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Article Dans Une Revue Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A Année : 2011

Magnetic coupling of planets and small bodies with a pulsar wind

Résumé


Aims: We investigate the electromagnetic interaction of a relativistic stellar wind with a planet or a smaller body in orbit around the star. This may be relevant to objects orbiting a pulsar that are expected to hold a planetary system, such as PSR B1257+12 and PSR B1620-26, or to pulsars with suspected asteroids or comets.
Methods: We extend the theory of Alfvén wings to relativistic winds.
Results: When the wind is relativistic but slower than the total Alfvén speed, a system of electric currents carried by a stationary Alfvénic structure is driven by the planet or by its surroundings.For an Earth-like planet around a "standard" second pulsar, the associated current can reach the same magnitude as the Goldreich-Julian current that powers the pulsar's magnetosphere.

Dates et versions

hal-03732325 , version 1 (21-07-2022)

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Fabrice Mottez, Jean Heyvaerts. Magnetic coupling of planets and small bodies with a pulsar wind. Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2011, 532, pp.21. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201116530⟩. ⟨hal-03732325⟩
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