Does a steady axisymmetric pulsar magnetosphere accelerate charges
The force-free axisymmetric pulsar magnetosphere is examined, including the inertial effects of a two-fluid plasma. Strictly speaking, only electrostatic acceleration is possible. This is not the case, however, for charged particles which are constrained to flow along rigidly corotating, force- free magnetic field lines. The integrals of the motion and the electromagnetic constraints together yield an algebraic set that describes completely this constrained particle acceleration. It is found as a function of boundary conditions at the surface of the star. This solution may emulate the inertial particle acceleration of the oblique rotator. ''Inertial sling'' solutions, yielding particles with high $gamma$'s and corotationally dominated motion, are possible only in magnetospheres for which the poloidal component of the magnetic field dominates sufficiently close to the light cylinder (unless the field is swept forward). The general theory is applied numerically and analytically to a two-fluid rotating monopole. Electrostatic acceleration is found not to be significantly responsible for particle acceleration in this case.
- Research Organization:
- Astronomy Group, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-33-017997
- OSTI ID:
- 4113955
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Vol. 201; ISSN 0004-637X
- Publisher:
- Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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