Production of pulsed emission from the Crab and VELA pulsars by the synchrotron mechanism

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (19) References (29) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Production of pulsed emission from the Crab and Vela pulsars by the synchrotron mechanism. Hardee, P. E. Abstract It is shown that synchrotron emission induced by the filamentary instability can explain the infrared, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray pulsed emission from the Crab pulsar. Instability of the plasma occurs when the energy density of the plasma parallel to the magnetic field in a frame of reference comoving with the plasma exceeds the magnetic tension. When this condition is satisfied, the plasma forms quasi-stationary self-pinched current filaments. Particles entering the filaments experience a Lorentz force whose magnitude is a function of the filamentary field and whose direction is perpendicular to the ambient field along which the particle velocity is directed. If filament growth is limited by magnetic trapping, then particles may be scattered. Synchrotron emission from scattered electrons and positrons will reproduce the average spectrum of pulsed emission from infrared through gamma-ray frequencies if the particle distribution is a power law with low-energy cutoff or turnover. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: February 1979 DOI: 10.1086/156805 Bibcode: 1979ApJ...227..958H Keywords: Crab Nebula; Pulsars; Pulsed Radiation; Stellar Radiation; Synchrotron Radiation; Flux Density; Lorentz Force; Magnetic Fields; Magnetohydrodynamic Stability; Magnetospheres; Astrophysics; Crab Nebula:Pulsars; Magnetospheres:Pulsars; Pulsars:Pulse Structure; Pulsars:Synchrotron Radiation full text sources ADS |