Electron Outflow in Axisymmetric Pulsar Magnetospheres

Abstract

Mestel et al. (1985) have recently introduced an axisymmetric pulsar magnetosphere model in which electrons leave the star with speeds that are non-negligible, but not highly relativistic, and flow with moderate acceleration, and with poloidal motion that is closely tied to the poloidal magnetic field lines, before reaching a limiting surface, near which rapid acceleration occurs. This paper presents an analysis of flows which either encounter the limiting surface beyond the light cylinder or do not meet it at all.