On Energy- Angular Momentum- Loss and Pulsar Spark Gaps

TL;DR

This paper examines how energy and angular momentum losses influence pulsar emission models, suggesting that certain models requiring full luminosity release at polar caps are inconsistent with observed spin-down constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a new perspective on pulsar emission constraints based on energy-angular momentum balance, challenging models that assume complete luminosity release at the polar caps.

Findings

Models requiring full luminosity at polar caps are excluded.

Inner radiative zone models face difficulties due to E/L imbalance.

Local E/L unbalance may cause magnetospheric instability.

Abstract

The neutron star spin down imposes a balance between the energy and angular momentum (E/L) losses of a pulsar. This translates into constraints on the region of emission. The E/L balance may be cogent in discriminating among the models of gamma-ray production. Hence, models which require the release of the entire luminosity at the polar caps should be excluded. Also models where the radiative zone is well inside the speed of light radius have some difficulties. It is argued that a local unbalance of E/L should generate a global instability of the magnetosphere, possibly quenching the emission at the polar caps.