Gamma-quanta conversion into positronium atoms in a strong magnetic field

The curvature -quanta emitted in the pulsar magnetospheres tangentially to the curved lines of force of the magnetic field are shown to be later canalized along the magnetic field—if it is strong enough,B0.1B _cr =4×10¹²G—by gradually converting into a mutually bound electron-positron pair, i.e. a positronium atom. This happens before the photon reaches the threshold of free-pair creation. The positronium thus arising is stable against the ionizing action of the electric field near the pulsar unless it reaches a critical value about 4×10⁷ CGSE forB10¹³G. This prevents the screening of the electric field up to the distances from the pulsar, where the magnetic field is already below the value of 0.1B _cr and the free pair creation may become essential. This effect provides, at least within the Arons model, a higher theoretical estimate for the total luminosity of pulsars whose field at the surfaceB _s exceeds 0.1B _cr as compared with the conventional one.