Theory of Accretion onto Neutron Stars

Hydrodynamically stationary, spherically symmetric accretion onto a neutron star is examined taking the reverse effect of radiation into account. It is assumed that the plasma flow is adiabatic and that radiation is generated in a thin surface layer of the neutron star, where incoming particles are slowed down. It is shown that for stationary accretion, neither a “stop”, nor a substantial slowing down of the accretion flux is possible for any physically allowed conditions far from the neutron star.