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Theory of NP 0532 pulsar radiation and the nature of the activity of the Crab Nebula

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Abstract

Plasma processes in the magnetospheres of pulsars are considered. A self-consistent radiation model of the pulsar NP 0532 and the Crab Nebula is presented. It is based on the consideration of cyclotron instability in a relativistic electron-positron plasma in a strong magnetic field. This instability onsets near the light cylinder of pulsar NP 0532. The pitch-angle and energy distribution of particles, caused by cyclotron instability development is found. It is shown that X- and γ-ray radiation of the pulsar is explained by the synchrotron radiation of beam particles. The scattering of excited oscillations on plasma particles is responsible for nonzero pitch-angles of the latter. As a result, synchrotron radiation originates which is within optical frequencies. The synchrotron luminosity evaluated coincides with that observed for NP 0532 in that spectral region. Cyclotron waves are pumped to lower frequencies due to nonlinear scattering by plasma particles and leave the pulsar magnetosphere as observable radio waves.

The spectrum of ultra-relativistic electron-positron pairs ejected from the NP 0532 pulsar magnetosphere into the Crab Nebula is calculated. The expected spectrum of the synchrotron radiation of these particles in the Nebula agrees well with its observed spectrum at optical and X-ray frequencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, GSSR, Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi, U.S.S.R.

    J. G. Lominadze & G. Z. Machabeli

  2. Space Research Institute, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, U.S.S.R.

    V. V. Usov

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  1. J. G. Lominadze
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  2. G. Z. Machabeli
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  3. V. V. Usov
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Lominadze, J.G., Machabeli, G.Z. & Usov, V.V. Theory of NP 0532 pulsar radiation and the nature of the activity of the Crab Nebula. Astrophys Space Sci 90, 19–43 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00651544

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00651544

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