Alfven-winged pulsar

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Lyutikov, Maxim
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Lyutikov, Maxim
author_facet Lyutikov, Maxim
contents Detecting possible electromagnetic precursors to the gravitational signal from merging compact objects is challenging, but it can reveal intricate physical properties of the merging stars through their gravitational and electromagnetic interactions. We demonstrate, using 3D Particle-In-Cell simulations, that a neutron star moving through the magnetosphere of a merging companion generates a complicated system of dissipative currents, a relativistic analogue of planetary Alfven wings. Generated electric currents carry a large fraction of the electromagnetic power intersected by the neutron star. These currents may lead to the generation of beamed, pulsar-like coherent radio and high-energy emission. Orbital modulation will produce a nearly periodic signal, an Alfven-winged pulsar.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_23870
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Alfven-winged pulsar
Lyutikov, Maxim
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Plasma Physics
Detecting possible electromagnetic precursors to the gravitational signal from merging compact objects is challenging, but it can reveal intricate physical properties of the merging stars through their gravitational and electromagnetic interactions. We demonstrate, using 3D Particle-In-Cell simulations, that a neutron star moving through the magnetosphere of a merging companion generates a complicated system of dissipative currents, a relativistic analogue of planetary Alfven wings. Generated electric currents carry a large fraction of the electromagnetic power intersected by the neutron star. These currents may lead to the generation of beamed, pulsar-like coherent radio and high-energy emission. Orbital modulation will produce a nearly periodic signal, an Alfven-winged pulsar.
title Alfven-winged pulsar
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.23870