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At least 829 records · Page 46

PULSE AMPLITUDE DEPENDS ON kHz QPO FREQUENCY IN THE ACCRETING MILLISECOND PULSAR SAX J1808.4-3658

We study the relation between the 300-700 Hz upper kHz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) and the 401 Hz coherent pulsations across all outbursts of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. We find that the pulse amplitude systematically changes by a factor of ∼2 when the upper kHz QPO frequency passes through 401 Hz: it halves when the QPO moves to above the spin frequency and doubles again on the way back. This establishes for the first time the existence of a direct effect of kHz QPOs on the millisecond pulsations and provides a new clue to the origin of the upper kHz QPO. We discuss several scenarios and conclude that while more complex explanations can not formally be excluded, our result strongly suggests that the QPO is produced by azimuthal motion at the inner edge of the accretion disk, most likely orbital motion. Depending on whether this azimuthal motion is faster or slower than the spin, the plasma then interacts differently with the neutron-star magnetic field. The most straightforward interpretation involves magnetospheric centrifugal inhibition of the accretion flow that sets in when the upper kHz QPO becomes slower than the spin.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Toward accurate measurement of electromagnetic field by retrieving and refining the center position of non-uniform diffraction disks in Lorentz 4D-STEM

Recent advancement in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) allows the use of 4D-STEM, a technique that captures an electron diffraction pattern at each scan point in STEM, to measure electrostatic and magnetic potential and field in materials. However, accurate measurement, separation of the magnetic and electric signals, and removal of artifacts remain challenging, especially in the presence of complex non-uniform diffraction contrast within the disks. In this work, based on dynamic simulations of 4D-STEM patterns built upon superstructures consisting of millions of atoms to account for different sample thickness and edge geometries, we show how the shape and intensity distribution of the central disk are affected by multiple scattering. We propose a robust refinement procedure through iteration of the spin-sensitive peak position of the disk-center in the circular Hough transform filtered images from experimental Lorentz 4D-STEM dataset after minimizing the possible artifacts, such as those due to the change of thickness, dynamic scattering, and scanning process. We verify that caution must be taken as in practice the rigid-disk-shift model used to reconstruct induction maps can easily break down due to disk-protrusion when there exists a nonconstant phase gradient or thickness within the width of the probe. Through quantitative analysis and comparing experiment with calculation the effect of the non-spin-related intensity distribution inside the disk as well as that causes the disk shift due to the intensity-protrusion can be removed, and high-quality magnetic field mapping is possible.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Solar Sources and Geospace Consequences of Interplanetary Magnetic Clouds Observed During Solar Cycle 23

We present results of a statistical investigation of 99 magnetic clouds (MCs) observed during 1995-2005. The MC-associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are faster and wider on the average and originate within +/-30deg from the solar disk center. The solar sources of MCs also followed the butterfly diagram. The correlation between the magnetic field strength and speed of MCs was found to be valid over a much wider range of speeds. The number of south-north (SN) MCs was dominant and decreased with solar cycle, while the number of north-south (NS) MCs increased confirming the odd-cycle behavior. Two-thirds of MCs were geoeffective; the Dst index was highly correlated with speed and magnetic field in MCs as well as their product. Many (55%) fully northward (FN) MCs were geoeffective solely due to their sheaths. The non-geoeffective MCs were slower (average speed approx. 382 km/s), had a weaker southward magnetic field (average approx. -5.2nT), and occurred mostly during the rise phase of the solar activity cycle.

Gopalswamy, N.↗

Magnetic electrical connectors for biomedical percutaneous implants

A biomedical percutaneous connector is described which includes a socket having an enlarged disk shaped base portion for being implanted below the patient's skin and cylindrical portion which is integral with the base portion and extends outwardly of the skin. A conical recess in an upper end of the cylindrical portion has a magnet located in the base. Inclined conductive strips are carried on an upper end of the cylindrical portion to which electrical conductors are attached and extend into the patient's body. A complementary shaped plug which also has electrical contacts provided thereon is adapted to fit within the conical recess of the socket. The plug is held in the socket by magnetic force.

