中子星吸积柱中荷电粒子密度的分布及电场的形成

本文从刘维定理出发,通过相空间求平均,建立了中子星吸积柱中粒子流连续方程和动量迁移方程。并在静力学平衡下求出其解;建立了吸积柱中的荷电粒子分布;引出了某些有趣的新结果。      

Observational appearances of isolated stellar-mass black hole accretion – Theory and observations

General properties of accretion onto isolated stellar-mass black holes in the Galaxy are discussed. An analysis of plasma internal energy growth during the infall is performed. Adiabatic heating of collisionless accretion flow due to magnetic adiabatic invariant conservation is 25% more efficient than in the standard non-magnetized gas case. It is shown that magnetic field line reconnections in discrete current sheets lead to significant nonthermal electron component formation, which leads to a formation of a hard (UV, X-ray, up to gamma), highly variable spectral component in addition to the standard synchrotron optical component first derived by Shvartsman generated by thermal electrons in the magnetic field of the accretion flow. Properties of accretion flow emission variability are discussed. Observation results of two single black hole candidates – gravitational lens MACHO-1999-BLG-22 and radio-loud X-ray source with featureless optical spectrum J1942+10 – in optical band with high temporal resolution are presented and interpreted in the framework of the proposed model.     

2D and 3D MHD simulations of disk accretion by rotating magnetized stars: Search for variability

We performed 2D and full 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of disk accretion to a rotating star with an aligned or misaligned dipole magnetic field. We investigated the rotational equilibrium state and derived from simulations the ratio between two main frequencies: the spin frequency of the star and the orbital frequency at the inner radius of the disk. In 3D simulations we observed different features related to the non-axisymmetry of the magnetospheric flow. These features may be responsible for high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). Variability at much lower frequencies may be connected with restructuring of the magnetic flux threading the inner regions of the disk. Such variability is specifically strong at the propeller stage of evolution.     

基于全相位FFT的感应式磁力仪频谱校正方法研究

基于法拉第电磁感应定律的感应式磁力仪是用于测量低频磁场的空间探测仪器,常具有在轨FFT频谱分析功能,直接获得波动磁场的频率及幅度等信息.利用FFT方法对截断信号进行计算时,整周期采样会产生频谱泄露和栅栏效应,频谱信息产生偏差,而影响实时监测磁场变化的准确性.全相位FFT与常规FFT相比,有相位不变性和良好的抑制频谱泄露能力.采用基于全相位FFT的时移相位差方法(apFFT/apFFT)校正在研的某卫星感应式磁力仪直接采集的波形数据.仿真和实验结果表明,apFFT/apFFT方法可有效提高感应式磁力仪低频磁场测量的频谱准确性.研究工作为提高感应式磁力仪科学数据的应用水平奠定了基础,为下一代星载感应式磁力仪在轨频谱分析提供了一种可能的新方法.      

XMM-Newton observations of low luminosity Be/X-ray candidates

A small number of early Be stars exhibit X-ray luminosities intermediate between those typical of early type stars and those radiated by Be/X-ray binaries in the quiescent state. We report on XMM-Newton observations of two such Be stars, HD 161103 and SAO 49725 which were originally discovered in a systematic cross-correlation between the ROSAT all-sky survey and SIMBAD. The new observations confirm the X-ray luminosity detected by ROSAT (L_X  10³² erg s⁻¹) and the hardness of their X-ray spectra (thin thermal with kT  8–10 keV or power law with photon index of 1.7) which are both unusual for normal early type stars. We discuss the possible origin of this excess X-ray emission in the light of the models proposed for γ-Cas, magnetic disc-star interaction or accretion onto a compact companion object, neutron star or white dwarf, and compare the properties of these two sources with those of the new massive systems discovered in the XMM- Newton/SSC survey of the Galactic plane.     

