Kinetic Model of Large-amplitude Oscillations in Neutron Star Pair Cascades

Electron-positron pair cascades developed in the extreme electromagnetic fields of neutron star polar caps are considered a key source of magnetospheric plasma in these objects. We use a simplified model that maps the quantum electrodynamics processes governing pair cascades to analytically and numerically model these cascades, and show that large-amplitude oscillations of the electric field are inductively driven by the resulting plasma. A plasma instability arises in these oscillations, and particles accelerated in growing electric field perturbations can drive secondary pair bursts that damp the large-amplitude oscillations. An analytical model is proposed to describe this interplay between the pair production and kinetic collective plasma processes. All analytical results are shown to be in excellent agreement with particle-in-cell simulations.

Automated summary

Electron-positron pair cascades in extreme electromagnetic fields of neutron star polar caps are a key source of magnetospheric plasma. A simplified model is used to analytically and numerically study these cascades, showing that large-amplitude electric field oscillations are inductively driven by the resulting plasma. Plasma instabilities arising in these oscillations lead to accelerated particles driving secondary pair bursts that dampen the large-amplitude oscillations. An analytical model describing the interplay between pair production and kinetic collective plasma processes is proposed, with results in excellent agreement with particle-in-cell simulations.