Mechanism of decelerating the gas infalling onto magnetized neutron stars

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/161799· OSTI ID:6663895

Braun, A; Yahel, R Z

The problem of the deceleration of ionized hydrogen plasma is examined for the case in which the gas is infalling onto the surface of a strongly magnetized neutron star. We obtain the dynamic and thermal structure of the lower part of the accretion column by solving the time-independent hydrodynamic equations together with the radiation moment equations. Depending on the accretion rate per unit area we find that the deceleration of the infalling protons is achieved either by Coulomb friction with the ambient plasma at the lowest part of the column, or in a radiative collisional shock just above the surface. The possibility of collisionless, adiabatic shock is analyzed carefully. We find that such a shock front cannot exist above magnetized neutron stars, unless the accretion rate per unit are is smaller than approx.10/sup 4/ g cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/.

• Research Organization: Department of Theoretical Physics, Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
• OSTI ID: 6663895
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 278:1; 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
ADIABATIC PROCESSES
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
COULOMB ENERGY
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ION COLLISIONS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
FERMIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
ION COLLISIONS
IONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STARS
MECHANICS
NEUTRON STARS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
RADIATION PRESSURE
SHOCK WAVES
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS