Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What Pulsar High-Energy Emission Model Survives?

Electrodynamical Considerations

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
High-Energy Emission from Pulsars and their Systems

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings ((ASSSP))

Abstract

We explore particle accelerator electrodynamics in the magnetosphere of a rapidly rotating neutron star (NS). We address the importance of a self-consistent treatment of pair production, solving the Maxwell and Boltzmann equations simultaneously. It is demonstrated that the accelerator solution is obtained if we specify only the following four parameters: the NS spin period, magnetic dipole moment, magnetic inclination angle with respect to the rotation axis, and the NS surface temperature. Applying the scheme to the Crab pulsar, we show that the solution reproduces the gamma-ray observations at least qualitatively and that the solution corresponds to a quantitative extension of phenomenological outer-gap models. We also apply it to the slot-gap model, a geometrically thin version of the pair-starved polarcap (PSPC) model, to show that this alternativemodel predicts too small photon flux compared to observations. It is discussed that the PSPC model is electrodynamically vulnerable to pair production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Aharonian F.A., Bogovalog S.V.: Exploring physics of rotation pulsars with sub-10GeV imaging a tmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. New A. 8, 85–103 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Arons J., Scharlemann E.T.: Pair formation above pulsar polar caps: structure of the low altitude acceleration zone. Astrophys J. 231, 854–79 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Arons J.: Pair creation above pulsar polar caps: Geometrical structure and energetics of slot gaps. Astrophys J. 266, 215–41 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bai, X.N., Spitkovsky, A.: Uncertainties of modeling gamma-ray pulsar light curves using vacuum dipole magnetic field. Astrophys J. 715, 1270–81 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bai, X.N., Spitkovsky, A.: Modeling of gamma-ray pulsar light curves using the force-free magnetic field. Astrophys J. 715, 1282–1301 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Beskin V.S., Istomin Ya.N., Par’ev I.V.: Filling the magnetosphere of a supermassive blackhole with plasma. Soviet Astron. 36, 642–649 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Borione A., Catanese M.A., Chantell M.C. et al.: A search for ultra-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the Crab nebula pulsar. Astrophys J. 481, 313–326 (1997).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Camenzind M.: Centrifugally driven MHD-winds in active galactic nuclei. Astron Astroph. 156, 137–51 (1986a).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Camenzind M.: Hydromagnetic flows from rapidly rotating compact objects I. Cold relativistic flows from rapid rotators. Astron Astroph.162, 32–44 (1986b)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cheng K.S., Ho C., Ruderman, M.: Energetic radiation from rapidly spinning pulsars. I. Outer gap magnetopheric gaps. Astrophys J. 300, 500–21 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cheng K.S., Ho C., Ruderman, M.: Energetic radiation from rapidly spinning pulsars. II. Vela and Crab. Astrophys J. 300, 522–539 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Cheng K.S., Zhang J.L.: General radiation formulae for a relativistic charged particle moving in curved magnetic field lines: The synchrocurvature radiation mechanism. Astrophys J. 463, 271–283 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cheng K.S., Ruderman M., Zhang L.: A three-dimensional outer magnetospheric gap model for gamma-ray pulsars: Geometry, pair production, emission morphologies, and phaseresolved spectra. Astrophys J. 537, 964–76 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Chiang J., Romani R.W.: Gamma-radiation from pulsar magnetospheric gaps. Astrophys J. 400, 629–37 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chiang J., Romani R.W.: An outer gap model for high-energy emission from rotationpowered pulsars. Astrophys J. 436, 754–61 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Daugherty J.K., Harding A.K.: Electromagnetic cascades in pulsars. Astrophys J. 252, 337– 47 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  17. de Naurois M., Holder J., Bazer-bachi R.: Measurement of the Crab flux above 60 GeV with the CELESTE cerenkov telescope. Astrophys J. 566, 343–57 (2002).