Role of the Alfven surface in forming x-ray pulses in accreting pulsars

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:7321027

Basko, M M; Syunyaev, R A

A straightforward analysis of the observational evidence shows that the pulsations in the x-ray flux from the sources Her X-1 and Cen X-3 cannot be explained unless one invokes a special mechanism to generate pulses of the shape observed. In the event of disk accretion onto a magnetized neutron star, the plasma layer flowing along the Alfven surface and spinning together with the star will regularly shield from the observer the bright spots at the magnetic poles where the energy of the infalling gas is released. This effect will produce pulsations in the hard x-ray flux observed. The plasma layer on the Alfven surface will be a source of soft x rays, which should also pulsate weakly.

• Research Organization: Institute for Space Research, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow
• OSTI ID: 7321027
• Journal Information: Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 20:5; ISSN SAAJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
ATMOSPHERES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
LUMINOSITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEUTRON STARS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
PULSARS
PULSES
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STAR MODELS
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES