ABSTRACT

Specific features of synchrotron radiation. Some applications of the theory of synchrotron radiation in astrophysics. The radiation emitted by a charge moving along the field lines of a nonuniform magnetic field has attracted attention in connection with the analysis of the mechanisms of radiation emission in the vicinity of pulsars. Such radiation is referred to as the "magnetodrift" or "curvature radiation". The conditions for applicability of the synchrotron theory include the assumption that the radiation is emitted in a uniform and constant magnetic field. The Stokes parameters have the following two important advantages: they can be directly measured and they are additive for independent radiation fluxes, i.e. radiation fluxes with random phases over which averaging is performed. Increasing importance, however, is attached to the measurements of the polarization, and in the opinion of the present author the general trend is to attempt to measure all Stokes parameters for the radiation in the radio range and in other ranges.