Mechanism for the production of pulsar radio radiation
Recent theoretical studies have suggested that avalanches of electron-positron pairs are produced by spark discharges near the magnetic poles of pulsars. This pair production mechanism may result in a double-peaked particle distribution function. We investigate collective effects caused by a high-energy electron-positron beam traversing a low-energy electron-positron plasma for an astrophysically interesting range of physical parameters. The principal result of this paper is to identify transverse unstable waves whose phase propagation may occur at any arbitrary angle (other than zero) with respect to the magnetic field but whose group velocity is along the magnetic field and approximately the speed of light. It is suggested that the observed radio pulses from pulsars may be caused by the focusing of these transverse waves along the open field lines extending from a pulsar's polar cap to the light cylinder. (AIP)
- Research Organization:
- Astronomy Program, University of Maryland, College Park
- OSTI ID:
- 7238477
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 210:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
PULSARS
STAR MODELS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRON STARS
OSCILLATION MODES
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RADIATIONS
STARS
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources