Physics of the Pulsar Magnetosphere [Paperback]

This book presents the theory of the electrodynamic phenomena which occur in the magnetosphere of a pulsar.This book presents the theory of the electrodynamic phenomena which occur in the magnetosphere of a pulsar. It also provides a clear picture of the formation and evolution of neutron stars.This book presents the theory of the electrodynamic phenomena which occur in the magnetosphere of a pulsar. It also provides a clear picture of the formation and evolution of neutron stars.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.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. ...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 thló#