Owens, L. J.↗

MAGNETIC FLUX CANCELATION AS THE TRIGGER OF SOLAR QUIET-REGION CORONAL JETS

We report observations of 10 random on-disk solar quiet-region coronal jets found in high-resolution extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory ( SDO )/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and having good coverage in magnetograms from the SDO /Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). Recent studies show that coronal jets are driven by the eruption of a small-scale filament (called a minifilament ). However, the trigger of these eruptions is still unknown. In the present study, we address the question: what leads to the jet-driving minifilament eruptions? The EUV observations show that there is a cool-transition-region-plasma minifilament present prior to each jet event and the minifilament eruption drives the jet. By examining pre-jet evolutionary changes in the line of sight photospheric magnetic field, we observe that each pre-jet minifilament resides over the neutral line between majority-polarity and minority-polarity patches of magnetic flux. In each of the 10 cases, the opposite-polarity patches approach and merge with each other (flux reduction between 21% and 57%). After several hours, continuous flux cancelation at the neutral line apparently destabilizes the field holding the cool-plasma minifilament to erupt and undergo internal reconnection, and external reconnection with the surrounding coronal field. The external reconnection opens the minifilament field allowing the minifilament material to escape outward, forming part of the jet spire. Thus, we found that each of the 10 jets resulted from eruption of a minifilament following flux cancelation at the neutral line under the minifilament. These observations establish that magnetic flux cancelation is usually the trigger of quiet-region coronal jet eruptions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

SOFIA/HAWC plus Traces the Magnetic Fields in NGC 1068

We report the first detection of galactic spiral structure by means of thermal emission from magnetically aligned dust grains. Our 89μm polarimetric imaging of NGC 1068 with the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera/Polarimeter(HAWC+)on NASAs Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy(SOFIA)also sheds light on magnetic field structure in the vicinity of the galaxyʼs inner-bar and active galactic nucleus(AGN).We find correlations between the 89μm magnetic field vectors and other tracers of spiral arms, and a symmetric polarization pattern as a function of the azimuthal angle arising from the projection and inclination of the disk field component in the plane of the sky. The observations can befit with a logarithmic spiral model with pitch angle of-+16.92.82.7and a disk inclination of 48°±2°. We infer that the bulk of the interstellar medium from which the polarized dust emission originates is threaded by a magnetic field that closely follows the spiral arms. Inside the central starburst disk(<1.6 kpc), the degree of polarization is found to be lower than for far-infrared sources in the Milky Way, and has minima at the locations of most intense star formation near the outer ends of the inner-bar. Inside the starburst ring, the field direction deviates from the model, becoming more radial along the leading edges of the inner-bar. The polarized flux and dust temperature peak∼3′′–6′′NE of the AGN at the location of a bow shock between the AGN outflow and the surrounding interstellar medium, but the AGN itself is weakly polarized(<1%)at both 53 and 89μm.

Active galactic nuclei↗

High-speed bullet ejections during the AGB-to-planetary nebula transition: HST observations of the carbon star, v hydrae

The well-studied carbon star, V Hya, showing evidence for high-speed, collimated outflows and dense equatorial structures, is a key object in the study of the poorly understood transition of AGB stars into aspherical planetary nebulae. Using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph instrument on board the Hubble Space Telescope, we have obtained high spatial-resolution long-slit optical spectra of V Hya that show high-velocity emission in [S ii] and [Fe ii] lines. Our data set, spanning three epochs spaced apart by a year during each of two periods (in 2002–2004 and 2011–2013), shows that V Hya ejects high-speed (∼200–250 km s{sup −1}) bullets once every ∼8.5 years. The ejection axis flip–flops around a roughly eastern direction, both in and perpendicular to the sky-plane, and the radial velocities of the ejecta also vary in concert between low and high values. We propose a model in which the bullet ejection is associated with the periastron passage of a binary companion in an eccentric orbit around V Hya with an orbital period of ∼8.5 years. The flip–flop phenomenon is likely the result of collimated ejection from an accretion disk (produced by gravitational capture of material from the primary) that is warped and precessing, and/or that has a magnetic field that is misaligned with that of the companion or the primary star. We show how a previously observed 17 year period in V Hya’s light-cycle can also be explained in our model. Additionally, we describe how the model proposed here can be extended to account for multipolar nebulae.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Highly ionized gas in the Galactic disk: The l = 295 deg, b,= 0 deg interarm direction

