Simulation of PSR 1957+20
These figures show the mass outflow from PSR1957+20 in the corotating frame. The pulsar is at the point (0,0), and the companion star is assumed to rotate counterclockwise. Units of length are 10^11 cm.
The material colored red is the thin layer of gas that feels the radiation force from the pulsar. The majority of the mass in the outflow is therefore screened.
The image on the right clearly shows the bow shock created by the pulsar radiation. The pulsar radiation is clearly strong enough to sweep the outflowing material from the companion star away.
This sequence of images show the time evolution of the mass outflow for PSR 1744-24A. Unlike PSR1957+20 the pulsar radiation of PSR 1744-24A is inadequate to remove the mass outflow from the system, which wraps around the pulsar and can eventually enshroud it.
