What SDO tells us about structure and evolution of coronal bright points

Using magnetograms and coronal images from two instruments on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we study structure and evolution of a limited number of coronal bright points (CBPs). Our results show that the relation between CBPs and their magnetic footpoints is not simple. In some cases, CBP may appear as a bright portion of a larger loop (with clearly identifiable footpoints), and in some cases, an isolated CBP may develop between magnetic poles, which might not be the closest ones to each other or which might not be involved in the magnetic flux cancellation. We suggest that the magnetic connectivity responsible for formation of isolated coronal bright points is governed by the orientation of the large‐scale magnetic field. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Cluster magnetic fields from galactic outflows

We performed cosmological, magnetohydrodynamical simulations to follow the evolution of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters, exploring the possibility that the origin of the magnetic seed fields is galactic outflows during the starburst phase of galactic evolution. To do this, we coupled a semi-analytical model for magnetized galactic winds as suggested by Bertone, Vogt & Enßlin to our cosmological simulation. We find that the strength and structure of magnetic fields observed in galaxy clusters are well reproduced for a wide range of model parameters for the magnetized, galactic winds and do only weakly depend on the exact magnetic structure within the assumed galactic outflows. Although the evolution of a primordial magnetic seed field shows no significant differences to that of galaxy cluster fields from previous studies, we find that the magnetic field pollution in the diffuse medium within filaments is below the level predicted by scenarios with pure primordial magnetic seed field. We therefore conclude that magnetized galactic outflows and their subsequent evolution within the intracluster medium can fully account for the observed magnetic fields in galaxy clusters. Our findings also suggest that measuring cosmological magnetic fields in low-density environments such as filaments is much more useful than observing cluster magnetic fields to infer their possible origin.     

The rise of twisted magnetic flux tubes

Sunspots are caused by the eruption of magnetic flux tubes through the solar photosphere: current theories of the internal magnetic field of the Sun suggest that such tubes must rise relatively unscathed from the base of the convection zone. In order to understand how the structure of the magnetic field within a buoyant flux tube affects its stability as it rises, we have considered the quasi-two-dimensional rise of isolated magnetic flux tubes through an adiabatically stratified atmosphere. The magnetic field is initially helical; we have investigated a range of initial field configurations, varying the distribution and strength of the twist of the field.     

Populating the Galaxy with pulsars – I. Stellar and binary evolution

The computation of theoretical pulsar populations has been a major component of pulsar studies since the 1970s. However, the majority of pulsar population synthesis has only regarded isolated pulsar evolution. Those that have examined pulsar evolution within binary systems tend to either treat binary evolution poorly or evolve the pulsar population in an ad hoc manner. Thus, no complete and direct comparison with observations of the pulsar population within the Galactic disc has been possible to date. Described here is the first component of what will be a complete synthetic pulsar population survey code. This component is used to evolve both isolated and binary pulsars. Synthetic observational surveys can then be performed on this population for a variety of radio telescopes. The final tool used for completing this work will be a code comprised of three components: stellar/binary evolution, Galactic kinematics and survey selection effects. Results provided here support the need for further (apparent) pulsar magnetic field decay during accretion, while they conversely suggest the need for a re-evaluation of the assumed typical millisecond pulsar formation process. Results also focus on reproducing the observed     diagram for Galactic pulsars and how this precludes short time-scales for standard pulsar exponential magnetic field decay. Finally, comparisons of bulk pulsar population characteristics are made to observations displaying the predictive power of this code, while we also show that under standard binary evolutionary assumption binary pulsars may accrete much mass.     

