Current flow in pulsar magnetospheres

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Astrophys. J., v. 203, no. 1, pp. 209-212

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/154068· OSTI ID:4033313

Cheng, A; Ruderman, M; Sutherland, P

When particle flow is mainly outward through the light cylinder of a rotating pulsar magnetosphere, the resulting current flow leads to very large potential drops along field lines wherever $Omega$xB vanishes (as suggested by Holloway). These occur no matter what the sign of the charge above the magnetic polar cap. For fast pulsars such a gap potential drop is limited by pair production discharge. In such models current flow into and out of the pulsar cap is always carried by particles of the same sign (-$Omega$xB) unless the magnetic polar axis is nearly perpendicular to the spin axis. For the Crab pulsar, the gap potential at breakdown is approx.10$sup 14$ V, and the resulting radiation is mainly hard X-rays and $gamma$-rays up to 10$sup 11$ eV. The latter are expected to be emitted almost perpendicular to the magnetic axis and probably, therefore, should be observed almost 90degree earlier in phase than much lower energy pulsar emission. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, Columbia University
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-030565
• OSTI ID: 4033313
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., v. 203, no. 1, pp. 209-212, Journal Name: Astrophys. J., v. 203, no. 1, pp. 209-212; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*PULSARS-- STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
640102* --Physics Research--Astrophysics & Cosmology--Stars
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
EMISSION
GAMMA RADIATION
HARD X RADIATION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
N56200* --Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)--Stars
N56300 --Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)--Quasi-stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
NEUTRON STARS