Deceleration of infalling plasma in the atmospheres of accreting neutron stars. I. Isothermal atmospheres

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165051· OSTI ID:6325128

Miller, G S; Salpeter, E E; Wasserman, I

The stopping of infalling protons in a strong magnetic field is studied in detail using linear response theory and a Monte Carlo code. The calculations include both Coulomb collisions with atmospheric electrons and collective forces due to the resonant excitation of the atmospheric electron plasma modes by the impinging protons. Graphs are presented showing how both energy and momentum are deposited in the atmosphere by the flow. A striking dependence of the deceleration on the temperature is found which distinguishes the magnetic from the nonmagnetic process. 28 references.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• OSTI ID: 6325128
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 314; 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
BARYONS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEUTRON STARS
NUCLEONS
PROTONS
PULSARS
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STAR MODELS
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE