Static charged dust distributions: Sources of purely electromagnetic origin

The present work is a continuation of our earlier work on the charged dust sources of purely electromagnetic origin for static axisymmetric and static spherically-symmetric fields. Here we have extended the above work to the case of generalized static metric and have shown that a static charged dust distribution, irrespective of any symmetry conditions, can be only of purelly electromagnetic origin. Incidentally, it follows from this result itself that the Weyl-Majumdar-Papapetrou class of static charged dust sources, which form an important class of astrophysical systems, are also of purely electromagnetic origin.     

A class of axially-symmetric electromagnetic mass models

This paper presents a set of solutions of coupled Einstein-Maxwell equations with matter for the Levi-Civita's metric which can be interpreted as electromagnetic mass models which are extensions of the electromagnetic mass models obtained previously. It may be pointed out that electromagnetic mass models are solutions of coupled Einstein-Maxwell equations with matter where all the characteristics of matter vanish when the charge vanishes. Existence of such solution tends to confirm Lorentz's conjecture that the mass of an electron may be of purely electromagnetic origin.     

Relativistic Jets from Accretion Disks

The jets observed to emanate from many compact accreting objects may arise from the twisting of a magnetic field threading a differentially rotating accretion disk which acts to magnetically extract angular momentum and energy from the disk. Two main regimes have been discussed, hydromagnetic jets, which have a significant mass flux and have energy and angular momentum carried by both matter and electromagnetic field and, Poynting jets, where the mass flux is small and energy and angular momentum are carried predominantly by the electromagnetic field. Here, we describe recent theoretical work on the formation of relativistic Poynting jets from magnetized accretion disks. Further, we describe new relativistic, fully electromagnetic, particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of the formation of jets from accretion disks. Analog Z-pinch experiments may help to understand the origin of astrophysical jets.     

Electromagnetic mass model of a static charged perfect fluid sphere

Using the results, which they have been already published in two earlier papers (Dionysiou, 1982; Dionysiou and Kostakis, 1983; these papers will hereafter be referred to as Papers I, II, respectively), one can easily see that the total gravitational mass, the density and pressure of a static charged perfect fluid sphere are of electromagnetic origin.     

Relativistic anisotropic charged fluid spheres with varying cosmological constant

Static spherically symmetric anisotropic source has been studied for the Einstein-Maxwell field equations assuming the erstwhile cosmological constant Λ to be a space-variable scalar, viz., Λ=Λ(r). Two cases are examined out of which one reduces to isotropic sphere. The solutions thus obtained are shown to be electromagnetic in origin as a particular case. It is also shown that the generally used pure charge condition, viz., ρ+p=0 is not always required for constructing electromagnetic mass models.     

Static Spherically Symmetric Electromagnetic Mass Models with Charged Dust Sources in Einstein-Cartan Theory: Lane-Emden Models

Static spherically symmetric charged dust models, known as Lane-Emden electromagnetic mass models, having their seed in the well-known Lane-Emden equations of classical astrophysics, have been derived for Einstein-Cartan theory. The models are of purely electromagnetic origin. The physical significance of these solutions can be understood from the very fact (i) that they are generated from the well-known Lane-Emden equations of classical astrophysics having a proven physical foundation and (ii) that, being the solution of Einstein-Cartan theory, they involve spin and torsion, characteristics which a material system must possess for its subtle and finer details. PACS number(s): 04.90.+e, 04.20.jb. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the origin of soft gamma-rays from Cyg X-1

A hypothesis is suggested that the observed excess atE300 keV in the spectrum of Cyg X-1 has a nonthermal origin and is associated with the development of a relativistic electromagnetic cascade, initiated by accelerated particles in the accretion plasma, surrounding a black hole.     

Low frequency collective modes in dense relativistic-degenerate strongly coupled plasma

It is shown that low frequency electrostatic ion mode couples with electromagnetic shear Alfven mode in a dense plasma containing strongly coupled non-degenerate ion and relativistic degenerate electron fluids. By employing the appropriate fluid equations, a linear dispersion equation is obtained which shows modifications due to ion correlations and electron relativistic degeneracy. The results are discussed in the ultra-relativistic and weak-relativistic limits and implications of the results in dense degenerate plasmas of astrophysical origin (e.g., white dwarf stars) are pointed out with possible consequences.     

