对孤立中子星1E1207.4-5209 X-射线回旋吸收线的理论分析

近来的观测表明,在射电宁静孤立中子星1E1207．4-5209的X-射线连续谱中存在几条等间隔的吸收线,能量分别为0．7、1．4和2．1keV．根据近年发展的四极近似下的量子回旋辐射理论,澄清了目前的一些疑问,肯定了它们是电子回旋吸收线,而不是质子回旋线．并从理论上确定了该中子星自转轴的空间取向．     

吸积双星脉冲星EXO2030+375中回旋吸收线的迹象

本文作者首次发现了EXO 2030+375的回旋吸收线迹象.这是迄今唯一一个同时有用回旋吸收线直接测量的磁场数据和用吸积演化方法间接测量的中子星磁矩数据的X射线脉冲星.两种测量方法的结果有很大差别,本文提出了可能导致这种差别的物理机制.     

用INTEGRAL/IBIS卫星研究GX301-2中回旋共振散射线性质（英文）

利用INTEGRAL/IBIS卫星2003~2011年对X射线双星GX 301-2的观测数据,系统研究了GX 301-2在不同吸积光度和轨道相位的谱性质,得到GX 301-2的回旋吸收线的性质与X射线光度无关,其能量在35~47 ke V之间,且能量与光指数和截断能量正相关,回旋吸收线的深度与截断能量有弱正相关,这表明在吸积X射线脉冲星中,回旋共振散射线对截断能量有很大影响。而回旋吸收线宽度与能量比值和深度正相关,这表明在GX 301-2表面存在一个吸积柱。由GX 301-2的自旋周期得到表面磁场强度大约为2×1014Gs,与通过回旋吸收线得到的磁场强度不符,但可以用吸积柱模型很好地解释。     

反常X射线脉冲星的研究进展

反常X射线脉冲星（Anomalous X-ra Pulsars，简称AXP）是一类特殊的X射线源。与X射线脉冲星（通常处于大质量X射线双星系统中）相比，它们具有以下特征：X射线谱较软、光度低页稳定（≈10^27－10^29J.s^-1）、自转周期集中在10s左右稳定增长、迄今没有找到它们的光学、红外、射电的对应体、有一些可能戌超新星遗迹成协等。由观测到的自转周期变化可以确定它们的自转能损不足以提供有X射线辐射。解释AXP能源机制的理论模型目前主要有两大类：在吸积模型中，AXP被认为具有正常磁场强度（≈10^8T）的中子量，物质吸积提供X射线辐射原能源，并造成中子星的自转变化；另一种观点认为AXP是具有超强磁场（≈10^10-10^11T）的中子量（即磁星），其辐射能源来自它们巨大的磁或残余的热能，观测到的自转周期及其变化被归因子中子星的磁偶极辐射和物质抛射。两种模型各有优缺点，但目前看来观测事实对磁星模型较为有利。为了进一步明确AXP的性质，提供解释它们能源机制的线索，在介绍AXP的基本观测特征和理论解释的基础上，还将AXP与射电脉冲星、特强磁场射电脉冲量、射电宁静脉冲星侯选体及软γ射线复现源分别进行了比较。     

γ爆的磁流管模型

本文讨论了一种基于老年中子星的γ爆的磁流管模型.这个模型认为中子星表面磁场包含有两种成分,一种为弱的偶极背景磁场,另一种为细管状局域强磁场.此模型可以同时解释回旋吸收线和高能尾巴的存在.本文还计算了磁场为1.7×10~(12)G时的Compton散射截面。对于GB880205,根据吸收线的深度定出磁流管内电子数密度与管的直径之积约为10~(21)cm~(-2).     

X射线暴振荡的研究进展

X射线暴振荡是在小质量X射线双星的I型X射线暴中探测到的周期性现象,振荡的周期与中子星的自转周期接近。近些年来,RXTE和NICER等高能探测器在30个小质量X射线双星中探测到了爆发振荡现象。X射线暴振荡对研究致密物质状态、中子星表面强引力和强磁场行为等都有着重要的意义。文章介绍了I型X射线暴和爆发振荡的搜索方法、爆发振荡的观测结果、爆发振荡的热斑模型和表面模式振荡模型,未来,X射线暴振荡将用于测量中子星质量、半径和自转。     

