17648096
Non-Axisymmetric g-Mode and p-Mode Instability in a Thin Accretion Disk
It has been suggested that quasi-periodic oscillations of accreting X-ray sources may relate to the modes named in the title. We idealize a thin accretion disk by means of the shearing sheet model and derive a wave equation for nonaxisymmetric perturbations. We show that the equation can be transformed into the Whittaker equation, which enables us to write down analytical solutions. For modes with vertical wave number n > 0, there are four distinct permitted regions for waves, separated by two forbidden regions and a corotation resonance. We show that each forbidden region behaves like a wave amplifier so that any wave incident on it is reflected with a larger amplitude. The corotation resonance, however, behaves like a strong wave absorber. Following Kato (2001b, 2002), we look for internally trapped growing g-modes in which most of the wave action is concentrated in the region between the two forbidden zones. We find that there are no such modes in the shearing sheet. We discuss whether such modes may be present in more general shear flows that deviate from the idealized shearing sheet. We conclude that instability, though not ruled out, is likely to be rare. We also analyse externally trapped p-modes in which the wave action is concentrated in an external cavity between one of the forbidden zones and the inner edge of the disk. Unstable modes are certainly possible in this case. Moreover, the wave amplification can be substantially larger for n = 1 than for the previously studied case of n = 0. Therefore, n = 1 p-modes might have significant growth rates in realistic disks, provided that the disk inner edge reflects waves reasonably well. Subject headings: accretion, accretion disks — instabilities — waves — X-rays: binaries
10326293
New light on time machines: Against the chronology protection conjecture.
I construct a spacetime with closed timelike curves and without closed causal geodesics. There is a noncompactly generated Cauchy horizon separating the region with closed timelike curves from that without closed causal curves. This spacetime might be stable against the vacuum fluctuation of matter fields. Whether such a spacetime is stable against the vacuum fluctuation of a gravitational field is an open question.
11909154
The X‐ray transient 080109 in NGC 2770: an X‐ray flash associated with a normal core‐collapse supernova
Although it is generally thought that long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) are associated with core-collapse supernovae (SNe), so far only four pairs of GRBs and SNe with firmly established connection have been found. All the four GRB-SNe belong to special class of Type Ic – called the broad-lined SNe indicative of a large explosion energy, suggesting that only a small fraction of SNe Ibc have GRBs associated with them. This scheme has been refreshed by the discovery of a bright X-ray transient in NGC 2770 on 2008 January 9, which was followed by a rather normal Type Ib SN 2008D. In this paper, I argue that the transient 080109 is an X-ray flash (XRF, the soft version of a GRB) because of the following evidence. (1) The transient cannot be interpreted as a SN shock breakout event. (2) The GRB X-ray flare interpretation is not supported by the high-energy observation. I then show that XRF 080109 satisfies the well-known relation between the isotropic-equivalent energy and the peak spectral energy for LGRBs, which highly strengthens the XRF interpretation. Finally, I point out that the peak spectral energy of XRF 080109 and the maximum bolometric luminosity of SN 2008D agree with the E γ, peak–LSN,max relationship of Li, strengthening the validity of the relationship. I speculate that events like XRF 080109 may occur at a rate comparable to SNe Ibc, and a soft X-ray telescope devoted to surveying for nearby X-ray flares will be very fruitful in discovering them.
39373169
Can the universe create itself
The question of first-cause has troubled philosophers and cosmologists alike. Now that it is apparent that our universe began in a Big Bang explosion, the question of what happened before the Big Bang arises. Inflation seems like a very promising answer, but as Borde and Vilenkin have shown, the inflationary state preceding the Big Bang must have had a beginning also. Ultimately, the difficult question seems to be how to make something out of nothing. This paper explores the idea that this is the wrong question --- that that is not how the Universe got here. Instead, we explore the idea of whether there is anything in the laws of physics that would prevent the Universe from creating itself. Because spacetimes can be curved and multiply connected, general relativity allows for the possibility of closed timelike curves (CTCs). Thus, tracing backwards in time through the original inflationary state we may eventually encounter a region of CTCs giving no first-cause. This region of CTCs, may well be over by now (being bounded toward the future by a Cauchy horizon). We illustrate that such models --- with CTCs --- are not necessarily inconsistent by demonstrating self-consistent vacuums for Misner space and a multiply connected de Sitter space in which the renormalized energy-momentum tensor does not diverge as one approaches the Cauchy horizon and solves Einstein's equations. We show such a Universe can be classically stable and self-consistent if and only if the potentials are retarded, giving a natural explanation of the arrow of time. Some specific scenarios (out of many possible ones) for this type of model are described. For example: an inflationary universe gives rise to baby universes, one of which turns out to be itself. Interestingly, the laws of physics may allow the Universe to be its own mother.
118518653
Constraining fast radio burst progenitors with gravitational lensing
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are new transient radio sources discovered recently. Because of the angular resolution restriction in radio surveys, no optical counter part has been identified yet so it is hard to determine the progenitor of FRBs. In this paper we propose to use radio lensing survey to constrain FRB progenitors. We show that, different types of progenitors lead to different probabilities for a FRB to be gravitationally lensed by dark matter halos in foreground galaxies, since different type progenitors result in different redshift distributions of FRBs. For example, the redshift distribution of FRBs arising from double stars shifts toward lower redshift than of the FRBs arising from single stars, because double stars and single stars have different evolution timescales. With detailed calculations, we predict that the FRB sample size for producing one lensing event varies significantly for different FRB progenitor models. We argue that this fact can be used to distinguish different FRB models and also discuss the practical possibility of using lensing observation in radio surveys to constrain FRB progenitors.
