Physics of the Pulsar Magnetosphere

by A. V. Gurevich, V. S. Beskin, Ya. N Istomin

Overview

This book presents the theory of the electrodynamic phenomena that occur in the magnetosphere of a pulsar. It also provides a clear picture of the formation and evolution of neutron stars. The authors address the basic physical processes of electron-positron plasma production, the generation of electric fields and currents, and the emission of radio waves and gamma rays. The book also reviews the current observational data, and devotes a complete chapter to a detailed comparison of this data with accepted theory and with some recent theoretical predictions. Tables containing the values of the physical parameters of all observed radio pulsars are also provided.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521032537
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/23/2006
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	436
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.94(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction; List of notation; Constants and quantities; 1. Basic observational characteristics of radio pulsars; 2. Neutron stars; 3. Physical processes in the pulsar magnetosphere; 4. Electrodynamics of the pulsar magnetosphere; 5. Generation of electron-positron plasma in the pulsar magnetosphere; 6. Pulsar radio emission; 7. Comparison of theory with observational data; Conclusion; Appendix; References; Additional literature; Author index; Subject index.

Editorial Reviews

"...a concise and relatively thorough review of the observational characteristics of pulsars....an important contribution to the literature and will be an essential addition to the libraries of all those active in either observations or modeling of pulsars." Donald B. Melrose, Science

"This book will be of interest to the tiny community of theoretical physicists interested in the difficult task of constructing an adequate theory of the radio emission from rotation-powered pulsars. It is exemplary in its attempt to explain in full detail the authors' own attempt to construct such a theory and compare it to observation." Jonathan Arons, Physics Today

From the Publisher