ASTRO
In the literature: open
Do polar-cap pair discharges reproduce observed pulsar radio spectra?
In plain words
Bursts of electron-positron pair creation above the magnetic poles may generate the radio waves directly; whether they produce the right brightness and spectrum is untested.
Precise statement
Using global 3D kinetic plasma simulations with quantum-electrodynamic pair production at realistic field strength ($B \sim 1e12\,\mathrm{G}$) and scale separation, compute the radio luminosity, spectrum and polarization from polar-cap discharges and compare with population averages (spectral index $\sim -1.6$, luminosity versus spin-down power). Answer: yes or no with a quantitative comparison.
What would settle it
Simulations reaching realistic scale separation whose extrapolated spectra and luminosities agree or disagree with survey statistics.
Related problems
- Special case of What mechanism produces coherent pulsar radio emission?