Collisions in Strong Magnetic Fields
Open Access
- 1 January 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by CSIRO Publishing in Australian Journal of Physics
- Vol. 40 (1) , 89-108
- https://doi.org/10.1071/ph870089
Abstract
Exact cross sections for electron-electron collisions and electron-proton collisions in a superstrong magnetic field are derived using the QED formalism developed by Melrose and Parle. The results are compared with those of Langer who used a different QED formalism. The intended application is to collision processes in the accretion columns above neutron stars where magnetic fields of order 109 T are thought to be present. The particular case of electrons initially in their ground states, with one final electron in an excited state is described in detail; this process is thought to be the primary source of photons in X-ray pulsars, through subsequent cyclotron emission.Keywords
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