Photon Pickup by Intense Poynting Flows

Abstract

It is suggested that a Poynting flux-dominated outflow with a sufficiently strong magnetic field can pick up hard X-ray photons when the magnetic field is of sufficient strength. The zeroth generation X-rays pair produce, and the pairs radiate extremely energetic first generation photons that could be detected by extensive air shower arrays and/or MILAGRO if they escape the production site intact. Giant flares from magnetars may thus yield bursts of UHE photons. GRB-associated Poynting flows may be unstable to pair production near their source, and their energy rapidly converted to pairs.