I present new high-resolution measurements of ultraviolet interstellar absorption lines toward three distant stars in the Galactic disk in the general direction l = 295 deg, b = 0 deg. The high ionization lines of Si IV and C IV toward HD 100276, HD 103779, and HD 104705 show substantial variations on angular scales of less than 1 deg, or about 50-100 pc at the distance of the stars. The Si IV and C IV midplane densities derived for HD 100276 and HD 103779 are N(sub o) (Si IV) approximately = 1.3 x 10(exp -9) cm(exp -3) and n(sub o)(C IV) approximately = 4.5 x 10(exp -9) cvm(exp -3), approximately a factor of 2-3 lower than the Galactic averages. Toward HD 104705, the Si IV midplane density is near the average value, but the C IV midplane density is a factor of 3 higher than average. The integrated C IV and Si IV ratios along the HD 100276 and HD 100379 sight lines are similar to the N(C IV)/N(Si IV) = 3.6 +/- 1.3 ratio for a sample of halo stars. For the HD 104705 sight line, N(C IV)/N(Si IV) = 11 and N(C IV)/N(N V) greater than 10. Turbulent mixing layers provide a possible source for the observed absorption along the three sight lines as does gas associated with cooling flows. If mixing layers are the primary source of the absorption along the disk sight lines, then the entrainment velocity of the hot gas is approximately 100 km/s and the post mixed gas temperature is approximately 2 x 10(exp 5) K; same differences may exist for these mixing layers compared to those inferred for gas toward the Galactic poles. Current models of cooling, hot gas in supernova remnants, and magnetized conduction fronts do not accurately describe the high ion properties toward the disk stars in this study.

Sembach, Kenneth R.↗

Magnetar-powered Supernovae in Two Dimensions. II. Broad-line Supernovae Ic

Nascent neutron stars (NSs) with millisecond periods and magnetic fields in excess of 10{sup 16} Gauss can drive highly energetic and asymmetric explosions known as magnetar-powered supernovae. These exotic explosions are one theoretical interpretation for supernovae Ic-BL, which are sometimes associated with long gamma-ray bursts. Twisted magnetic field lines extract the rotational energy of the NS and release it as a disk wind or a jet with energies greater than 10{sup 52} erg over ∼20 s. What fraction of the energy of the central engine go into the wind and the jet remain unclear. We have performed two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of magnetar-powered supernovae (SNe) driven by disk winds and jets with the CASTRO code to investigate the effect of the central engine on nucleosynthetic yields, mixing, and light curves. We find that these explosions synthesize less than 0.05 M{sub ⊙} of {sup 56}Ni and that this mass is not very sensitive to central engine type. The morphology of the explosion can provide a powerful diagnostic of the properties of the central engine. In the absence of a circumstellar medium, these events are not very luminous, with peak bolometric magnitudes of M{sub b}∼−16.5 due to low {sup 56}Ni production.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Swift Observations of SMC X-3 during Its 2016–2017 Super-Eddington Outburst

The Be X-ray pulsar SMC X-3 underwent a giant outburst from 2016 August to 2017 March, which was monitored with the Swift satellite. During the outburst, its broadband flux increased dramatically, and the unabsorbed X-ray luminosity reached an extreme value of ∼10{sup 39} erg s{sup −1} around August 24. Using the Swift/XRT data, we measured the observed pulse frequency of the neutron star to compute the orbital parameters of the binary system. After applying the orbital corrections to Swift observations, we found that the spin frequency increased steadily from 128.02 mHz on August 10 and approached the spin equilibrium of ∼128.74 mHz in 2017 January with an unabsorbed luminosity of L{sub X}∼2×10{sup 37} erg s{sup −1}, indicating a strong dipolar magnetic field of B∼6.8×10{sup 12} G at the neutron star surface. The spin-up rate is tightly correlated with its X-ray luminosity during the super-Eddington outburst. The pulse profile in the Swift/XRT data is variable, showing double peaks at the early stage of outburst and then merging into a single peak at low luminosity. Additionally, we report that a low-temperature (kT∼0.2 keV) thermal component emerges in the phase-averaged spectra as the flux decays, and it may be produced from the outer truncated disk or the boundary layer between the exterior flow and the magnetosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NuSTAR DISCOVERY OF A CYCLOTRON LINE IN KS 1947+300

