2004/05/20 by A. Y. Potekhin, Alexander Y. Potekhin, Dong Lai +4 · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/422679
published as Astrophys.J. 612 (2004) 1034-1043 · 10 pages, 10 figures; ApJ, accepted
arxiv created 2004/05/20 · openalex publication_date 2004/09/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
The polarizability tensor of a strongly magnetized plasma and the polarization vectors and opacities of normal electromagnetic waves are studied for conditions typical of neutron star atmospheres, taking account of partial ionization effects. Vacuum polarization is also included, and a new set of fitting formulae are used that are accurate for wide range of field strengths. The full account of the coupling of the quantum mechanical structure of the atoms to their center-of-mass motion across the magnetic field is shown to be crucial for the correct evaluation of the polarization properties and opacities of the plasma. The self-consistent treatment of the polarizability and absorption coefficients proves to be necessary if the ionization degree of the plasma is low, which can occur in the atmospheres of cool or ultramagnetized neutron stars. Atmosphere models and spectra are presented to illustrate the importance of such self-consistent treatment.