中子星的第二类磁场

以往普遍认为,中子星具有的磁场是衰减性的,衰减时标约为(5—9)×10~6年。近年发现了另一种不衰减或衰减极慢的磁场,称之为第二类磁场。本文将对中子星的这种第二类磁场的研究现状作比较系统的介绍和述评。非常可能,这种磁场相当普遍地存在于各类中子星。脉冲星、X射线双星以及γ射线爆源,都可能存在着这种第二类磁场。     

Ⅰ型X射线暴和中子星周围物质的相互作用研究进展

Ⅰ型X射线暴是发生在中子星小质量X射线双星表面的不稳定核燃烧过程。Ⅰ型X射线暴的辐射可对中子星周围的物质产生显著影响。文章回顾了Ⅰ型X射线暴与中子星周围物质之间的相互作用的观测结果和理论解释,包括坡印亭-罗伯逊效应引起的吸积率增加、Ⅰ型X射线暴能谱中的吸收限特征、吸积盘反射、千赫兹准周期震荡信号的变化、冕冷却导致的硬X射线缺失等;此外,还介绍了NICER卫星相关观测的最新进展。     

γ爆的一种新模型

本文提出了关于γ爆的一种新模型，认为γ爆起源于老年中子星，老年中子星表面磁场包含两部分：一为弱的背景偶极磁场；另一为细管状局域强磁场，该模型可以同时解释γ爆能谱中回旋吸收线和高能尾巴的存在。本文用蒙特卡洛方法拟合了ＧＢ８８０２０５的能谱，与观测结构符合得比较好。     

Cyg X-3X光子场对γ射线的吸收效应

本文详细讨论了X射线双星Cyg X-3 的X光子场对γ射线的吸收效应.计算结果表明:当Cyg x-3 的X光子发射场处于高态时,从致密中子星附近发射的能量为10~2—10~4MeV的γ射线约有60％被其吸收,吸收过程产生的正负电子的逆Compton 散射会使出射能量10—70MeV的γ射线强度平均增加约50％.计算的γ射线能谱与实验观测结果基本相符.     

NuSTAR observations of the X-ray pulsar LMC X-4: A constraint on the magnetic field and tomography of the system in the fluorescent iron line

We present the results of the spectral and timing analysis of the X-ray pulsar LMC X-4 based on data from the NuSTAR observatory in the broad X-ray energy range 3–79 keV. Along with a detailed analysis of the source’s averaged spectrum, high-precision spectra corresponding to different phases of the neutron star spin cycle have been obtained for the first time. The Comptonization model is shown to describe best the source’s spectrum, and the evolution of its parameters as a function of the pulse phase has been traced. For all spectra (the averaged and phase-resolved ones) in the energy range 5–55 keV we have searched for the cyclotron absorption line. The derived upper limit on the optical depth of the cyclotron line τ ~ 0.15 (3σ) points to the absence of this feature in the given energy range, which provides a constraint on the magnetic field of the neutron star: B <3 × 10¹¹ or >6.5 × 10¹² G. The latter constraint is consistent with the magnetic field estimate obtained by analyzing the pulsar’s power spectrum, B ? 3 × 10¹³ G. Based on our analysis of the phase-resolved spectra, we have determined the delay between the emission peaks and the equivalent width of the fluorescent iron line. This delay depends on the orbital phase and is apparently associated with the travel time of photons between the emitting regions in the vicinity of the neutron star and the region where the flux is reflected (presumably in the inflowing stream or at the place of interaction between the stream and the outer edge of the accretion disk).     

Cyclotron Lines: From Magnetic Field Strength Estimators to Geometry Tracers in Neutron Stars

With forty years since the discovery of the first cyclotron line in Her X-1, there have been remarkable advancements in the field related to the study of the physics of accreting neutron stars – cyclotron lines have been a major torchbearer in this regard, from being the only direct estimator of the magnetic field strength, a tracer of accretion geometry and an indicator of the emission beam in these systems. The main flurry of activities have centred around studying the harmonic separations, luminosity dependence, pulse phase dependence and more recently, the shapes of the line and the trend for long-term evolution in the line energy. This article visits the important results related to cyclotron lines since its discovery and reviews their significance. An emphasis is laid on pulse phase resolved spectroscopy and the important clues a joint timing and spectral study in this context can provide, to build a complete picture for the physics of accretion and hence X-ray emission in accreting neutron stars.     

