1206.6344 (Alexander Y. Chen et al.)

Dead zone in the polar-cap accelerator of pulsars    [PDF]

Alexander Y. Chen, Andrei M. Beloborodov

We study plasma flows above pulsar polar caps using time-dependent simulations of plasma particles in the self-consistent electric field. The flow behavior is controlled by dimensionless parameter alpha, the ratio of electric current density j to Goldreich-Julian current c\rho_GJ. The region of the polar cap where 00). In the latter case, we consider the possibility of a mixed flow consisting of different ion species, and observe the development of two-stream instability. The dead zone at the polar cap is essential for activation of an outer gap that is associated with the null surface \rho_GJ=0.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.6344