Particle acceleration in accreting magnetospheres

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166131· OSTI ID:7129309

Katz, J I; Smith, I A

The possibility that energetic protons are accelerated within the closed magnetosphere of accreting neutron stars is considered. The accelerating mechanism is suggested to be plasma turbulence excited by the accretion flow. Rough estimates show that this mechanism may be capable of accelerating protons to the energies of about 10 to the 16th eV required to explain observations of about 10 to the 15th eV gamma rays from some thermal X-ray sources. Proton synchrotron radiation may be observable at energies ranging from the infrared to about GeV gamma rays. 19 references.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., Saint Louis, MO (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7129309
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 326; 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
ACCELERATION
ATMOSPHERES
BARYONS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NEUTRON STARS
NUCLEONS
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION