On the thermal effects on radio waves propagating in the pulsar magnetosphere

Understand

Thermal effects on the properties of four electromagnetic waves propagating in the pulsar magnetosphere are analyzed.

• It is shown that thermal effects change only quantitatively the dispersion properties of superluminal ordinary O-mode freely escaping the pulsar magnetosphere; properties of the extraordinary X-mode remain unchanged.
• As for two subluminal waves propagating along magnetic field lines, for them thermal effects result in essential absorption.
• However, this attenuation occurs at considerable distances from the neutron star, so there is no doubt in their existence.