Absorption of gamma-ray photons in a vacuum neutron star magnetosphere: I. Electron-positron pair production

Journal Article · Sat Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063776111090056· OSTI ID:22028007

The production of electron-positron pairs in a vacuum neutron star magnetosphere is investigated for both low (compared to the Schwinger one) and high magnetic fields. The case of a strong longitudinal electric field where the produced electrons and positrons acquire a stationary Lorentz factor in a short time is considered. The source of electron-positron pairs has been calculated with allowance made for the pair production by curvature and synchrotron photons. Synchrotron photons are shown to make a major contribution to the total pair production rate in a weak magnetic field. At the same time, the contribution from bremsstrahlung photons may be neglected. The existence of a time delay due to the finiteness of the electron and positron acceleration time leads to a great reduction in the electron-positron plasma generation rate compared to the case of a zero time delay. The effective local source of electron-positron pairs has been constructed. It can be used in the hydrodynamic equations that describe the development of a cascade after the absorption of a photon from the cosmic gamma-ray background in a neutron star magnetosphere.

• OSTI ID: 22028007
• Journal Information: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 113; ISSN JTPHES; ISSN 1063-7761
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ACCELERATION
ASTROPHYSICS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC PHOTONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
GAMMA RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRON STARS
PAIR PRODUCTION
POSITRONS
PULSARS
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
TIME DELAY