A thermal model for the microwave burst of 1981 May 13

The main burst of the microwave burst of 1981 May 13 has a smooth, symmetric shape, the lifetime of the main burst is about the same in different wavelengths, the total duration is also about the same and its spectrum has a flat portion. This could be a new gradual type of burst. In this paper, a thermal model is proposed for the emission of this type of burst.     

一个微波爆发的源区磁场和高能电子的能流估计

本文分析了１９９３年１０月２日０７：３９：４０－０７：４１：００ＵＴ时段太阳产生的一个多脉冲微波暴的观测，认为它是由多个脉冲爆发叠加在一个慢变爆发背景上组成的．根据谱分析和利用我们的日冕磁场诊断公式［１］，第一次获得了一个爆发源区的磁场强度和高能电子的信息，其主要结果是：（１）脉冲爆发分量在光薄部分的射电谱指数的平均值比慢变爆发背景的值小１，即前者的谱比后者的硬．在１９．６ＧＨｚ上的亮度温度前者比后者高６倍．（２）从脉冲爆发分量和慢变爆发背景分量推断的源区磁场平均值分别为１５８和５３１高斯，且发现在爆发期间，慢变暴源区磁场强度随时间圣马鞍形变化，在极大相的值比脉冲相和下降相低约５０％（３）产生脉冲暴分量的高能电子的柱密度ＮＬ和数密度Ｎ（＞Ｅ０）分别为慢变暴分量的４％和８％，但它们所携带的能流和发射系数要比慢变爆发分量的值高１倍和８倍！表明这两种爆发成份可能分别来自能谱不同的两群电子在不同爆发源区的辐射．     

A very rare triple-peaked type-I X-ray burst in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636−53

We have discovered a triple-peaked X-ray burst from the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) 4U 1636−53 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer ( RXTE ). This is the first triple-peaked burst reported from any LMXB using RXTE , and it is only the second burst of this kind observed from any source. (The previous one was also from 4U 1636−53, and was observed with EXOSAT .) From fits to time-resolved spectra, we find that this is not a radius-expansion burst, and the same triple-peaked pattern seen in the X-ray light curve is also present in the bolometric light curve of the burst. Similar to what was previously observed in double-peaked bursts from this source, the radius of the emitting area increases steadily during the burst, with short periods in between during which the radius remains more or less constant. The temperature first increases steeply, and then decreases across the burst also showing three peaks. The first and last peak in the temperature profile occur, respectively, significantly before and after the first and last peaks in the X-ray and bolometric light curves. We found no significant oscillations during this burst. This triple-peaked burst, as well as the one observed with EXOSAT and the double-peak bursts in this source, all took place when 4U 1636−53 occupied a relatively narrow region in the colour–colour diagram, corresponding to a relatively high (inferred) mass-accretion rate. No model presently available is able to explain the multiple-peaked bursts.     

Radio evidence for electron acceleration in a cusp-like structure

In the spectrum of the type IV/II radio burst of 1994 July 18 we found a rare superposition of fast and slowly drifting features in the frequency range 100–300 MHz about 1 min before the onset of the shock induced meter wave type II burst. We take this as signatures of the passage of an MHD-like disturbance and the simultaneous injection of two contradirected electron beams. These beams are manifested as an ordinary type III burst and a reverse drift burst starting at the same frequency. Remarkably, the reverse drift burst is visible only due to its absorbtion trace in an underlying continuum patch. We argue that the superimposed burst features are emitted from a common source which covers the top of a closed magnetic field structure and the immediately superposed part (cusp) of the helmet streamer configuration. The radio source is situated immediately at the electron acceleration site.     

