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arXiv · 1705.03790

Quantum theory of curvature and synchro-curvature radiation in a strong and curved magnetic field, and applications to neutron star magnetospheres

Guillaume Voisin·Silvano Bonazzola·Fabrice Mottez
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Abstract

In a previous paper, we derived the quantum states of a Dirac particle in a circular, intense magnetic field in the limit of low momentum perpendicular to the field with the purpose of giving a quantum description of the trajectory of an electron, or a positron, in a typical pulsar or magnetar magnetosphere. Here we continue this work by computing the radiation resulting from transitions between these states. This leads to derive from first principles a quantum theory of the so-called curvature and synchro-curvature radiations relevant for rotating neutron-star magnetospheres. We find that, within the approximation of an infinitely confined wave-function around the magnetic field and in the continuous energy-level limit, classical curvature radiation can be recovered in a fully consistent way. Further we introduce discrete transitions to account for the change of momentum perpendicular to the field and derive expressions for what we call quantum synchro-curvature radiation. Additionally, we express deconfinement and quantum recoil corrections.

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Guillaume Voisin, Silvano Bonazzola, Fabrice Mottez. 2017-05-10. Quantum theory of curvature and synchro-curvature radiation in a strong and curved magnetic field, and applications to neutron star magnetospheres. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.95.105008

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