On the possibility of disk-fed formation in supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries

We consider the existence of a neutron star magnetic field by the detected cyclotron lines. We collected data on nine sources of high-mass X-ray binaries with supergiant companions as a test case for our model, to demonstrate their distribution and evolution. The wind velocity, spin period and magnetic field strength are studied under different mass loss rates. In our model, correlations between mass-loss rate and wind velocity are found and can be tested in further observations. We examine the parameter space where wind accretion is allowed, avoiding the barrier of rotating magnetic fields, with robust data on the magnetic field of neutron stars. Our model shows that most sources(six of nine systems) can be fed by the wind with relatively slow velocity, and this result is consistent with previous predictions. In a few sources,our model cannot fit the standard wind accretion scenario. In these peculiar cases, other scenarios(disk formation, partial Roche lobe overflow) should be considered. This would provide information about the evolutionary tracks of various types of binaries, and thus exhibit a clear dichotomy behavior in wind-fed X-ray binary systems.     

On the theory of X-ray pulsar radiation

The origin of hard X-ray spectrum (continuum and cyclotron lines) of pulsars in binary systems is discussed. A model of the polar region of a neutron star consisting of a hot spot in a dense plasma atmosphere with a quasi-homogeneous magnetic field and an extended accreting column in an inhomogeneous dipolar field is investigated. In the hot spot bremsstrahlung and Thomson scattering form continuum radiation, while bremsstrahlung and cyclotron scattering produce the absorption cyclotron lines. By the observed continuum intensity one can estimate the maximum distances to pulsars. Cyclotron scattering in gyro-resonant layers localized in the accreting column leads to a general attenuation of the radiation of a hot spot, but is unable to ensure the formation of cyclotron lines. For strong accretion the hot spot radiation becomes insignificant, the lines disappear and the pulsating component of an X-ray pulsar is produced by the accreting column bremsstrahlung transformed by Thomson scattering.     

Resonant cyclotron scattering and Comptonization in neutron star magnetospheres

Resonant cyclotron scattering of the surface radiation in the magnetospheres of neutron stars may considerably modify the emergent spectra and impede efforts to constrain neutron star properties. Resonant cyclotron scattering by a non-relativistic warm plasma in an inhomogeneous magnetic field has a number of unusual characteristics. (i) In the limit of high resonant optical depth, the cyclotron resonant layer is half opaque , in sharp contrast to the case of non-resonant scattering. (ii) The transmitted flux is on average Compton up-scattered by  ∼1 + 2β_T  , where  β_T  is the typical thermal velocity in units of the velocity of light; the reflected flux has on average the initial frequency. (iii) For both the transmitted and reflected fluxes, the dispersion of intensity decreases with increasing optical depth. (iv) The emergent spectrum is appreciably non-Planckian while narrow spectral features produced at the surface may be erased.
We derive semi-analytically modification of the surface Planckian emission due to multiple scattering between the resonant layers and apply the model to the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E  1048.1 − 5937  . Our simple model fits just as well as the 'canonical' magnetar spectra model of a blackbody plus power law.     

4U 0115+63 from RXTE and INTEGRAL data: Pulse profile and cyclotron line energy

We analyze the observations of the transient X-ray pulsar 4U 0115+63 with the RXTE and INTEGRAL observatories in a wide X-ray (3–100 keV) energy band during its intense outbursts in 1999 and 2004. The energy of the fundamental harmonic of the cyclotron resonance absorption line near the maximum of the X-ray flux from the source (luminosity range 5 × 10³⁷–2 × 10³⁸ erg s^?1) is ～11 keV. When the pulsar luminosity falls below ～5 × 10³⁷ erg s^?1, the energy of the fundamental harmonic is displaced sharply toward the high energies, up to ～16 keV. Under the assumption of a dipole magnetic field configuration, this change in cyclotron harmonic energy corresponds to a decrease in the height of the emitting region by ～2 km, while other spectral parameters, in particular, the cutoff energy, remain essentially constant. At a luminosity ～7 × 10³⁷ erg s^?1, four almost equidistant cyclotron line harmonics are recorded in the spectrum. This suggests that either the region where the emission originates is compact or the emergent spectrum from different (in height) segments of the accretion column is uniform. We have found significant pulse profile variations with energy, luminosity, and time. In particular, we show that the profile variations from pulse to pulse are not reduced to a simple modulation of the accretion rate specified by external conditions.     

