The magnetic coupling of planets and small bodies with a pulsars wind


Abstract in English

We investigate the electromagnetic interaction of a relativistic stellar wind with a planet or a smaller body in orbit around a pulsar. This may be relevant to objects such as PSR B1257+12 and PSR B1620-26 that are expected to hold a planetary system, or to pulsars with suspected asteroids or comets. Most models of pulsar winds predict that, albeit highly relativistic, they are slower than Alfven waves. In that case, a pair of stationary Alfven waves, called Alfven wings (AW), is expected to form on the sides of the planet. The wings expand far into the pulsars wind and they could be strong sources of radio emissions. The Alfven wings would cause a significant drift over small bodies such as asteroids and comets.

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