Models for Accretion Flow on to Neutron Stars and X-Ray Photon-Electron Interactions in Ultra-High Magnetic Fields

Revised QED computations of the thermal Bremsstrahlung and Compton cross sections are provided relevant to the situation in the ‘hot spot’ of a neutron star, X-ray emitting magnetosphere where the field strength is ~ 1012–13 gauss. Contrary to previous predictions, cyclotron resonance effects are found in both ordinary and extraordinary photon propagation modes. Again in disagreement with previous ideas, it is found that the classical (no magnetic field) Bremsstrahlung result is never realised in the strong field, low frequency limit.