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Dermer C.D., Sturner S.J.: On the spectra and pulse profiles of gamma-ray pulsars. Astrophys J. 420, L75–78 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dyks Y., Rudak B.: Two-pole causticmodel for high-energy light curves of pulsars. Astrophys J. 598, 1201–6 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Dyks Y., Harding A.K., Rudak B.: Relativistic effects and polarization in three high-energy pulsar models. Astrophys J. 606, 1125–42 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Fierro J.M.,Michelson P.F., Nolan P.L.: Phase-resolved studies of the high-energy gamma-ray emission from the Crab, Geminga, and Vela pulsars. Astrophys J. 494, 734–46 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Goldreich P., Julian W.H.: Pulsar electrodynamics. Astrophys J. 157, 869–80 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Harding A.K., Tademaru E., Esposito L.S.: A curvature-radiation-pari-production model for gamma-ray pulsars. Astrophys J. 225, 226–36 (1978)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Harding A.K., Stern J.V., Dyks J., Frackowiak M.: High-altitude emission from pulsar slot gaps: the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 680, 1378–1393 (2008) (HSDF08).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Harnden F.R. Jr, Seward F.D.: Einstein observations of the Crab nebula pulsar. Astrophys J. 283, 279–85 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hillas A.M., Akerof C.W., Biller S.D.f et al. The spectrum of TeV gamma rays from the Crab nebula. Astrophys J 503, 744–59 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hirotani K., Okamoto I.: Pair production in a force-free magnetosphere around a supermassive black hole. Astrophys J. 497, 563–72 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hirotani K., Shibata S.: One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer-gap accelerator gamma-ray production due to curvature radiation. Mon. Not. R. Astr. Soc. 308, 54–66 (1999a).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Hirotani K., Shibata S.: One-dimensional electric field structure of an outer-gap accelerator gamma-ray production due to inverse Compton scatterings. Mon. Not. R. Astr. Soc. 308, 67– 76 (1999b).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hirotani K., Harding A.K., Shibata S.: Electrodynamics of outer-gap accelerator: formation of soft power-law spectrum between 100 MeV and 3 GeV. Astrophys J. 591, 334–53 (2003) (HHS03).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hirotani K.: Particle accelerator in pulsar magnetosphere: super-Goldreich-Julian current with ion emission from the neutron star surface. Astrophys J. 652, 1475–93 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Hirotani K.: High-energy emission from pulsar outer magnetospheres. Astrophys J. 662, 1173–76 (2007a).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hirotani K.: High-energy emission from pulsar magnetospheres. MPLA 21(17), 1319–37 (brief review) (2007b).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Hirotani K.: Outer-gap vs. slot-gap models for pular high energy emissions: The case of the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 688, L25–28 (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kanbach G., Arzoumanian Z., Bertsch D.L. et al.: EGRET observations of the Vela pulsar, PSR0833-45. Astron Astroph. 289, 855–67 (1994).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Knight F.K.: Observations and interpretations of the pulsed emission from the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 260, 538–52 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kuiper L., Hermsen W., Bennet K., Carraminana A., Lyne A., McConnell M., Schonfelder V.: Detection of pulsed MeV emission from PSR B1951+32 by COMPTEL. Astron Astroph 337, 421–32 (1998).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Kuiper L., Hermsen W., Cusumano G., Diehl R., Schoenfelder V., Strong A., Bennet K., McConnel M.L.: The Crab pulsar in the 0.75-30 MeV range as seen by CGRO COMPTEL. Astron Astroph. 378, 918–35 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Lense J, Thirring H.: Phys. Z. 19, 156 (1918) (English translation in Gen. Relativ. Gravitation 1984; 16: 711).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Lessard R.W., Bond I.H.f, Bradbury S.M. et al.: Search for pulsed TeV gamma-ray emission from the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 531, 432–8 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Matz S.M., Ulmer M.P., Grabelsky D.A. et al.: The pulsed hard X-ray spectrum of PSR B1509-58. Astrophys J. 434, 288-91 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Mayer-Hasselwander H.A., Bertsch D.L., Brazier K.T.S. et al.: High-energy gamma radiation from Geminga observed by EGRET. Astrophys J. 421, 276–83 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Mestel L. Pulsars-Oblique rotator model with dense magnetosphere. Nature 233, 149 (1971).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. Mestel L., Robertson J.A., Wang Y.-M. et al.: The axisymmetric pulsars magnetosphere. M.N.R.A.S. 217, 443–484 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Mineo T., Ferrigno C., Foschini L., Segreto A., Cusumano G., Malaguti G., Cocco G.D., Labanti C.: INTEGRAL observations of the Crab pulsar. Astron Astroph. 450, 617–23 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Much R., Bennett K., Buccheri R. et al.: COMTEL observations of the Crab during the CGRO sky survey. Astron Astroph. 299, 435–45 (1995).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. Muslimov A.G., Tsygan A.I.: General relativistic electric potential drops above pulsar polar caps. Mon. Not. R. Astr. Soc. 255, 61–70 (1992) (MT92).