太阳宁静及耀斑期间1AU附近等离子体轫致辐射研究

在太空等离子体中，尤其在等离子体内部磁场较弱时，轫致辐射是等离子体能量损失的主要机制．本文对太阳宁静及耀斑期间1AU处等离子体轫致辐射计算表明，等离子体辐射强度If的变化与辐射的电磁波频率有直接的关系．当辐射频率，接近于等离子体频率，fpe时，辐射强度显著增大．随着电磁波辐射频率的增大，辐射强度随频率增大作缓慢对数下降．辐射亮温Tb与等离子体电子温度Te、介质光深成正比．Tb与If随辐射频率变化的整体趋势一致．在相同的辐射频率情况下，太阳宁静期间If值、Tb值低于太阳耀斑期间If值、Tb值．     

Production of QPOs in accreting neutron star systems

Kilohertz QPOs have been detected from more than 20 neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries. Several different ideas have been proposed for their generation, involving resonances, magnetic interactions, and sharp transitions in the accretion flow. We show that although details are uncertain at this time, it is clear that the stellar magnetic field has a dynamic influence on the accretion flow. We also discuss the inferences about dense matter and strong gravity that can be drawn from all models, and the qualitative advances expected with a future X-ray timing mission.     

Whistler waves in plasmas with time-varying magnetic field: Laboratory investigation

Modulation of whistler waves in a plasma with time-dependant magnetic field perturbations was investigated experimentally. The experiments were performed on large “Krot” device, which was specially designed to study space plasma physics phenomena. It is shown that magnetic field variations on the wave propagation path can lead to splitting of initially continuous whistler wave into the sequence of bursts, whose repetition rate corresponds to magnetic field perturbation period. The frequency inside each burst is changing from its front edge to the back edge. Relative shift of the wave frequency can be as large as the relative magnetic disturbance. Distortion of whistler wave frequency spectrum after its passing through magnetically disturbed areas can be used as a diagnostics for low-frequency magnetic field variations. The applicability of our laboratory results to space plasma is discussed.     

Self-similar problems of the time-dependant discs accretion and the nature of the temporary X-ray sources

Self-similar solutions, obtained by means of non-linear hydrodynamic equations, describing the picture of the time-dependant discs accretion. Some of the solutions describe the evolution of the accumulating disc, which is created around the neutron star with a strong magnetic field. Others give the time evolution of the initial narrow material ring, thrown at a certain distance around the gravitation centre. Practically all problems of the time-dependant disc accretion, asymptotically come to the above mentioned solutions.It is shown that the time-dependant disc accretion of the gas of the neutron star from the accumulating disc cause recurrent X-ray outbursts. The fall of the X-ray luminosity at the maximum stage depends of the time to a certain degree; is near the ones which are observed in the time-dependant X-ray sources. The model of the time-dependant X-ray sources is explained in the framework of the time-dependant disc accretion of magnetized neutron star with a strong magnetic field.     

Broad-band spectral properties of accreting X-ray binary pulsars

Broad-band spectra of accreting X-ray binary pulsars can be fitted by a phenomenological model composed of a power law with a high energy rollover above 10 keV, plus a blackbody component with a temperature of few hundred eV. While, at least qualitatively, the hard tail can be explained in terms of (inverse) Compton scattering, the origin of the soft component cannot find a unique explanation. Recently, a qualitative picture able to explain the overall broad-band spectrum of luminous X-ray pulsars was carried out by taking into account the effect of bulk Comptonization in the accretion column. After a review of these recent theoretical developments, I will present a case study of how different modeling of the continuum affect broad features, in particular the cyclotron resonance features in Vela X-1.     

Radiation of accretion disks in quasars and galactic nuclei

The continuum spectra of accretion disks around supermassive Schvarzshild black hole are calculated for a set of accretion disk parameters. In every point of the disk surface the atmosphere is considered to be similar to the atmosphere of the star with the same values of the surface gravity and effective temperature. All important effects of general relativity affected the spectrum shape are taken into account.     

