A MODEL FOR THE BINARY PULSAR RADIO ECLIPSE

A problem of the binary pulsar radio eclipses is considered. Recent th eoretical work concerning this problem is discussed and a plasma mecha nism of radio eclipses in the PSR B1957+20 binary system is presented. The companion star is assumed to be a degenerate white dwarf with nea rly dipolar magnetosphere filled with relativistic particles of the pu lsar wind. It is argued that radio waves are strongly damped in the co mpanion's magnetosphere due to the cyclotron resonance with particles of the electron-positron plasma. The large, stable, continuous and fre quency-dependent eclipses should occur as a result of this process, wh ich agrees well with observations. Possible mechanisms of generation o f the optical and high-energy emission are also suggested in the frame work of the presented model.