On the mechanism of X-ray emission from radio pulsars

Abstract

We discuss the correlations between the luminosities of radio pulsars in various frequency ranges and the magnetic fields on the light cylinder. These correlations suggest that the observed emission is generated in outer layers of the pulsar magnetospheres by the synchrotron mechanism. To calculate the distribution functions of the relativistic particles in the generation region, we use a model of quasi- linear interactions between the waves excited by cyclotron instability and particles of the primary beam and the secondary electron-positron plasma. We derive a formula for calculating the X-ray luminosity Lx of radio pulsars. A strong correlation was found between Lx and the parameter ˙ P−15/P 3.5 ,w hereP is the neutron-star rotation period, in close agreement with this formula. The latter makes it possible to predict the detection of X-ray emission from more than a hundred (114) known radio pulsars. We show that the Lorentz factors of the secondary particles are small (γp =1 .5-8.5), implying that the magnetic field near the neutron-star surface in these objects is multipolar. It follows from our model that almost all of the millisecond pulsars must emit X-ray synchrotron radiation. This conclusion differs from predictions of other models and can be used to test the theory under consideration. The list of potential X-ray radiators presented here can be used to search for X-ray sources with existing instruments. c � 2003 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".