Abstract
SINCE the discovery of pulsars and their association with rotating magnetic neutron stars, it has been realised that pulsars can efficiently accelerate particles to high energies and effectively contribute to the observed cosmic-ray density in the Galaxy. Acceleration of particles to very high energies by the low frequency electromagnetic waves beyond the light cylinder is one mechanism proposed1,2. Others3–5 have considered the possibility of accelerating particles by the electric field near the surface of the neutron star arising from nonzero E·B. High energy photons are also likely to be produced in association with these particles and these have been observed from the Crab pulsar. Presumably, younger pulsars may radiate larger numbers of more energetic γ rays.
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RENGARAJAN, T. Absorption of high energy heavy nuclei and γ rays at the surface of hot neutron stars. Nature 248, 569–571 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/248569a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/248569a0
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