Open AccessWaves in a one‐dimensional magnetized relativistic pair plasma
Author(s) -
Lyutikov Maxim
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1998.01154.x
Subject(s) - physics , cherenkov radiation , plasma , magnetic field , polarization (electrochemistry) , cyclotron , relativistic plasma , astrophysical jet , computational physics , relativistic beaming , excited state , electron , linear polarization , neutron star , quantum electrodynamics , astrophysics , atomic physics , active galactic nucleus , optics , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , chemistry , detector , galaxy , laser
Normal modes of a one‐dimensional relativistically streaming electron–positron plasma in a superstrong magnetic field are considered, taking into account possible different bulk velocities and thermal effects. This physical picture corresponds to the plasma present on the open field lines of rotating neutron stars where the observed radio emission is generated. Various cases are considered: relativistic and non‐relativistic relative streaming of cold components, and relativistically hot distributions. A distinction between superluminous and subluminous waves (which can be excited by the Cherenkov effect) is clearly stated. In the low‐frequency regime the Cherenkov and cyclotron two‐stream instabilities occur. Polarization of the quasi‐transverse modes changes from circular for the propagation along magnetic field lines to linear for angles of propagation larger than some critical angle that depends on the relative velocity of the plasma components.