Production and evolution of millisecond X-ray and radio pulsars

Observations using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) have discovered dozens of accreting neutron stars with millisecond spin periods in low-mass binary star systems. Eighteen are millisecond X-ray pulsars powered by accretion or nuclear burning or both. These stars have magnetic fields strong enough for them to become millisecond rotation-powered (radio) pulsars when accretion ceases. Few, if any, accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars have spin rates higher than 750 Hz. There is strong evidence that the spin-up of some accreting neutron stars is limited by magnetic spin-equilibrium whereas the spin-up of others is halted when accretion ends. Further study will show whether the spin rates of some accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars are or were limited by emission of gravitational radiation.     

Spectra and time variability of black-hole binaries in the low/hard state

We propose a jet model for the low/hard state of galactic black-hole X-ray sources which explains the energy spectra from radio to X-rays and a number of timing properties in the X-ray domain such as the time lag spectra, the hardening of the power density spectra and the narrowing of the autocorrelation function with increasing photon energy. The model assumes that (i) there is a magnetic field along the axis of the jet, (ii) the electron density in the jet drops inversely proportional to distance, (iii) the jet is “hotter” near its center than at its periphery, and (iv) the electrons in the jet follow a power-law distribution function. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations of Compton upscattering of soft photons from the accretion disk and have found power-law high-energy spectra with photon-number index in the range 1.5–2 and cutoff at a few hundred keV, power-law time lags versus Fourier frequency with index 0.8, and an increase of the rms amplitude of variability and a narrowing of the autocorrelation function with increasing photon energy as they have been observed in Cygnus X-1. The spectrum at long wavelengths (radio, infrared, optical) is modeled to come from synchrotron radiation of the energetic electrons in the jet. We find flat to inverted radio spectra that extend from the radio up to about the optical band. For magnetic field strengths of the order 10⁵–10⁶ G at the base of the jet, the calculated spectra agree well in slope and flux with the observations.     

从空间飞行器入射进电离层的调制电子束产生的高频波辐射

在主动束-等离子体试验中,调制电子束从空间飞行器入射进电离层等离子体将会产生电磁波辐射,在不同试验条件下电磁波辐射机理也不一样,由电子束纵向约束性产生电磁波辐射是其中之一.对半无界稀薄调制电子束从空间飞行器入射进电离层等离子体时所产生的波现象进行了理论分析和数值计算.结果表明,当调制电子束沿磁力线入射时,会在电离层等离子体中产生高频电磁波辐射,该辐射主要集中在垂直于入射电子束运动方向的平面内.      

Gravitational waves from accreting neutron stars

The observational evidence for gravitational wave emission from accreting millisecond pulsars, specifically the spin frequency distribution of the population, is reviewed. These continuous wave sources are promising candidates for detection by LIGO. Four theoretical mechanisms are discussed for producing the mass quadrupole moments inferred from the spin frequency data: thermal mountains (formed by gradients in the electron capture rate), r-modes in the core, magnetic mountains (formed by polar magnetic burial), and superfluid circulation in the core. For magnetic mountains, it is shown that the gravitational wave strain is inversely proportional to the magnetic moment, and that the gravitational wave spectrum displays distinctive sidebands as the magnetically confined mountain wobbles around. (The compression of the magnetic field towards the equator also modifies the physics of thermonuclear type I X-ray bursts in these objects, e.g., by thermally insulating the two hemispheres and leading to burst pairs.) For superfluid circulation in the core, it is shown that the high-Reynolds-number flow is nonaxisymmetric and emits a distinctive gravitational wave spectrum with two broad peaks.     

