Open AccessOn the self‐consistent model of an axisymmetric radio pulsar magnetosphere
Author(s) -
Beskin V. S.,
Malyshkin L. M.
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.1365-8711.1998.01665.x
Subject(s) - physics , pulsar , magnetosphere , rotational symmetry , neutron star , magnetic field , classical mechanics , current sheet , magnetohydrodynamics , electric field , field line , current (fluid) , instability , mechanics , computational physics , astrophysics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
We consider a model of axisymmetric neutron star magnetospheres. In our approach, the current density in the region of open field lines is constant and the returning current flows in a narrow layer along the separatrix. In this case, the stream equation describing the magnetic field structure is linear both in the open and closed regions; the main problem is matching the solutions along the separatrix. We demonstrate that it is the stability condition on the separatrix that allows us to obtain a unique solution of the problem. In particular, the zero point of magnetic field is shown to be located near the light cylinder. Moreover, the hypothesis of the existence of the non‐linear Ohm’s Law, connecting the potential drop in the pair creation region and the longitudinal electric current flowing in the magnetosphere, is confirmed.