The effects of mass on the radiation of a relativistically rotating neutron star

R. S. Herbst, A. Qadir, E. Momoniat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

We investigate the effect of mass on the radiation of a relativistically rotating neutron star. The method of Haxton and Ruffini is used to find the radiation flux from a relativistically rotating neutron star. By extending the idea of a point charge orbiting a black hole, a pulsar is modeled by simulating a relativistically rotating magnetic dipole embedded within a neutron star. The resulting equations retain the mass of the neutron star, thereby introducing effects of general relativity on the radiation from the dipole. We present exact solutions to the modeling equation as well as plots of energy spectra at different rotational velocities and inclination angles. We also present plots of total energy versus mass and two tables containing a comparison of energy ratios. These demonstrate that, for realistic neutron star masses, the high speed enhancement of the radiation is always more than compensated by the frame dragging effect, leading to a net reduction of radiation from the star. It is found that the inclusion of mass not only reduced the special relativistic enhancement, but negates it entirely as the mass of the neutron star approaches the mass limit.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-44
Number of pages7
JournalNew Astronomy
Volume25
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Neutron stars
  • Pulsars

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Instrumentation
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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