Growing electrostatic modes in the isothermal pair plasma of the pulsar magnetosphere

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in the magnetosphere of a pulsar, an isothermal pair plasma can support growing low-frequency electrostatic modes due to thermal and magnetic pressure interactions, influenced by inhomogeneities.

Contribution

It reveals the existence and growth conditions of low-frequency electrostatic modes in pulsar magnetospheres' pair plasma, a novel insight into plasma behavior in such extreme environments.

Findings

Low-frequency electrostatic modes exist in pulsar pair plasma.

Thermal and magnetic pressures drive mode growth.

Inhomogeneities facilitate mode amplification.

Abstract

It is shown that a strongly magnetized isothermal pair plasma near the surface of a pulsar supports low-frequency (in comparison to electron cyclotron frequency) toroidal electrostatic plasma modes in the equatorial region. Physically, the thermal pressure coupled with the magnetic pressure creates the low frequency oscillations which may grow for particular case of inhomogeneities of the equilibrium magnetic field and the pair plasma density.