Magnetohydrodynamic waves in the pulsar magnetosphere

Abstract

MHD waves can be responsible for plasma fluctuations and short-term variations of the pulsar emission. We consider the properties of plane and cylindrical waves that can exist in the force-free magnetosphere. Waves are considered by means of a linear analysis of the force-free MHD equations. We argue that these particular types of waves can exist in the magnetosphere of pulsars. These waves are closely related to the Alfven waves of the standard magnetohydrodynamics but are modified by the force-free condition and non-zero charge density. We derive the dispersion relation for magnetospheric waves and show that the wave periods are likely within the range $\sim 10^{-2}-10^(-4}$ s depending on the magnetospheric parameters.

4 pages; to appear in Astronomy and Astrophysics

References in corpus (2)

• Protoneutron star dynamos: pulsars, magnetars, and radio-silent X-ray emitting neutron stars
• Relativistic stabilisation of the diocotron instability in a pulsar "cylindrical" electrosphere

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Theory of pulsar magnetosphere and wind
• Modeling magnetized neutron stars using resistive MHD
• Force-free pulsar magnetosphere: instability and generation of MHD waves
• Formation of filament-like structures in the pulsar magnetosphere and the short-term variability of pulsar emission
• The magnetorotational and Tayler instabilities in the pulsar magnetosphere
• Whistler-Alfvén turbulence in a non-neutral ultrarelativistic pair plasma