Open AccessGeneral relativistic electromagnetic fields of a slowly rotating magnetized neutron star – I. Formulation of the equations
Author(s) -
Rezzolla L.,
Ahmedov B. J.,
Miller J. C.
Publication year - 2001
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.1365-8711.2001.04161.x
Subject(s) - physics , neutron star , magnetar , general relativity , pulsar , classical mechanics , magnetic field , magnetic dipole , dipole , gravitational field , rotation (mathematics) , induction equation , maxwell's equations , quantum electrodynamics , astrophysics , magnetohydrodynamics , quantum mechanics , geometry , mathematics
We present analytic solutions of Maxwell equations in the internal and external background space–time of a slowly rotating magnetized neutron star. The star is considered isolated and in vacuum, with a dipolar magnetic field not aligned with the axis of rotation. With respect to a flat space–time solution, general relativity introduces corrections related both to the monopolar and the dipolar parts of the gravitational field. In particular, we show that in the case of infinite electrical conductivity general relativistic corrections resulting from the dragging of reference frames are present, but only in the expression for the electric field. In the case of finite electrical conductivity, however, corrections resulting from both the space–time curvature and the dragging of reference frames are shown to be present in the induction equation. These corrections could be relevant for the evolution of the magnetic fields of pulsars and magnetars. The solutions found, while obtained through some simplifying assumption, reflect a rather general physical configuration and could therefore be used in a variety of astrophysical situations.