SPIN-DOWN OF RADIO PULSARS

Authors
Citation
Vs. Beskin, SPIN-DOWN OF RADIO PULSARS, Contemporary Physics, 34(3), 1993, pp. 131-145
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
ISSN journal
00107514
Volume
34
Issue
3
Year of publication
1993
Pages
131 - 145
Database
ISI
SICI code
0010-7514(1993)34:3<131:SORP>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
The physical basis for the whole complex of processes proceeding in th e pulsar magnetosphere proves to be very simple and natural; all this results from fast rotation in a vacuum of a strong magnetized conducti ng body, that is a neutron star. The very high electric and magnetic f ields lead to the vacuum 'breakdown', resulting in the generation of e lectron-positron pairs near the star surface. These particles create a n electric current circulating in the pulsar magnetosphere. It is the ponderomotive Ampere force acting from this current to a neutron star surface that slows down the pulsar rotation.