Magnetic Reconnection, Turbulence, and Collisionless Shock

A short summary of recent progress in measuring and understanding turbulence during magnetic reconnection in laboratory plasmas is given. Magnetic reconnection is considered as a primary process to dissipate magnetic energy in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. A central question concerns why the observed reconnection rates are much faster than predictions made by classical theories, such as the Sweet–Parker model based on MHD with classical Spitzer resistivity. Often, the local resistivity is conjectured to be enhanced by turbulence to accelerate reconnection rates either in the context of the Sweet–Parker model or by facilitating setup of the Pestchek model. Measurements at a dedicated laboratory experiment, called MRX or Magnetic Reconnection Experiment, have indicated existence of strong electromagnetic turbulence in current sheets undergoing fast reconnection. The origin of the turbulence has been identified as right-hand polarized whistler waves, propagating obliquely to the reconnecting field, with a phase velocity comparable to the relative drift velocity. These waves are consistent with an obliquely propagating electromagnetic lower-hybrid drift instability driven by drift speeds large compared to the Alfven speed in high-beta plasmas. Interestingly, this instability may explain electromagnetic turbulence also observed in collisionless shocks, which are common in energetic astrophysical phenomena.     

Radiation properties of pulsar magnetospheres: observation,theory, and experiment

In the three decades since their discovery, the accumulated body of observational data from pulsar sources puts constraints on models that seek to explain their periodic radiation. This paper reviews this data, reports on a VLA search for haloes predicted by an early model, and reinvestigates a magnetospheric disk-field-aligned-current transmission line system as the origin of the observed radiation, with external wave excitation by as yet an unexplained source. Three dimensional, fully electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations of the pulsar surface and magnetosphere are used to explore the waveshape and polarization properties of the observed radiation.     

Formation of frequency intervals between the stripes of zebra patterns on the dynamic spectra of Solar radio bursts

Based on the laws of the wave theory of electromagnetic radiation, equations for calculating the frequencies of the intensity maxima forming the stripes on the dynamic spectra of Solar radio emission were obtained. The observed stripe frequency and intervals between them were found to coincide with the analytically calculated values with a high accuracy. The numerical equality between the stripe frequencies attests to their interference origin, which is associated with the propagation of radio waves in plasma, but not with the mechanism of radiation generation in the primary burst source.     

千新星(并合新星)研究回顾

中子星-中子星或中子星-黑洞的并合可以导致强烈的高频引力波辐射,同时它们也可以通过向外抛射物质发出多种类型的电磁辐射信号,因而是当前多信使天文学研究的主要对象之一.在各种电磁辐射信号中,由抛射物所发出的热暂现源辐射被称为千新星,或可更广义地称为并合新星,其辐射能量来源主要是抛射物中放射性重元素的衰变和中心并合产物的持续能量输出(如自转能损).这种现象最早由Li和Paczynski在1998年从理论上预言提出,并最终在2017年的引力波事件GW170817中被观测证实.千新星(并合新星)观测在GW170817事件中发挥了关键性的电磁对应体作用,帮助人们精确定位引力波信号、证认其天体物理起源乃至限制并合产物的性质.从宇宙中重元素的起源这一研究背景出发,循着历史发展的脉络,分别对千新星(并合新星)模型的提出、发展、并合产物的性质、相关候选体的发现以及GW170817引力波事件等不同的研究阶段和研究专题进行简要的回顾,以梳理这一方向上研究思路的历史变迁,展现理论和观测的相互作用及其对研究进程的影响和促进.     

Gravitational sources of purely electromagnetic origin

The Einstein-Maxwell field equations for charged dust corresponding to static axially-symmetric metric of Levi-Civita have been studied. It has been shown that when the metric potentialsg _ij are functions of only one of the coordinates, viz.,r, the interior charged dust becomes purely of electromagnetic origin, in the sense that the physical quantities like the energy density, the effective gravitational mass, etc., are dependent only on the charge density and vanish when this charge density vanishes. Such models are known as electromagnetic mass models in the classical electrodynamics. An interior charged dust solution corresponding to this case has been obtained which, in a sense, represents an infinite dust distribution of electromagnetic origin. In the second case, viz., when the metric potentials are functions of the coordinatesr andz both, it has been shown that some of the situations correspond to electromagnetic mass models. An example to illustrate this case has been obtained. This represents the source of the Reissner-Nordström-Curzon field (an analogue of the Reissner-Nordström solution obtained by Curzon) which according to Curzon describes the exterior field of an electron.     

A Brief Review of Kilonova (Mergernova) Researchestwo

The neutron star-neutron star and neutron star-black hole mergers may cause the intense radiation of high-frequency gravitational waves (GWs), they can also produce various electromagnetic emissions by ejecting materials outwards. Therefore, these merger events are the most important targets of current multi-messenger astronomical studies. The thermal transient radiation emitted from merger ejecta is called the kilonova or, more generally, the mergernova, which is powered by the radioactive decays of r-process elements, and the energy injection from the central merger product. This phenomenon was first predicted theoretically by Li and Paczynski in 1998, and confirmed by the optical-infrared observations of the GW170817 event in 2017. As a result, the kilonova/mergernova observation had played a crucial role in locating GW170817, identifying its astrophysical origin, and even constraining the nature of the merger product of this event. This paper briefly reviews the primary progress of kilonova/mergernova researches, including the initiative, improvement, and development of the model, the observational discoveries of candidates, and the optical electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817.     

