Instability of a pulsar magnetosphere

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5035787

Pustil'nik, L A

A stability analysis is made for a pulsar magnetosphere in which particles ejected from the neutron-star surface by the electric field have collected. At the epoch when the density of the magnetospheric plasma exceeds a critical value rho/sub cr/, the magnetosphere should become destabilized, and a gutter or flute of plasma carrying the field should be thrust outward toward the light cylinder. The density rho/sub cr/ is determined as a function of the pulsar parameters M/sub 0/, ..cap omega.., and H/sub 0/. A numerical estimate is thereby obtained for the observable manifestations of the destabilization: the glitch ..delta cap omega../..cap omega.. in the pulsar rotation frequency, the mass M/sub asterisk/ of the material ejected, and the accumulation time T/sub cr/. These values are consistent with the glitches observed in the Crab Nebula and Vela pulsars. During the intervals between such ejections into the pulsar magnetosphere, oscillations should build up, serving to modulate the properties of the pulsar radiation on a time scale tau/sub approximately/9 or approx. =((0.2-0.3) ..cap omega..)/sup -1/. One important feature of these modes is a sharp rise in their amplitude and period up to the time the magnetosphere is destabilized. This effect would permit an experimental test of the correctness of the interpretation proposed, and it would also enable one to forecast the time when a glitch in the spin frequency should occur and plasma should be ejected into the space around the pulsar.

• Research Organization: Special Astrophysical Observatory, USSR Academy of Sciences
• OSTI ID: 5035787
• Journal Information: Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 21:4; ISSN SAAJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOTION
NEUTRON STARS
PLASMA
PULSARS
ROTATION
STAR MODELS
STARQUAKES
STARS