Diagnostics of the plasma of pulsar magnetospheres based on polarization profiles of radio pulses

Free access article

Issue		A&A Volume 408, Number 3, September IV 2003


Page(s)		1057 - 1063
Section		Stellar atmospheres
DOI		http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20031028

A&A 408, 1057-1063 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20031028

Diagnostics of the plasma of pulsar magnetospheres based on polarization profiles of radio pulses

S. A. Petrova

Institute of Radio Astronomy, 4, Chervonopraporna St., Kharkov 61002, Ukraine
(Received 30 April 2003 / Accepted 3 June 2003)

Abstract
Propagation of natural waves through the ultrarelativistic highly magnetized plasma in the rotating magnetosphere of a pulsar is considered. Based on the quantitative description of the polarization-limiting effect, we develop a technique of density diagnostics of pulsar plasma according to the observed polarization profiles of radio pulses. For the first time, it appears possible to obtain the profiles of the plasma density distribution across the open field line tube. The density profiles found for PSR B0355+54 and PSR B0628-28 show a perfect exponential decrease towards the tube edge. The multiplicity factors derived are compatible with those predicted by modern theories of pair cascade in pulsars. The results of the plasma density diagnostics may have numerous implications for the physics of the pulsar magnetosphere. Further application of the suggested technique to single-pulse polarization data seems to be promising.

Key words: plasmas -- polarization -- waves -- stars: pulsars: general -- stars: pulsars: individual: PSR B0355+54, PSR B0628-28

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