Theory of deka-keV solar X-ray bursts

In this paper an attempt has been made to investigate theoretically the time-profile of an X-ray burst observed at photon energies well below 0.5 MeV. Following De Jager (1967) this type of X-bursts is called deka-keV X-ray bursts. The energy distribution of fast electrons which emit the hard X-ray burst has been computed as a function of time. On the basis of these expressions the time-profile of a deka-keV burst has been calculated. In this paper two plausible initial electron distributions were chosen, a mono-energetic distribution and a maxwellian distribution of electron energies. It has been proved that the process of energy loss of an electron is completely governed by losses due to magnetic bremsstrahlung emission. This implies that the decay shape of a deka-keV X-ray burst is determined by the value of the magnetic-field strength existing in the plasma. A typical decay time of an X-ray burst, which is about 3 min, can be expected theoretically from a thermal plasma of temperature 10⁹ °K confined by a magnetic field of about 750 gauss. The theory developed in this paper indicates that the soft X-ray burst accompanying the deka-keV burst lasts much longer than the deka-keV burst itself.     

Turbulence induced additional deceleration in relativistic shock wave propagation: implications for gamma-ray burst

The late afterglow of gamma-ray burst is believed to be due to progressive deceleration of the forward shock wave driven by the gamma-ray burst ejecta propagating in the interstellar medium. We study the dynamic effect of interstellar turbulence on shock wave propagation. It is shown that the shock wave decelerates more quickly than previously assumed without the turbulence. As an observational consequence, an earlier jet break will appear in the light curve of the forward shock wave. The scatter of the jet-corrected energy release for gamma-ray burst, inferred from the jet-break, may be partly due to the physical uncertainties in the turbulence/shock wave interaction. This uncertainties also exist in two shell collisions in the well-known internal shock model proposed for gamma-ray burst prompt emission. The large scatters of known luminosity relations of gamma-ray burst may be intrinsic and thus gamma-ray burst is not a good standard candle. We also discuss the other implications.     

1991年6月6日与白光耀斑共生的微波大爆发

本文简要地介绍了发生于２５４５ＭＨｚ和２６４５ＭＨｚ频率上的一次与白光耀斑共生的微波射电大爆发。该爆发有很高的峰值流量，很高的偏振度和很复杂的偏振状态的变化．同时该爆发的第一主峰期间同时观测到色球层白光耀斑连续辐射。本文还简要地讨论了这次射电爆发与色球白光耀斑的时间演化关系及射电爆发在主峰期间偏振状态急剧变化的原因。     

米波窄带快频漂射电爆发──“Blips”的观测和证认

用云南天文台高时间分辨率（１０ｍｓ）高频率分辨率（０．５ＭＨｚ）的射电频谱仪观测分析证认了米波窄带短持续时间快频漂爆发的存在．这种爆发既不同于经典的ＩＩＩ型爆发，也不同于ｓｐｉｋｅ和Ｉ型爆发，是一种新的米波爆发型别．它的特性与分米波的“ｂｌｉｐｓ”相近．     

The energy dependence of burst oscillations from the accreting millisecond pulsar XTE J1814−338

The nature of the asymmetry that gives rise to Type I X-ray burst oscillations on accreting neutron stars remains a matter of debate. Of particular interest is whether the burst oscillation mechanism differs between the bursting millisecond pulsars and the non-pulsing systems. One means to diagnose this is to study the energy dependence of the burst oscillations: here we present an analysis of oscillations from 28 bursts observed during the 2003 outburst of the accreting millisecond pulsar XTE J1814−338. We find that the fractional amplitude of the burst oscillations falls with energy, in contrast to the behaviour found by Muno et al. in the burst oscillations from a set of non-pulsing systems. The drop with energy mirrors that seen in the accretion-powered pulsations; in this respect XTE J1814−338 behaves like the other accreting millisecond pulsars. The burst oscillations show no evidence for either hard or soft lags, in contrast to the persistent pulsations, which show soft lags of up to 50 μs. The fall in amplitude with energy is inconsistent with current surface-mode and simple hotspot models of burst oscillations. We discuss improvements to the models and uncertainties in the physics that might resolve these issues.     

