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The σ Problem of the Crab Pulsar Wind

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

J. G. Kirk
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Postfach 10 39 80, 69029 Heidelberg, Germany
O. Skjæraasen
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Strasbourg, 11 rue de l'Université, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

Abstract

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The conversion of the Crab pulsar wind from one dominated by Poynting flux close to the star to one dominated by particle-borne energy at the termination shock is considered. The idea put forth by Coroniti (1990) and criticized by Lyubarsky & Kirk (2001) that reconnection in a striped wind is responsible, is generalized to include faster prescriptions for the a priori unknown dissipation rate. Strong acceleration of the wind is confirmed, and the higher dissipation rates imply complete conversion of Poynting flux into particle-borne flux within the unshocked wind.

Type
Part 4: Pulsar Wind Nebulae and Their Environments
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2004 

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