We present a spectral analysis of three simultaneous Nuclear Spectroscopy Telescope Array and Swift/XRT observations of the transient Be-neutron star binary KS 1947+300 taken during its outburst in 2013/2014. These broadband observations were supported by Swift/XRT monitoring snapshots every three days, which we use to study the evolution of the spectrum over the outburst. We find strong changes of the power-law photon index, which shows a weak trend of softening with increasing X-ray flux. The neutron star shows very strong pulsations with a period of P ≈ 18.8 s. The 0.8-79 keV broadband spectrum can be described by a power law with an exponential cutoff and a blackbody component at low energies. During the second observation we detect a cyclotron resonant scattering feature at 12.5 keV, which is absent in the phase-averaged spectra of observations 1 and 3. Pulse phase-resolved spectroscopy reveals that the strength of the feature changes strongly with pulse phase and is most prominent during the broad minimum of the pulse profile. At the same phases the line also becomes visible in the first and third observation at the same energy. This discovery implies that KS 1947+300 has a magnetic field strength of B ≈ 1.1 × 10{sup 12}(1 + z) G, which is at the lower end of known cyclotron line sources.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

High magnetic field trapping in monolithic single-grain YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) bulk materials

Results of our study on high magnetic field trapping in unirradiated, high quality monolithic single-grain YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) disks are reported. A record high 4 T trapped field at the surface of the unirradiated disks is observed. However, below 11 K, large flux avalanches caused by thermal instability severely limit the remnant trapped field. Therefore, flux avalanche, rather than Jc x d, dictates the maximum trapped field at low temperatures. To overcome this problem, a strong high temperature superconductor trapped field magnet is proposed. A novel application of the avalanche effect is also mentioned.

Gao, L.↗

Relativistic Disk Reflection in the Neutron Star X-Ray BinaryXTE J1709-267 with NuSTAR

We perform the first reflection study of the soft X-ray transient and Type 1 burst source XTE J1709-267 using NuSTAR observations during its 2016 June outburst. There was an increase in flux near the end of the observations, which corresponds to an increase from ∼0.04 L {sub Edd} to ∼0.06 L {sub Edd} assuming a distance of 8.5 kpc. We have separately examined spectra from the low- and high-flux intervals, which are soft and show evidence of a broad Fe K line. Fits to these intervals with relativistic disk reflection models have revealed an inner-disk radius of 13.8{sub −1.8}{sup +3.0} R{sub g} (where R{sub g}=GM/c{sup 2}) for the low-flux spectrum and 23.4{sub −5.4}{sup +15.6} R{sub g} for the high-flux spectrum at the 90% confidence level. The disk is likely truncated by a boundary layer surrounding the neutron star (NS) or the magnetosphere. Based on the measured luminosity and the accretion efficiency for a disk around an NS, we estimate that the theoretically expected size for the boundary layer would be ∼0.9--1.1 R{sub g} from the NS’s surface, which can be increased by spin or viscosity effects. Another plausible scenario is that the disk could be truncated by the magnetosphere. We place a conservative upper limit on the strength of the magnetic field at the poles (assuming a{sub ∗}=0 and M{sub NS}=1.4M{sub ⊙}) of B⩽0.75−3.70×10{sup 9} G, though X-ray pulsations have not been detected from this source.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The wavelength dependence of broadband linear polarization in cool stars

A model is developed to investigate the effect of wavelength dependence of magnetically generated broadband linear polarization (BLP) in late-type stars as a function of line blanketing, observation filters, and other variables. Linear polarization is assumed to be a single 'average' line and the line opacity, magnetic area filling factor, and continuum intensity are incorporated to establish an equation for disk-generated BLP. The method is investigated by computing special models for the flare star BY Dra and the sun which are compared to previous calculations. The model is shown to agree with the calculations of BLP, and the magnetic BLP dependent on wavelengths varies significantly from the simple power law dependences on wavelength. The model sets lower limits to the area occupied by magnetic regions, and an upper limit to the expected BLP also results from the formulation.

