ADJUSTMENT OF THE ELECTRIC CHARGE AND CURRENT IN PULSAR MAGNETOSPHERES

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/696/1/320; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)· OSTI ID:21300746

Lyubarsky, Yuri ^[1]

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1. Physics Department, Ben-Gurion University, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105 (Israel)

We present a simple numerical model of the plasma flow within the open field line tube in the pulsar magnetosphere. We study how the plasma screens the rotationally induced electric field and maintains the electric current demanded by the global structure of the magnetosphere. We show that even though bulk of the plasma moves outwards with relativistic velocities, a small fraction of particles is continuously redirected back forming reverse plasma flows. The density and composition (positrons or electrons, or both) of these reverse flows are determined by the distribution of the Goldreich-Julian charge density along the tube and by the global magnetospheric current. These reverse flows could significantly affect the process of the pair plasma production in the polar cap accelerator. Our simulations also show that formation of the reverse flows is accompanied by the generation of long-wavelength plasma oscillations, which could be converted, via the induced scattering on the bulk plasma flow, into the observed radio emission.

• OSTI ID: 21300746
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 696; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ACCELERATORS
CHARGE DENSITY
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
PLASMA
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PLASMA WAVES
POSITRONS
PULSARS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SIMULATION