Abstract
We conclude that the magnetospheric structure around an aligned rotating magnetized neutron star, in the case of a completely charge-separated plasma, consists of a dome of charge about the polar caps and an equatorial disk of opposite charge which, together, entirely envelope the surface but do not fill the magnetosphere. Although the aligned rotator is a ‘standard model’ for analyzing pulsar emission, the magnetosphere we obtain need not emit particles and need not generate a stellar wind, contrary to previous expectations. Pair production only seems to modify the detailed shape of the dome and disk, such modification serving to shut off further pair production. Such a magnetohydrodynamically inactive object may have difficulty simulating pulsar emission.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ardavan, M.: 1976,Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 175, 645.
Goldreich, P. A. and Julian, W. H.: 1969,Astrophys. J. 157, 869.
Holloway, N. J.: 1973,Nature (Phys. Sci.) 246, 6.
Jackson, E. A.: 1976,Astrophys. J. 206, 831.
Jackson, E. A.: 1979, University of Illinois preprint.
Mestel, L., Wright, G. A. E. and Westfold, K. C.: 1976,Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 175, 257.
Michel, F. C.: 1975,Astrophys. J. 196, 579.
Michel, F. C.: 1979,Astrophys. J. 227, 579.
Okamoto, I.: 1975,Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 170, 81.
Ruderman, M. A. and Sutherland, P. G.: 1975,Astrophys. J. 196, 51.
Scharlemann, E. T., Arons, J. and Fawley, W. M.: 1978,Astrophys. J. 222, 297.
Sturrock, P. A.: 1971,Astrophys. J. 196, 529.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research support in part by the National Science Foundation under grant AST 77-22675.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Michel, F.C. The quiet aligned rotator. Astrophys Space Sci 72, 175–181 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642176
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642176