Beaming of radiation from an accreting magnetic neutron star and the x-ray pulsars

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · Astron. Astrophys., v. 25, no. 2, pp. 233-239

OSTI ID:4380234

Gnedin, Yu N; Sunyaev, R A

As a result of accretion, a neutron star with a strong magnetic field H ~ 10/sub 10/ to 10/sup 12/ Gauss may exhibit characteristics of an x-ray pulsar with a knife radiation pattern. The infalling gas is channeled to the magnetic pole regions where its kinetic energy is released as it strikes the star surface. The cyclotron radiation at high gyrofrequency harmonics (lying in the x-ray range) determines the rate of energy removal from the hot plasma (kT/sub e~/ 10 to 100 keV). The net harmonic radiation spectrum resembles the spectrum of bremsstrahlung radiation from an optically thin plasma, but with a lower temperature. Radiation at high harmonics is characterized by a strong beaming prpendicular to the magnetic field lines of force. However the situation is also possible, when the radiating electrons are relativistic and move at small pitch angles to the magnetic field. In this case the Doppler-shifted cyclotron radiation at nu << &nn/sub H/ is directed along magnetic field, forming the pencil diagram. ( auth)

• Research Organization: Ioffe Inst. of Physics and Tech., Leningrad
• NSA Number: NSA-29-013493
• OSTI ID: 4380234
• Journal Information: Astron. Astrophys., v. 25, no. 2, pp. 233-239, Journal Name: Astron. Astrophys., v. 25, no. 2, pp. 233-239; ISSN AAEJA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*NEUTRON STARS-- STAR ACCRETION
*PULSARS-- COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
CYCLOTRON RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
N56300* --Physics (Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology)--Quasi-stellar
Radio &amp; X-Ray Sources