Abstract
Simon and Strange recently argued1 that one of the processes (bremsstrahlung in the 0→0 transition in a magnetic field) which we proposed2 as the chief mechanism of emission from pulsars cannot give rise to a negative absorption coefficient. They based their argument on an existing formula for the absorption coefficient valid only for synchrotron radiation. Further, their expression for the emissivity was found by us to be applicable only to the high quantum number case. When the correct formula for the absorption coefficient was used in conjunction with the emissivity valid for the 0→0 transition, we found that the absorption coefficient can become negative and amplification of electromagnetic waves is possible from the 0→0 bremsstrahlung process.
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References
Simon, M., and Strange, D. L. P., Nature, 244, 49 (1969).
Chiu, H.-Y., and Canuto, V., Phys. Rev. Lett., 22, 415 (1969).
Behefi, G., Radiation Processes in Plasmas, 52 (John Wiley, New York, 1966).
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CHIU, HY., CANUTO, V. Bremsstrahlung Radiation in an Intense Magnetic Field and Emission from Pulsars. Nature 225, 1230–1231 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/2251230a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2251230a0
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