Swift时代伽马射线暴的观测和理论

伽马射线暴是宇宙中最剧烈的爆发现象之一.Swift卫星的快速定位和Fermi卫星的宽、高能段观测,使得伽马暴的观测可以全波段进行.通过Swift的观测可以对伽马暴现象的本质有进一步的理解,而Fermi卫星提供了一些暴高能光子的辐射数据,为进一步研究暴的辐射机制和伽马暴以及它的余辉提供了有力的依据.介绍了Swift和Fermi卫星发射后一些伽马暴的观测和理论研究进展.     

基于暗物质粒子探测卫星的宇宙线直接探测研究

高能宇宙线的起源、加速和传播是重大的前沿科学问题,回答该问题需要对宇宙线的能谱、各向异性以及各类高能天体电磁辐射进行精确观测.通过空间粒子探测器对宇宙线各成分能谱的直接测量是研究宇宙线物理问题的重要手段.中国于2015年底发射并持续运行至今的暗物质粒子探测卫星以其大接受度、高能量分辨率等特点,在宇宙线直接探测方面取得了系列重要成果,揭示出质子、氦核、硼碳和硼氧比例等宇宙线能谱的新结构,为理解宇宙线起源等科学问题提供了新的依据.介绍了暗物质粒子探测卫星的仪器设置、运行状况、科学成果及其物理意义.     

Automatic detection of white-light flare kernels in SDO/HMI intensitygrams

Solar flares with a broadband emission in the white-light range of the electromagnetic spectrum belong to most enigmatic phenomena on the Sun. The origin of the white-light emission is not entirely understood. We aim to systematically study the visible-light emission connected to solar flares in SDO/HMI observations. We developed a code for automatic detection of kernels of flares with HMI intensity brightenings and study properties of detected candidates. The code was tuned and tested and with a little effort, it could be applied to any suitable data set. By studying a few flare examples, we found indication that HMI intensity brightening might be an artefact of the simplified procedure used to compute HMI observables.     

A theory of the origin of the split pair burst emission from the solar corona

The radio emissions caused by electron streams in a non-isothermal plasma are studied quantitatively. It is proposed that conversion of the stream-excited plasma waves into electromagnetic waves by scattering on the thermal fluctuations at nonisothermal sonic oscillation frequency is the origin of the emission of the split-pair burst near the plasma frequency. The occurrence of the split-pair bursts near the second harmonic of the plasma frequency can be due to combination scattering of the stream-excited plasma waves by electron density fluctuations which are produced by the scattered plasma waves. With a streamer model in which the electron densities are two times those in Newkirk's model, both the observed frequency splitting and the rate of drift of the split pair can be explained as the result of plasma radiation caused by a stream of 10 keV electrons. A tentative model for the split-pair emission is suggested.     

Axially Symmetric Electromagnetic Structures in Astrophysics and Nature of Relativistic Jets

Concepts of gravitational and electromagnetic structures of astrophysical objects is introduced. The two structures have different properties and stationary states. In some cases the electromagnetic structure appears to be dominating. Relativistic jet is a typical attribute of electromagnetic structure. In particular, high degree of the jet collimation is explained freely as a phenomenon of the electromagnetic structure, and hardly can be explained in terms of magnetohydrodynamcs. Interaction between the gravitational and electromagnetic structures is considered and estimated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Origin of Jovian decameter wave emissions— Conversion from the electron cylotron plasma wave to the ordinary mode electromagnetic wave

Energy conversion rates from the extraordinary mode to the ordinary mode ofthe electromagnetic waves in the Jovian plasmasphere has been calculated for a model of the sharp boundary that is given in the vicinity of the position where ω = ω_p, for an angular frequency ω and the angular plasma frequency ω_p. The extraordinary mode electromagnetic wave that is obtained as a result of the transformation of a longitudinal propa- gating through an inhomogenous plasma is here considered. The results give conversion rates of 1–50 per cent, at the most, when a wave normal direction of an is nearly parallel to the boundary normal direction and when the Jovian magnetic field vector is close to the boundary normal direction within an angle range from 10° to 15°. The electric field intensity, in range from 7 to 70 mV/m, of the original electrostatic electron cyclotron plasma waves can give the power flux in a range from 10^-22 to 10^-20W/m² Hz for the Jovian decameter waves observed at the Earth's surface. Efficient energy conversion is possible only when the ray direction of the emitted wave is in nearly perpendicular direction with respect to the magnetic field; this is the origin of the sharp beam emission of the Jovian decameter wave burst.