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Abstract

We conduct force-free simulations of a single neutron star undergoing orbital
motion in flat spacetime, mimicking the trajectory of the star about the center
of mass on a compact binary system. Our attention is focused on the kinetic
energy being extracted from the orbit by the acceleration of the magnetic
dipole moment of the neutron star, and particularly, on how this energy gets
distributed within its surrounding magnetosphere. A detailed study of the
resulting magnetospheric configurations in our setting is presented,
incorporating as well the effects due to neutron star spin and the misalignment
of the magnetic and orbital axes. We find many features resembling those of
pulsar magnetospheres for the orbiting neutron star --even in the absence of
spin--, being of particular interest the development of a spiral current sheet
that extends beyond the light cylinder. Then, we use recent advances in pulsar
theory to estimate electromagnetic emissions produced at the reconnection
regions of such current sheets.