Pulsar electrodynamics revisited

TL;DR

This paper revisits pulsar electrodynamics, emphasizing the importance of the inductive electric field which has been largely overlooked and has significant implications for pulsar magnetosphere models.

Contribution

It highlights the neglected role of the inductive electric field in pulsar models and discusses its effects on plasma drift and magnetospheric dynamics.

Findings

Inductive electric field cannot be screened by plasma.

It causes drift motion incompatible with corotation.

Neglecting it leads to incomplete pulsar models.

Abstract

The inductive electric field is unjustifiably neglected in most models for pulsar electrodynamics; it cannot be screened by the magnetospheric plasma, and it is not small in comparison with the corotation electric field. The perpendicular component of the inductive electric field implies a drift motion that is inconsistent with corotation at any angular velocity. Some implications of the inductive electric field and the associated drift motion are discussed.