Curvature-radiation--pair-production model for. gamma. -ray pulsars

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1978 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/156486· OSTI ID:6569138

Harding, A K; Tademaru, E; Esposito, L W

Assuming that pulsar ..gamma..-rays are produced via curvature radiation of primary electrons near the neutron star and that they are attenuated only through the pair production process in strong electric and magnetic fields, we use a detailed model of the magnetosphere to calculate the resulting optical depths and pulse shapes. We consider both the effect of E.B=0 and E.Bnot =0 on the attenuation of the photons, and the effect of photon energy, rotation rate, and obliquity on the pulse shapes. It is found that pulsar rotation tends to increase pair production, causing large optical depths for the shortest period pulsars. The calculations also predict high-energy cutoffs and spectra for the observable ..gamma..-ray emission.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 6569138
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 225:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
PULSARS
GAMMA SPECTRA
STAR MODELS
COSMIC ELECTRONS
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC PHOTONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRON STARS
PAIR PRODUCTION
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
ATMOSPHERES
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FIELD THEORIES
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHOTONS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
640103* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources- (-1987)