Two-stream instability in pulsar magnetospheres

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165546· OSTI ID:5748864

Usov, V V

If the electron-positron plasma flow from the pulsar environment is stationary, the two-stream instability does not have enough time to develop in the pulsar magnetosphere. In that case the outflowing electron-positron plasma gathers into separate clouds. The clouds move along magnetic field lines and disperse as they go farther from the pulsar. At a distance of about 10 to the 8th cm from the pulsar surface, the high-energy particles of a given cloud catch up with the low-energy particles that belong to the cloud going ahead of it. In this region of a pulsar magnetosphere, the energy distribution of plasma particles is two-humped, and a two-stream instability may develop. The growth rate of the instability is quite sufficient for its development. 17 references.

• Research Organization: Institut Kosmicheskikh Issledovanii, Moscow, USSR
• OSTI ID: 5748864
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 320; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PAIR PRODUCTION
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PULSARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
TWO-STREAM INSTABILITY