11692409
Electromagnetic energy for a charged Kerr black hole in a uniform magnetic field
With the Komar mass formula we calculate the electromagnetic energy for a charged Kerr black hole in a uniform magnetic field. We find that the total electromagnetic energy takes the minimum when the Kerr black hole possesses a nonzero net charge $Q=2\ensuremath{\xi}{B}_{0}{J}_{H}$ where ${B}_{0}$ is the strength of the magnetic field, ${J}_{H}$ is the angular momentum of the black hole, and $\ensuremath{\xi}$ is a dimensionless parameter determined by the spin of the black hole. However, the Wald state with ${Q=2B}_{0}{J}_{H}$ does not minimize the electromagnetic energy.
123143121
Gravitational wave detection: stochastic resonance method with matched filtering
Along with the development of the interferometric gravitational wave detector, we enter into an epoch of the gravitational wave astronomy, which will open a brand new window for astrophysics to observe our universe. However, the gravitational wave detection is a typical weak signal detection, and this weak signal is buried in a strong instrument noise. To our knowledge, almost all of the data analysis methods in gravitational wave detection at present are based on a matched filtering. So it is desirable to take advantage of stochastic resonance methods. However, the all of the stochastic resonance methods are general based on a Fourier transformation and fall short of the matched filtering as a usable technique. In this paper we relate the stochastic resonance to the matched filtering. Our results show that the stochastic resonance can indeed be combined with the matched filtering for both the periodic and the non-periodic input signal. This encouraging result will be the first step to apply the stochastic resonance to the matched filtering in gravitational wave detection. Moreover, based on the matched filtering, we firstly propose a novel measurement method for the stochastic resonance which is valid for both the periodic and the non-periodic driven signal.
94784651
Experimental investigation of bubble occurrence and locality distribution of bubble detectors bombarded with high-energy helium ions
Abstract Large-sized bubble detectors with microscopic droplets of superheated liquids of dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon-12), dichlorotetrafluoroethane (Freon-114), tetrafluoroethane (Freon-134a), and mixture of Freon-12 and Freon-114, respectively, were irradiated with 150 MeV/amu helium ions at the HIMAC accelerator in NIRS, Chiba, Japan. Distributions of bubbles produced by the helium ions have been studied in each type of the detectors. The origin of the bubbles has been investigated. The detection efficiency of each type of the bubble detectors for helium ions with respect to the energy of the ions has been obtained. The phenomenon of bubble occurrence and its possible applications to the determination of He intensity from accelerators, research of track formation mechanism, energy loss straggling and neutron detection in the space and at higher altitude are discussed.
118373072
Pulsar wind model for the spin-down behavior of intermittent pulsars
Intermittent pulsars are part-time radio pulsars. They have higher slow down rates in the on state (radio-loud) than in the off state (radio-quiet). This gives evidence that particle wind may play an important role in pulsar spindown. The effect of particle acceleration is included in modeling the rotational energy loss rate of the neutron star. Applying the pulsar wind model to the three intermittent pulsars (PSR B1931+24, PSR J1841–0500, and PSR J1832+0029) allows their magnetic fields and inclination angles to be calculated simultaneously. The theoretical braking indices of intermittent pulsars are also given. In the pulsar wind model, the density of the particle wind can always be the Goldreich-Julian density. This may ensure that different on states of intermittent pulsars are stable. The duty cycle of particle wind can be determined from timing observations. It is consistent with the duty cycle of the on state. Inclination angle and braking index observations of intermittent pulsars may help to test different models of particle acceleration. At present, the inverse Compton scattering induced space charge limited flow with field saturation model can be ruled out.
22553852
Magnetic Field Measurement of the Quadrupole and Sextupole Magnets for HLS-II Storage Ring
The Hefei Light Source upgrade project (HLS-II) contains 8 dipoles, 32 quadrupoles (2 spares), and 32 sextupoles (2 spares) for the storage ring. Magnets were manufactured and magnetic measurements were performed in collaboration with the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), China. Magnet production and validation measurements were finished in December of 2012. Measurements for all quadrupole and sextupole magnets were performed using a harmonic coil magnetic measurements system. This paper describes the magnets and the measurement system and presents results for the integrated field strength, higher order multipole components, offsets between the mechanical and magnetic centers, and the effective length of the multipole magnets.
14270541
Structure and evolution of low-mass W UMa-type systems
The structure and evolution of low-mass W UMa-type contact binaries are discussed by employing Eggleton's stellar evolution code. Assuming that these systems completely satisfy Roche geometry for contact binaries with every kind of mass ratio (0.02-1.0) we calculate the relative radii (R-1.2/A, where R-1.2 are the radii of both stars and A is the orbital separation) of both components of contact binaries with different contact depths between inner and outer Roche lobes. We obtain a radius grid of contact binaries and can ensure the surfaces of two components lying on an equipotential surface by interpolation using this radius grid when we follow the evolution of the contact binaries. There are serious uncertainties concerning mainly the transfer of energy in these systems, i.e. it is unclear how and where the energy is transferred. We assume that the energy transfer takes place in different regions of the common envelope to investigate the effects of the region of energy transfer on the structure and evolution of contact binaries. We find that the region of energy transfer has a significant influence on the structure and evolution of contact binaries, and conclude that the energy transfer may occur in the outermost layers of the common convective envelope for W-type systems, and that this transfer takes place in the deeper layers of the common envelope for A-type systems. Meanwhile, if we assume that the energy transfer takes place in the outermost layers for our model with low total mass, and find that our model steadily evolves towards a system with a smaller mass ratio and a deeper envelope, suggesting that some A-type W UMa systems with low total mass could be considered as the later evolutionary stages of W-subtype systems, and that the surface temperature of the secondary exceeds that of the primary during the time when the primary expands rapidly, or the secondary contracts rapidly, suggesting that W-subtype systems may be caused by expansion of the primary, or by the contraction of the secondary.