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The "sigma" problem of the Crab pulsar wind

J. G. Kirk·O. Skjaeraasen
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Abstract

The conversion of the Crab pulsar wind from one dominated by Poynting flux close to the star to one dominated by particle-born energy at the termination shock is considered. The idea put forward by Coroniti (1990) and criticised by Lyubarsky & Kirk (2001) that reconnection in a striped wind is responsible, is generalised to include faster prescriptions for the a priori unknown dissipation rate. Strong acceleration of the wind is confirmed, and the higher dissipation rates imply complete conversion of Poynting flux into particle-born flux within the unshocked wind.

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J. G. Kirk, O. Skjaeraasen. 2003-09-22. The "sigma" problem of the Crab pulsar wind. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0309573

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