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Muslimov A.G., Harding A.K.: Extended acceleration in slot gaps and pulsar high-energy emission. Astrophys J. 588, 430–40 (2003) (MH03).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Muslimov A.G., Harding A.K.: High-altitude particle accelation and radiation in pulsar slot gaps. Astrophys J. 606, 1143–53 (2004) (MH04).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Nolan P.L., Arzoumanian Z., Bertsch D.L. et al.: Observations of the Crab pulsar and nebula by the EGRET telescope on the COMPTON GAMMA-RAY OBSERVATORY. Astrophys J. 409; 697–704 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Petri, J.: High-energy pulses and phase-resolved spectra by inverse-Compton emission in the pulsar striped wind - Application to Geminga. Astron. & Astroph. in press (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Pravdo S.H., Serlemitsos P.J.: X-ray spectra of the Crab pulsar and nebula. Astrophys J 246, 484–8 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. Ramanamurthy P.V., Bertsch D.L., Dingus B.L. et al.: EGRET detection of pulsed gamma radiation from PSR B1951+32. Astrophys J. 447, L109–12 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Reville, B., Kirk, J.G.: Linear Acceleration Emission in Pulsar Magnetospheres. Astrophys J. 715, 186–193 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. Romani R.W.,Yadigaroglu I.A.: Gamma-ray pulsars: emission zones and viewing geometries. Astrophys J. 438, 314–21 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  56. Romani R.W.: Gamma-ray pulsars: radiation processes in the outer magnetosphere. Astrophys J. 470, 469–78 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. Romani R.W., Watters K.P.: Constraining pulsar magnetosphere geometry with gamma-ray light curves. Astrophys J. 714, 810–24 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. Sturner S.J., Dermer C.D., Michel F.C.: Magnetic Compton-induced pair cascade model for gamma-ray pulsars. Astrophys J. 445, 736–755 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  59. Tang A.P.S., Takata J., Jia J.J., Cheng K.S.: A re-visit of the phase-resolved X-ray and gammaray spectra of the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 676, 562–72 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. Takata J., Shibata S., Hirotani K., Chang H.K.: A two-dimensional electrodynamical outer gap model for gamma-ray pulsars: gamma-ray spectrum. Mon. Not. R. Astr. Soc. 366, 1310– 28 (2006).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. Takata J., Chang H.K., Cheng K.S.: Polarization of high-energy emission from the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 656, 1044–55 (2007b).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. Takata J., Chang H.K., Shibata S.: Particle acceleration and non-thermal emission in pulsar outer magnetosphere. Mon. Not. R. Astr. Soc. 386, 748–58 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  63. Tanimori T., Sakurazawa K., Dazeley S.A. et al.: Detection of gamma rays of up to 50 TeV from the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 492, L33–36 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  64. Thompson D.J., Bailes M., Bertsch D.L. et al.: EGRET observations of high-energy gamma radiation from PSR B1706-44. Astrophys J. 465, 385–92 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  65. Ulmer M.P., Lomatch S., Matz S.M. et al.: OSSE observations of the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 432, 228–238 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  66. Venter, C., Harding, A.K., Guillemot, L.: Astrophys J. 707, 800–822 (2009).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  67. Weisskopf M.C., O’Dell S.L., Paerels F., Elsner R.F., Becker W., Tennant A.F., Swartz D.A.: Chandra phase-resolved X-ray spectoscopy of the Crab pulsar. Astrophys J. 601, 1050–7 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  68. Zhang J.L., Cheng K.S.: High-energy radiation from rapidly spinning pulsars with thick outer gaps. Astrophys J. 487, 370–9 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) / Theoretical Institute for Advanced Research in Astrophysics (TIARA), 23-141, Taipei, Taiwan

    Kouichi Hirotani

Authors
  1. Kouichi Hirotani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kouichi Hirotani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Ciències de l'Espai, CSIC Bellaterra, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain

    Diego F. Torres

  2. Inst. Ciències de l'Espai, CSIC Bellaterra, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain

    Nanda Rea

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Hirotani, K. (2011). What Pulsar High-Energy Emission Model Survives?. In: Torres, D., Rea, N. (eds) High-Energy Emission from Pulsars and their Systems. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17251-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17251-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-17250-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-17251-9

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation