Force-free pulsar magnetosphere: instability and generation of MHD waves

Abstract

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities can play an important role in the structure and dynamics of the pulsar magnetosphere. We consider the instabilitycaused by differential rotation that is suggested by many theoretical models. Stability is considered by means of a linear analysis within the frane of the force-free MHD. We argue that differentially rotating magnetospheres are unstable for any particular geometry of the magnetic field and rotation law. The characteristic growth time of instability is of the order of the rotation period. The instability can lead to fluctuations of the emission and enhancement of diffusion in the magnetosphere.

5 pages; to appear in Astronomy and Astrophysics

References in corpus (6)

• Protoneutron star dynamos: pulsars, magnetars, and radio-silent X-ray emitting neutron stars
• Stability of magnetic configurations containing the toroidal and axial fields
• Non-axisymmetric instability of axisymmetric magnetic fields
• Relativistic stabilisation of the diocotron instability in a pulsar "cylindrical" electrosphere
• Magnetohydrodynamic waves in the pulsar magnetosphere
• Growing electrostatic modes in the isothermal pair plasma of the pulsar magnetosphere

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Theory of pulsar magnetosphere and wind
• Modeling magnetized neutron stars using resistive MHD
• Formation of filament-like structures in the pulsar magnetosphere and the short-term variability of pulsar emission
• The Pulsating Pulsar Magnetosphere
• The magnetorotational and Tayler instabilities in the pulsar magnetosphere