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The Effect of Magnetic Field Spread and Temperature and Density Variations in Cyclotron Emission Regions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2016

D. T. Wickramasinghe
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Australian National University
Lilia Ferrario
Affiliation:
Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, Australian National University

Abstract

We discuss the properties of cyclotron radiation from accretion shocks located above the atmospheres of magnetic white dwarfs taking into account the effects of field spread and density and temparture structure. The models which are an improvement on previous point source models are shown to have characteristics that are in better overall agreement with the properties of AM Herculis type systems. Our calculations of the polarization properties of large polar cap emission regions are used to discuss the recent null measurements of circular polarization in DQ Herculis type systems.

Type
Theoretical
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 1987

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