Inverse mapping of pulsar magnetospheres: Optical emission comes from 300 km above the surface

  • Diarmaid De Búrca
  • , Padraig O'Connor
  • , John McDonald
  • , Andy Shearer

Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/ProceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

In order to determine the emission height of the optical photons from pulsars we present an inverse mapping approach, which is directly constrained by empirical data. The model discussed is for the case of the Crab pulsar. Our method, which uses the optical Stokes parameters, determines the most likely geometry for emission including the magnetic-field inclination angle (α), the observer's line-of-sight angle (χ) and emission height. We discuss the computational implementation of the approach, and the physical assumptions made. We find that the most likely emission altitude is at 20% of the light-cylinder radius above the stellar surface in the open field region.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNew Horizons in Time-Domain Astronomy
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages303-305
Number of pages3
EditionS285
ISBN (Print)9781107019850
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sep 2011

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
NumberS285
Volume7
ISSN (Print)1743-9213
ISSN (Electronic)1743-9221

Keywords

  • polarisation
  • pulsars: general

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