GRB060602B = Swift J1749.4−2807: an unusual transiently accreting neutron-star X-ray binary

We present an analysis of the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) and X-ray telescope (XRT) data of GRB060602B, which is most likely an accreting neutron star in a binary system and not a gamma-ray burst. Our analysis shows that the BAT burst spectrum is consistent with a thermonuclear flash (type I X-ray burst) from the surface of an accreting neutron star in a binary system. The X-ray binary nature is further confirmed by the report of a detection of a faint point source at the position of the XRT counterpart of the burst in archival XMM–Newton data approximately six year before the burst and in more recent XMM–Newton data obtained at the end of 2006 September (nearly four months after the burst). Since the source is very likely not a gamma-ray burst, we rename the source Swift J1749.4−2807, based on the Swift /BAT discovery coordinates. Using the BAT data of the type I X-ray burst, we determined that the source is at most at a distance of  6.7 ± 1.3 kpc  . For a transiently accreting X-ray binary, its soft X-ray behaviour is atypical: its 2–10 keV X-ray luminosity (as measured using the Swift /XRT data) decreased by nearly three orders of magnitude in about 1 day, much faster than what is usually seen for X-ray transients. If the earlier phases of the outburst also evolved this rapidly, then many similar systems might remain undiscovered because the X-rays are difficult to detect and the type I X-ray bursts might be missed by all the sky surveying instruments. This source might be part of a class of very fast transient low-mass X-ray binary systems of which there may be a significant population in our Galaxy.     

A complex solar radio burst and the characteristics of its related microwave sources and EUV coronal loops

On 2001 Oct. 19, a very complex solar radio burst with a host of interesting features was observed with a broadband (0.7–7.6 GHz) solar radio spectrometer. Combining with the data of NoRH (Nobeyama Radio Heliograph) and TRACE (Transition Region and Corona Explorer), the spectral features of the radio burst, the evolution of the microwave radio sources, and relations with the complex EUV coronal loops are analyzed. The burst is the radio manifestation of a large double-ribbon flare; it consisted of two stages. The earlier stage was dominated bya broadband burst in the centimeter-meter waveband from gyro-synchrotron emission of sources at the footpoints of the loop. The later stage was dominated by a narrow-band decimeter wave burst in the decimetermeter waveband, from a combination of plasma emission and gyro-resonance emission from sources in the top of the loop.     

A study of hard X-ray associated meter-decameter bursts observed on December 19, 1979

We present the results of a study of the relationship of a complex meter-decameter wavelength radio burst observed with the Clark Lake E-W and N-S interferometers, with a hard X-ray burst observed with the X-ray spectrometer aboard ISEE-3. The radio burst consisted of several type III's, reverse drift type III's, a U burst, and type II and type IV bursts. The X-ray emission was also complex. The radio as well as hard X-ray emissions were observed before the flash phase of the flare; they were not always associated and we conjecture that this may constitute evidence for acceleration of electrons high in the corona. On the other hand, all components of the reverse drift burst were associated with hard X-ray subpeaks, indicating multiple injection of electron beams along field lines with different density gradients. While the type II burst appeared to be related to the hard X-ray burst, a detailed correspondence between individual features of the radio and hard X-ray burst emissions could not be found. The type IV burst started after all hard X-ray emissions ceased. Its source appeared to be a magnetic arch, presumably containing energetic electrons responsible for the gyrosynchrotron radiation of type IV.Presently at INPE/CRAAM, São Paulo, Brazil.     

Simultaneous microwave observations of solar flares at 6 and 20 cm wavelengths using the VLA

Using the Very Large Array, solar burst observations have been carried out simultaneously at 6 and 20 cm. Structural changes and preheating have been observed in the flaring regions on time scales of minutes to tens of minutes before the onset of the burst impulsive phase. The 6 cm burst sources are located close to the neutral line, or near the legs of a flaring loop. The 20 cm burst sources show complex and extended structures spatially separated from both the preburst emission and the gradual decay phase of the burst. We interpret the observations in terms of a two-component flare model (bulk heating as well as acceleration of particles) and derive the physical parameters of the burst sources.On leave of absence from Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, India.     

White holes and their thermodynamics

I discuss the thermodynamics of white holes and give their thermodynamical laws. I point out that there is a flaw in the view that white holes must necessarily violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics. If we require the burst of white holes to obey the Second Law, then this will give certain constraints on the burst, and may provide and explanation of the time of burst of lagging-cores.     

