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e+e Annihilation in Strong Magnetic Fields

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

G. Wunner
Affiliation:
Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D 8520 Erlangen, FRG
H. Herold
Affiliation:
Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D 8520 Erlangen, FRG
H. Ruder
Affiliation:
Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D 8520 Erlangen, FRG

Extract

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The possible existence of electron-positron plasmas in the magnetosphere of neutron stars gives rise to the question in which way the e+e annihilation process is modified by the strong magnetic fields prevailing there. On the basis of a correct quantum mechanical treatment of the two-body problem in an external magnetic field we have calculated lifetimes of the ground state as well as of excited states of bound e+e pairs (positronium). We find that the 1γ decay remains strictly forbidden, whereas the 2γ process is strongly enhanced with respect to the field-free case.

Type
I. Electrodynamics of the Pulsar Magnetosphere and Wave Zone
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1981 

References

Wunner, G.: 1979, Phys. Rev. Lett. 42, pp. 7982.Google Scholar
Wunner, G., and Herold, H.: 1979, Astrophys. Space Sci. 63, pp. 503509.Google Scholar
Wunner, G., and Ruder, H.: 1980, Astrophys. J. (in press).Google Scholar