IS IT FEASIBLE TO OBSERVE NEUTRON-STARS VIA THEIR DIRECT MODE OF MAGNETIC-DIPOLE RADIATION

This communication deals with the observation issue of neutron stars d irectly via their magnetic-dipole radiation. The bremsstrahlung absorp tion phenomenon is introduced in this context, although the observatio n of neutron stars via their magnetic-dipole radiation has already bee n treated in the literature for more than two decades. The evaluation of the bremsstrahlung absorption indicates that the absorption coeffic ient is relatively large. As a result, the magnetic-dipole radiation o f the prospective neutron stars, from any reasonable distance is stron gly attenuated. Therefore, we conclude that the observation of neutron stars via their low-frequency magnetic-dipole radiation is apparently not feasible. Although the bremsstrahlung was already treated by Lipu nov, our present conclusion differs significantly from his results. Th e first part of the article reviews comprehensively the relatively lon g history of the idea of detecting neutron stars through their direct mode of magnetic-dipole radiation.