GENERATION OF THE ELECTROSTATIC-FIELD IN THE PULSAR MAGNETOSPHERE PLASMA

The behavior of a relativistic electron-positron plasma in the pulsar magnetosphere is investigated. The equation of the motion of the magne tospheric plasma is discussed, from which it follows that, if the plas ma particle radial velocity V-r>c/root 2 (where c is the speed of ligh t), the centrifugal acceleration changes its sign and the particle bra king begins. The stability of the magnetospheric plasma with respect t o the radially oriented potential perturbations is discussed and the p ossibility of the electrostatic field generation in this plasma along the pulsar magnetic field lines is shown. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.