On the light curve and spectra of x-rays and gamma-rays from the crab pulsar

We use a three-dimensional pulsar magnetosphere model to study the light cu rve and spectra of x-rays and gamma-rays from the Crab pulsar. In this mode l, the vertical size of the outer gap is first determined by a self-consist ent model in which the outer gap is limited by pair production from collisi ons of thermal photons produced by polar cap heating of backflow outer gap current and curvature photons emitted by gap accelerated charged particles. The transverse size of the outer gap is determined by local pair productio n conditions. In principle, tl,ere are two topologically disconnected outer gaps present in the magnetosphere of a pulsar, and both incoming and outgo ing particle flows are allowed. However, double-peak light curves with stro ng bridges are most common, Making use of the three-dimensional structure o f the outer gap and its local properties, we compare the results of our mod el with the light curve and phase-resolved spectra of the Crab pulsar.