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Millisecond newly born pulsars as efficient accelerators of electrons
Zaza Osmanov1, Swadesh Mahajan2, George Machabeli3
1School of Physics, Free University of Tbilisi, 0183-Tbilisi, Georgia.
Scientific Reports
|September 26, 2015
Summary
Newly born millisecond pulsars can power ultra-high energy electrons. Energy transfer occurs via Landau damping of plasma waves, accelerating electrons to 10^18 eV.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- Plasma Physics
Background:
- Millisecond pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars.
- Understanding particle acceleration mechanisms in extreme astrophysical environments is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate young millisecond pulsars as potential energy sources for ultra-high energy electrons.
- Elucidate the physical processes responsible for accelerating electrons to extreme energies.
Main Methods:
- Modeling energy transfer from stellar rotation to plasma waves.
- Analyzing Landau damping of electrostatic Langmuir waves.
- Simulating particle acceleration in pulsar magnetospheres.
Main Results:
- Energy transfer from pulsar rotation to electrons is highly efficient.
- Centrifugally driven Langmuir waves are key mediators.
- Electrons can reach energies around 10^18 eV.
Conclusions:
- Young millisecond pulsars are viable sources of ultra-high energy electrons.
- The proposed mechanism is robust against energy losses.
- This finding has implications for understanding cosmic rays and high-energy phenomena.
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