Electron-positron cascade in pulsar outer gaps

Journal Article · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.23.2142· OSTI ID:6499379

Ray, A; Benford, G

Charge separation occurs in corotating magnetospheres where WxB = 0. Such sites form ''outer gaps'' where electrons can be accelerated to g/sub e/roughly-equal10/sup 7/. These radiate gamma rays, which can collide with x rays from the hot pulsar surface, creating electron-positron (e/sup + -/) pairs. These pairs constitute the discharge in the outer gap, and may be responsible for the coherent radio emission from pulsars. We calculate the number of pairs produced per primary beam electron and their energy spectrum and discuss the growth rates of various plasma instabilities in the resulting relativistic streams. Many modes prove to be rapidly growing.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, University of California, Irvine, California 92717
• OSTI ID: 6499379
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 23:10; ISSN PRVDA
• 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
ANTILEPTONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTIPARTICLES
CASCADE SHOWERS
CHARGE DENSITY
COHERENT PRODUCTION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MOTION
PAIR PRODUCTION
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
PLASMA INSTABILITY
POSITRONS
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
ROTATION
SHOWERS
SPECTRA
X RADIATION