Comptonization of thermal photons by relativistic electron beams

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167057· OSTI ID:6287712

Daugherty, J K; Harding, A K

This paper presents a numerical calculation of gamma-ray emission produced by Compton scattering of relativistic electron beams on background thermal radiation, which includes spatial dependence of electron energy losses and cyclotron resonance scattering in a strong magnetic field. In the first version, the scattering is described by the fully relativistic Klein-Nishina cross section, but the magnetic field is neglected. In the second version, the scattering is described by the magnetic resonant cross section in the Thomson limit. It is found that when the magnetic field is not included, electron energy losses are important only at higher neutron star surface temperatures (T about 3,000,000 K). In the presence of a strong magnetic field, (10 to the 12th G), resonant scattering greatly increases electron energy losses, making scattering very efficient even at lower surface temperatures. Resulting photon and electron spectra for both cases ae discussed in relation to models for pulsar X-ray and gamma-ray emission. 26 references.

• Research Organization: North Carolina Univ., Asheville (USA); NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6287712
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 336; 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
BASIC INTERACTIONS
BEAMS
COMPTON EFFECT
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CYCLOTRON RESONANCE
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON BEAMS
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
GAMMA RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTON BEAMS
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON STARS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PARTICLE BEAMS
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RESONANCE
SCATTERING
SPECTRA
STAR MODELS
STARS
STELLAR RADIATION
THERMAL RADIATION
X RADIATION