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U.S. Department of Energy
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The import of the Alfven surface for the x-ray pulse formation in accreting pulsars

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7097896
A model is proposed for the X-ray pulsation of Her X-1 and Cen X-3. It is suggested that, if accretion onto a magnetized neutron star proceeds through the disk, the plasma layer occupying some part of the Alfven surface and spinning together with the neutron star regularly shields the bright spots at magnetic poles where the main accretion energy is released. This causes the observed hard X-ray flux to pulsate. The plasma layer on the Alfven surface is a source of weakly pulsating soft X-ray flux. This mechanism is exemplified for Her X-1.
Research Organization:
AN SSSR, Moscow. Inst. Kosmicheskikh Issledovanij
OSTI ID:
7097896
Report Number(s):
N-77-10988; PR-267
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English