SPIN-DOWN OF RADIO PULSARS

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.