Saar, Steven H.↗

CONTINUUM INTENSITY AND [O i] SPECTRAL LINE PROFILES IN SOLAR 3D PHOTOSPHERIC MODELS: THE EFFECT OF MAGNETIC FIELDS

The importance of magnetic fields in three-dimensional (3D) magnetoconvection models of the Sun’s photosphere is investigated in terms of their influence on the continuum intensity at different viewing inclination angles and on the intensity profile of two [O i] spectral lines. We use the RH numerical radiative transfer code to perform a posteriori spectral synthesis on the same time series of magnetoconvection models used in our publications on the effect of magnetic fields on abundance determination. We obtain a good match of the synthetic disk-center continuum intensity to the absolute continuum values from the Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) observational spectrum; the match of the center-to-limb variation synthetic data to observations is also good, thanks, in part, to the 3D radiation transfer capabilities of the RH code. The different levels of magnetic flux in the numerical time series do not modify the quality of the match. Concerning the targeted [O i] spectral lines, we find, instead, that magnetic fields lead to nonnegligible changes in the synthetic spectrum, with larger average magnetic flux causing both of the lines to become noticeably weaker. The photospheric oxygen abundance that one would derive if instead using nonmagnetic numerical models would thus be lower by a few to several centidex. The inclusion of magnetic fields is confirmed to be important for improving the current modeling of the Sun, here in particular in terms of spectral line formation and of deriving consistent chemical abundances. These results may shed further light on the still controversial issue regarding the precise value of the solar oxygen abundance.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Imprinting antivortex states from ferromagnetic Fe into antiferromagnetic NiO in epitaxial NiO/Fe/Ag(001) microstructures

Magnetic vortex and antivortex are the two basic topological states in magnetic systems. While the ferromagnetic (FM) vortex state can be formed spontaneously and be imprinted into an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer in AFM/FM disks, the antivortex state has never been realized in AFM films. By fabricating single crystalline NiO/Fe/Ag(001) microstructures, we show that the magnetic antivortex state can be created in the Fe microstructures and imprinted into the AFM NiO layer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

PROTOSTELLAR JETS ENCLOSED BY LOW-VELOCITY OUTFLOWS

A protostellar jet and outflow are calculated for ∼270 yr following the protostar formation using a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics simulation, in which both the protostar and its parent cloud are spatially resolved. A high-velocity (∼100 km s{sup –1}) jet with good collimation is driven near the disk's inner edge, while a low-velocity (≲ 10 km s{sup –1}) outflow with a wide opening angle appears in the outer-disk region. The high-velocity jet propagates into the low-velocity outflow, forming a nested velocity structure in which a narrow high-velocity flow is enclosed by a wide low-velocity flow. The low-velocity outflow is in a nearly steady state, while the high-velocity jet appears intermittently. The time-variability of the jet is related to the episodic accretion from the disk onto the protostar, which is caused by gravitational instability and magnetic effects such as magnetic braking and magnetorotational instability. Although the high-velocity jet has a large kinetic energy, the mass and momentum of the jet are much smaller than those of the low-velocity outflow. A large fraction of the infalling gas is ejected by the low-velocity outflow. Thus, the low-velocity outflow actually has a more significant effect than the high-velocity jet in the very early phase of the star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the Age of the TRAPPIST-1 System

The nearby (d = 12 pc) M8 dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 (2MASS J23062928−0502285) hosts a compact system of at least seven exoplanets with sizes similar to Earth. Given its importance for testing planet formation and evolution theories, and for assessing the prospects for habitability among Earth-size exoplanets orbiting the most common type of star in the Galaxy, we present a comprehensive assessment of the age of this system. We collate empirical age constraints based on the color-absolute magnitude diagram, average density, lithium absorption, surface gravity features, metallicity, kinematics, rotation, and magnetic activity; and conclude that TRAPPIST-1 is a transitional thin/thick disk star with an age of 7.6 ± 2.2 Gyr. The star’s color–magnitude position indicates that it is slightly metal-rich, which is consistent with the previously reported near-infrared spectroscopic metallicity; and it has a radius (R=0.121 ± 0.003 R{sub ⊙}) that is larger by 8%–14% than the predictions of solar-metallicity evolutionary models. We discuss some implications of the old age of this system with regard to the stability and habitability of its planets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