Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1765238 | Advances in Space Research | 2011 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
Actually, two different processes may limit the effective velocity of charges in the innermost part of the magnetosphere, both related to the resonant behavior of the Compton scattering in strong magnetic field. Near the stellar surface, where the magnetic field B exceeds the quantum limit BQ â 4.4 Ã 1013 G, scattering between fast electrons and â¼1 keV seed photons generates high-energy gamma rays that immediately convert to electron/positron pairs via one-photon pair production. This runaway process limits the value of γ to the threshold value for pair production γ â 1000. At larger distance the magnetic field weakens, and pair creation is strongly depressed for the impossibility of resonant scattering to generate high-energy photons. We discuss the possibility that, in the intermediate region 5Râ â²Â r â²Â 20Râ (with Râ = 10 km), intense Compton losses are effective in reducing the acceleration of electrons even in presence of a very high potential drop.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Space and Planetary Science
Authors
Luciano Nobili, Roberto Turolla, Silvia Zane,