Quantum vacuum Cherenkov emission as a solution to the pulsar death valley problem

Quantum vacuum Cherenkov emission as a solution to the pulsar death valley problem | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Quantum vacuum Cherenkov emission as a solution to the pulsar death valley problem Tales Augusto Gomes, Sergei Bulanov, Jaziel Coelho, Martin Jirka, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8595198/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The presence of numerous radio pulsars in the so-called ''death valley'' of the rotation period-magnetic field (P-B) diagram challenges the curvature-radiation assisted pair creation model and cascades in neutron star polar caps. We show that Cherenkov radiation from quantum vacuum, a strong field quantum electrodynamics (QED) phenomenon enabled by vacuum polarization, can dominate pair creation in neutron-star pulsar polar caps for magnetic fields B ≥ 10 11 Gauss, leading to neutron star radio emitters in this unexpected parameter window. Our analysis shows that Cherenkov photons dominate over curvature photons as seeds for pair production, setting a new death line that extends beyond the traditional limits. This result redefines the radio-loud landscape for neutron stars, opening a vast parameter space for long-period neutron star radio emitters previously considered inactive. Our predicted Cherenkov death line provides a physical basis for a population of neutron stars in a region of the P-B diagram where known pulsar models fail, offering a new interpretation for the existence of coherent radio emission at very long periods, and a new window for testing QED phenomena in astrophysical sources. Physical sciences/Astronomy and planetary science/Astronomy and astrophysics/High-energy astrophysics Physical sciences/Physics/Plasma physics/Astrophysical plasmas Physical sciences/Astronomy and planetary science/Astronomy and astrophysics/Compact astrophysical objects Physical sciences/Astronomy and planetary science/Astronomy and astrophysics/Astrophysical magnetic fields Physical sciences/Astronomy and planetary science/Astronomy and astrophysics/Transient astrophysical phenomena pulsars strong field quantum electrodynamics Cherenkov radiation pair creation neutron stars Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8595198","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":582608062,"identity":"eddc0523-2eff-42a4-b7c8-f6719ea41b67","order_by":0,"name":"Tales Augusto 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We show that Cherenkov radiation from quantum vacuum, a strong field quantum electrodynamics (QED) phenomenon enabled by vacuum polarization, can dominate pair creation in neutron-star pulsar polar caps for magnetic fields B ≥ 10\u003csup\u003e11\u003c/sup\u003e Gauss, leading to neutron star radio emitters in this unexpected parameter window. Our analysis shows that Cherenkov photons dominate over curvature photons as seeds for pair production, setting a new death line that extends beyond the traditional limits. This result redefines the radio-loud landscape for neutron stars, opening a vast parameter space for long-period neutron star radio emitters previously considered inactive. 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