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arXiv · 1202.1667

Linearly polarized superluminal waves in pulsar winds

Ioanna Arka·John G. Kirk
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Abstract

Pulsar winds are the ideal environment for the study of non-linear electromagnetic waves. It is generally thought that a pulsar launches a striped wind, a magnetohydrodynamic entropy wave, where plasma sheets carried along with the flow separate regions of alternating magnetic field. But when the density drops below a critical value, or equivalently for distances from the pulsar greater than a critical radius, a strong superluminal wave can also propagate. In this contribution we discuss the conversion of the equatorial striped wind into a linearly polarized superluminal wave, and we argue that this mode is important for the conversion of Poynting flux to kinetic energy flux before the outflow reaches the termination shock.

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Ioanna Arka, John G. Kirk. 2012-02-08. Linearly polarized superluminal waves in pulsar winds. https://doi.org/10.1142/s2010194512004461

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