Influence of vacuum polarization by a magnetic field on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a plasma

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979 · Sov. Phys. - JETP (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5911356

Pavlov, G G; Shibanov, Y A

The influence of polarization of the electron--positron vacuum by a magnetic field B on the absorption coefficients and refractive indices, and also on the polarization of normal waves in a magnetoactive plasma is considered. If the plasma density is N < or approx. = N/sub m/ = 4.5 x 10/sup 28/ (B/B/sub 0/)/sup 4/ cm/sup -3/, where B/sub 0/ = 4.4 x 10/sup 13/ G, this influence significantly changes the polarization, spectrum, and directional diagram of the plasma emission. In particular, near the so-called critical frequencies ..omega../sub c1,2/ < ..omega../sub B/ = eB/mc at which the influences of the plasma and the vacuum on the linear polarizations are compensated, the vacuum effects change linear polarization of the radiation into circular polarization, while for frequencies ..omega.. >> ..omega../sub B/ they change circular into linear polarization. The emission spectrum of an optically thick plasma in the region of the critical frequencies has spectral features in the form of absorption or emission lines. Near the critical frequencies, the directional diagram of the emission of an optically thick plasma contracts strongly to the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field (giving rise to a fan diagram), and side lobes appear. These effects must be manifested in the emission of cosmic objects with a strong magnetic field. In particular, the spectral features in the region of the critical frequencies could imitate the ''cyclotron'' lines observed in x-ray pulsars.

• Research Organization: A. F. Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, USSR Academy of Sciences
• OSTI ID: 5911356
• Journal Information: Sov. Phys. - JETP (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Vol. 49:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
PULSARS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
OPTICALLY THICK PLASMA
POLARIZATION
REFRACTIVITY
VACUUM POLARIZATION
WAVE PROPAGATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
640103* - Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
&amp; X-Ray Sources- (-1987)