Particle acceleration in pulsar magnetospheres

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6293968

Baker, K B

This study is concerned with the structure of pulsar magnetospheres and the acceleration mechanism for charged particles in the magnetosphere. Model developed by P.A. Sturrock (1971) is followed and it is assumed that charged particles are accelerated from each polar cap of a pulsar. These particles produce gramma rays via curvatuve radiation which in turn produce electron-positron pairs which are ultimately responsible for the observed radio emission. This model requires large acceleration of the particles near the surface of the star. The required acceleration has not been produced in earlier pulsar models. A theorem has been developed which shows that particle acceleration cannot be expected when the angle between the magnetic field lines and the rotation axis is constant (e.g. radial field lines). If this angle is not constant, however, acceleration must occur. The more realistic model of an axisymmetric neutron star with a strong dipole magnetic field aligned with the rotation axis has been investigated. In this case acceleration occurs at large distances from the surface of the star. The magnitude of the current can be determined from this model and is found to be the same as estimated by Sturrock (1971). In the case of non-axisymmetric systems the acceleration is expected to occur nearer the surface of the star.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6293968
• 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
ACCELERATION
ATMOSPHERES
CHARGED PARTICLES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOTION
NEUTRON STARS
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
ROTATION
STAR MODELS
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES