPING AND EMISSION SIGNATURES OF STRONG SUPERLUMINAL WAVES IN PULSAR WINDS},
author = {Mochol, Iwona and Kirk, John G., E-mail: iwona.mochol@mpi-hd.mpg.de, E-mail: john.kirk@mpi-hd.mpg.de},
abstractNote = {We analyze the damping of strong, superluminal electromagnetic waves by radiation reaction and Compton drag in the context of pulsar winds. The associated radiation signature is found by estimating the efficiency and the characteristic radiation frequencies. Applying these estimates to the gamma-ray binary containing PSR B1259–63, we show that the GeV flare observed by the Fermi Large Area Telescope can be understood as inverse-Compton emission by particles scattering photons from the companion star, if the pulsar wind termination shock acquires a precursor of superluminal waves roughly 30 days after periastron. This requirement constrains the mass-loading factor of the wind μ=L/ N-dot mc{sup 2}, where L is the luminosity and N-dot is the rate of loss of electrons and positrons, to be roughly 6 × 10{sup 4}.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/776/1/40},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22270724}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 776,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}