A highly-ionized absorber as a new explanation for the spectral changes during dips from X-ray binaries

We report the XMM-Newton detection of narrow Fe xxv and Fe xxvi X-ray absorption lines at 7 keV in the persistent emission of the dipping low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) 4U 1323−62. Such features have now been reported in a growing number of LMXBs seen almost edge-on, indicating that the highly-ionized plasma probably originates in an accretion disk atmosphere or wind. During dipping intervals of 4U 1323−62, the strength of the Fe xxv feature increases while that of the Fe xxvi feature decreases, consistent with the presence of less strongly ionized material in the line-of-sight. As observed previously, the changes in the X-ray spectrum during dips are inconsistent with a simple increase in absorption by cool material. However, we show that the changes in both the narrow absorption features and the continuum can be modeled self-consistently by variations in the properties of an ionized absorber. From persistent to deep dipping the photo-ionization parameter decreases while the equivalent hydrogen column density of the ionized absorber increases. No partial covering of any component of the spectrum, and hence no extended corona, are required. Since highly-ionized absorption features are seen from many other dip sources, this mechanism may also explain the overall changes in X-ray spectrum observed during dipping intervals from these systems.     

Cyg X-2 — An accreting neutron star

HAKUCHO observation of Cyg X-2 over 40 days did not show a correlation between the hardness ratio and the intensity predicted for dwarf X-ray sources. The energy spectrum in the range 0.3 – 20 keV was found to deviate from the thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum below 2 keV. The X-ray spectrum can be accounted for in terms of the comptonization of blackbody radiation emitted from teh neutron star surface and the accretion disk.     

Spherical accretion of massive black holes: A model for galactic nuclei

The possibility of explaining the continuous emission of active galactic nuclei in the frame of a model of spherical accretion onto a massive black hole is discussed. Cool inhomogeneities (T 10⁴°K) within the accretion flow could be responsible for the broad line emission if half of the accreting matter is in the dense phase. A crucial test of this hypothesis is the expected correlation between the ratio of the luminosity in lines to the total luminosity and the hardness of the continuous spectrum.     

Exosat observations of the galactic bulge X-ray source GX17+2

We have measured the X-ray flux of the bright galactic bulge source GX17+2 in the energy range 1–20 keV using the EXOSAT ME experiment. During 8 hours of continuous observation an X-ray flare was observed (lasting ～1 hr) followed by an intensity increase. The data show intensity dips with a quasiperiod of ～1.4 hours and quasi-periodic oscillations on time scale of 200–500 sec, which are possibly connected with oscillations of an accretion disc. The spectrum can be fitted by two blackbody spectra with kT₁～1keV, and kT₂～2keV, respectively, and an iron line at 6.3 ± 0.3 keV having 130 eV equivalent width. While the low energy component is rather stable, the 2keV-component shows considerable intensity variations. We suggest that the latter component represents emission from the inner part of the accretion disc while the soft spectrum is blackbody emission from the surface of the neutron star.     

Testing the ADAF paradigm for supermassive black holes in elliptical galaxies

The growing evidence for supermassive black holes in the centres of nearby galaxies has brought into sharper focus the question of why elliptical galaxies, rich in hot gas, do not possess quasar-like luminosities. Recent studies suggest that the presence of advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAFs) with their associated low radiative efficiency, might provide a promising explanation for the observed quiescence of these systems. Here, we present new high-frequency radio observations of the three giant, low-luminosity elliptical galaxies NGC 4649, NGC 4472 and NGC 4636 obtained using the Very Large Array (VLA) and the sub-millimetre common-user bolometer array (SCUBA) on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). The new radio limits disagree severely with the canonical ADAF predictions which significantly overestimate the observed flux. If the accretion in these objects occurs in an advection-dominated mode then our radio limits imply that the emission from their central regions must be suppressed. We present the possibility that the magnetic field in the flow is extremely low or that synchrotron emission is free-free absorbed by cold material in the accretion flow. We also discuss whether slow non-radiating accretion flows may drive winds/outflows to remove energy, angular momentum and mass so that the central densities, pressures and emissivities are much smaller than in a standard ADAF (Di Matteo et al. 1998).