High-resolution observations of solar radio bursts with multi-element compound interferometers at 3.75 and 9.4 GHz

High-resolution observations of solar radio bursts made simultaneously with multi-element compound interferometers at 3.75 and 9.4 GHz are presented.Preliminary results are: (1) The burst of December 16, 1967 showed a change in polarization distribution in the radio source, which suggests a magnetic field change in the source. (2) The existence of the multi-source burst is also confirmed at 3.75 GHz. (3) The source size of the impulsive burst is estimated to be 0.'5. (4) Among the GRF bursts there seem to be two kinds; one has a large angular size and the other has a small one.A brief discussion is given of the burst of December 16, 1967.     

FRB 171019: an event of binary neutron star merger?

The fast radio burst, FRB 171019, was relatively bright when discovered first by ASKAP but was identified as a repeater with three faint bursts detected later by GBT and CHIME. These observations lead to the discussion of whether the first bright burst shares the same mechanism with the following repeating bursts. A model of binary neutron star merger is proposed for FRB 171019, in which the first bright burst occurred during the merger event, while the subsequent repeating bursts are starquake-induced, and generally fainter, as the energy release rate for the starquakes can hardly exceed that of the catastrophic merger event. This scenario is consistent with the observation that no later burst detected is as bright as the first one.     

Pulse phase dependence of the magnetar bursts

We report here results from a study of X-ray bursts from 3 magnetar candidates (SGR 1806-20, SGR 1900+14 and AXP 1E 2259+586). We have searched for a pulse phase dependence of the X-ray burst rate from these sources. X-ray light curves were obtained with the Proportional Counter Array on-board the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer during the periods of intense burst activity in these sources. On detailed analysis of the three sources, we found a very significant burst rate for all pulsar phases. However, some locations appear to produce bursts slightly more often, rendering the non-isotropic distribution. Only in the case of SGR 1900+14, there is a clear pulse phase dependence of burst rate.     

Two ‘negative bursts’ with moving filaments, 19 May 1969

The event of 1969 May 19, 1430 UT included a flare, radio burst, and an active dark flocculus (ADF) or moving filament described by Vorpahl (1973) and a microwave negative burst superposed on a gradual rise and fall, described by Covington (1973). He found the interpretation of a second decrease at 2010 UT to be ambiguous in the absence of complete information. The second decrease is found here to be part of a series of events that parallels that of the earlier negative burst. Each decrease is superposed on a long-enduring burst that begins simultaneously with the eruption of a prominence near the equator at east limb and each is preceded by an ADF seen in H in a nearby active region. The similarity of these sequences strengthens the interpretation of the second event as a negative burst. The prominence eruptions, while not directly related to the negative bursts, add to a number of other signs of rapid changes in the large-scale structure of magnetic fields in the complex of active regions where the events took place.     

A flare-associated thermal burst in the mm-wave region

A mm-wave thermal burst has been observed at 73 GHz. The simultaneous observation at 17 GHz revealed that this mm-wave burst was quite a different component from the non-thermal burst co-existing at a cm-wavelength range. Since the source of this burst seemed to be opaque or nearly opaque, the temperature became several tens of thousands degrees. Considering also the similarity between time profiles of the 73 GHz intensity and the H light curve, it is concluded that this mm-wave burst is situated very close to the H flare region.     

Harmonic structure of type IIIb and III bursts

A decameter solar radio storm of type IIIb and III bursts has been analysed, using single frequency records at frequencies 12.5 and 25.0 MHz.Several kinds of burst associations are classified. As a result it is shown that in double oblique burst-traces of type IIIb + III on the frequency-time plane the type III burst is shifted by an octave above the type IIIb burst at any moment of the IIIb + III pair's lifetime. In particular, the harmonic structure of the spectrum is peculiar to the event of type IIIb + III in the initial and the final stages. This property of the pair is clear if the type IIIb and III radiations occur at the fundamental coronal plasma frequency and its harmonic respectively. On the other hand, if it is assumed that a type IIIb burst is the precursor of a type III one, there is no reason why the two bursts should be harmonically related.