Accretion by rotating magnetic neutron stars. I - Flow of matter inside the magnetosphere and its implications for spin-up and spin-down of the star

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (190) References (26) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Accretion by rotating magnetic neutron stars. I. Flow of matter inside the magnetosphere and its implications for spin-up and spin-down of the star. Ghosh, P. ; Lamb, F. K. ; Pethick, C. J. Abstract We investigate the flow of accreting matter and the configuration of the magnetic field inside the magnetosphere of a rotating neutron star. We assume that the magnetic field of the star has a symmetry axis which is aligned with the rotation axis, that the accreting plasma becomes threaded by the stellar magnetic field near the magneto spheric boundary, and that the star is not a fast rotator. We show that for bright X-ray sources, flow within the Alfve'n surface is well described by the equations of magnetohydrodynamics and that the matter moves along field lines when viewed in the frame corotating with the star. In the case of slow rotators, matter inside the Alfve'n surface rotates in a sense opposite that of the net angular momentum flux toward the star. We also study the torque exerted on the star by the accreting matter and the flow of energy within the magnetosphere and the transition region at the magnetospheric boundary, when the star accretes matter from a disk. Finally, we comment briefly on the implications of our results for pulsating X-ray sources. Subject headings: hydromagnetics - stars: accretion - stars: magnetic - stars: neutron - stars: rotation Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: October 1977 DOI: 10.1086/155606 Bibcode: 1977ApJ...217..578G Keywords: Magnetic Field Configurations; Magnetospheric Instability; Neutron Stars; Spin Dynamics; Stellar Magnetospheres; Stellar Mass Accretion; Stellar Rotation; Angular Momentum; Energy Transfer; Lines Of Force; Magnetic Stars; Stellar Magnetic Fields; Torque; X Ray Sources; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | Related Materials (2) Part 2: 1979ApJ...232..259G Part 3: 1979ApJ...234..296G