Neutron Stars in X-ray Binaries and their Environments

Neutron stars in X-ray binary systems are fascinating objects that display a wide range of timing and spectral phenomena in the X-rays. Not only parameters of the neutron stars, like magnetic field strength and spin period evolve in their active binary phase, the neutron stars also affect the binary systems and their immediate surroundings in many ways. Here we discuss some aspects of the interactions of the neutron stars with their environments that are revelaed from their X-ray emission. We discuss some recent developments involving the process of accretion onto high magnetic field neutron stars: accretion stream structure and formation, shape of pulse profile and its changes with accretion torque. Various recent studies of reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disk surface, vertical structures of the accretion disk and wind of companion star are also discussed here. The X-ray pulsars among the binary neutron stars provide excellent handle to make accurate measurement of the orbital parameters and thus also evolution of the binray orbits that take place over time scale of a fraction of a million years to tens of millions of years. The orbital period evolution of X-ray binaries have shown them to be rather complex systems. Orbital evolution of X-ray binaries can also be carried out from timing of the X-ray eclipses and there have been some surprising results in that direction, including orbital period glitches in two X-ray binaries and possible detection of the most massive circum-binary planet around a Low Mass X-ray Binary.     

Optimal dynamos in the cores of terrestrial exoplanets: Magnetic field generation and detectability

A potentially promising way to gain knowledge about the internal dynamics of extrasolar planets is by remote measurement of an intrinsic magnetic field. Strong planetary magnetic fields, maintained by internal dynamo action in an electrically conducting fluid layer, are helpful for shielding the upper atmosphere from stellar wind induced mass loss and retaining water over long (Gyr) time scales. Here we present a whole planet dynamo model that consists of three main components: an internal structure model with composition and layers similar to the Earth, an optimal mantle convection model that is designed to maximize the heat flow available to drive convective dynamo action in the core, and a scaling law to estimate the magnetic field intensity at the surface of a terrestrial exoplanet. We find that the magnetic field intensity at the core surface can be up to twice the present-day geomagnetic field intensity, while the magnetic moment varies by a factor of 20 over the models considered. Assuming electron cyclotron emission is produced from the interaction between the stellar wind and the exoplanet magnetic field we estimate the cyclotron frequencies around the ionospheric cutoff at 10 MHz with emission fluxes in the range 10⁻⁴-10⁻⁷ Jy, below the current detection threshold of radio telescopes. However, we propose that anomalous boosts and modulations to the magnetic field intensity and cyclotron emission may allow for their detection in the future.     

磁化中子星发射线的激射不稳定性理论

在中子星磁轴吸积柱的上部,少数高能电子通过磁镜点反射,可使部份电子的速度分布形成非热分布,由此激发激射(Maser)不稳定性。波被放大,发射出频率近似为电子迴旋频率及其倍频的相干辐射。用此模型计算了HerX-1的迴旋线发射。发现不稳定性增长率与吸积柱中电子数密度成正比,因而比非相干散射产生的连续辐射随电子数密度增长更快;而且发射线的强度和能量均与脉冲相位关联。这个理论可解释近期的HerX-1观测结果。     

Magnetic fields of coalescing neutron stars and the luminosity function of short gamma-ray bursts

Coalescing binary neutron stars are the most promising candidates for detection by gravitational-wave detectors and are considered to be most promising for explaining the phenomenon of short gamma-ray bursts. The magnetic fields of neutron stars during their coalescence can produce a number of interesting observational manifestations and can affect significantly the shape of the gravitationalwave signal. In this paper, we model the distribution of magnetic fields in coalescing neutron stars by the population synthesis method using various assumptions about the initial parameters of the neutron stars and the evolution laws of their magnetic fields. We discuss possible electromagnetic phenomena preceding the coalescence of magnetized neutron stars and the effect of magnetic field energy on the shape of the gravitational-wave signal during the coalescence. For a log-normal (Gaussian in logarithm) distribution of the initialmagnetic fields consistent with the observations of radio pulsars, the distribution inmagnetic field energy during the coalescence is shown to describe adequately the observed luminosity function of short gamma-ray bursts under various assumptions about the pattern of field evolution and initial parameters of neutron stars.