Background magnetic fields during last three cycles of solar activity

This paper describes our studies of evolution of the solar magnetic field with different sign and field strength in the range from –100 G to 100 G. The structure and evolution of large‐scale magnetic fields on the Sun during the last 3 cycles of solar activity is investigated using magnetograph data from the Kitt Peak Solar Observatory. This analysis reveals two groups of the large‐scale magnetic fields evolving differently during the cycles. The first group is represented by relatively weak background fields, and is best observed in the range of 3–10 Gauss. The second group is represented by stronger fields of 75–100 Gauss. The spatial and temporal properties of these groups are described and compared with the total magnetic flux. It is shown that the anomalous behaviour of the total flux during the last cycle can be found only in the second group. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A new magnetic white dwarf: PG 2329+267

We have discovered that the white dwarf PG 2329+267 is magnetic, and, assuming a centred dipole structure, has a dipole magnetic field strength of approximately 2.3 MG. This makes it one of only approximately 4 per cent of isolated white dwarfs with a detectable magnetic field. Linear Zeeman splitting, as well as quadratic Zeeman shifts, is evident in the hydrogen Balmer sequence and circular spectropolarimetry reveals ∼10 per cent circular polarization in the two displaced σ components of Hα. We suggest from comparison with spectra of white dwarfs of known mass that PG 2329+267 is more massive than typical isolated white dwarfs, in agreement with the hypothesis that magnetic white dwarfs evolve from magnetic chemically peculiar Ap and Bp type main-sequence stars.     

The evolution of the core and surface magnetic fields in isolated neutron stars

We apply the model of flux expulsion from the superfluid and superconductive core of a neutron star, developed by Konenkov & Geppert, both to neutron star models based on different equations of state and to different initial magnetic field structures. Initially, when the core and the surface magnetic field are of the same order of magnitude, the rate of flux expulsion from the core is almost independent of the equation of state, and the evolution of the surface field decouples from the core field evolution with increasing stiffness. When the surface field is initially much stronger than the core field, the magnetic and rotational evolution resembles that of a neutron star with a purely crustal field configuration; the only difference is the occurrence of a residual field. In the case of an initially submerged field, significant differences from the standard evolution only occur during the early period of the life of a neutron star, until the field has been re-diffused to the surface. The reminder of the episode of submergence is a correlation of the residual field strength with the submergence depth of the initial field. We discuss the effect of the re-diffusion of the magnetic field on the difference between the real and the active age of young pulsars and on their braking indices. Finally, we estimate the shear stresses built up by the moving fluxoids at the crust–core interface and show that these stresses may cause crust cracking, preferentially in neutron stars with a soft equation of state.     

Red supergiants in the LMC — II. Spectrophotometry and model atmospheres

We have analysed polarization data for a large number of isolated pulsars to investigate the evolution of pulsar radio beams. Assuming that a circular beam is directed along the axis of a dipolar magnetic field, we demonstrate that the distribution of magnetic inclination angles for the parent population of all pulsars is not flat but highly concentrated towards small inclination angles and that, consequently, the average beaming fraction is only ∼ 10 per cent. Furthermore, we find that there is a tendency for the beam axis to align with the rotational axis on a time-scale of ∼ 10⁷ yr. This has interesting consequences for statistical studies of the pulsar population. Finally, the luminosity of pulsars is shown to be independent of the impact parameter, which indicates that pulsar beams are sharp-edged and have a relatively flat integrated intensity distribution.     

Towards self-consistent models of isolated neutron stars

We propose a self–consistent model to explain all observational properties reported so far on the isolated neutron star (INS) RX J0720-3125 with the aim of giving a step forward towards our understanding of INSs. For a given magnetic field structure, which is mostly confined to the crust and outer layers, we obtain theoretical models and spectra which account for the broadband spectral energy distribution (including the apparent optical excess), the X-ray pulsations, and for the spectral feature seen in the soft X-ray spectrum of RX J0720-3125 around 0.3 keV. By fitting our models to existing archival X-ray data from 6 different XMM–Newton observations and available optical data, we show that the observed properties are fully consistent with a normal neutron star, with a proper radius of about 12 km, a temperature at the magnetic pole of about 100 eV, and a magnetic field strength of 2–3×10¹³ G. Moreover, we are able to reproduce the observed long–term spectral evolution in terms of free precession which induces changes in the orientation angles of about 40 degrees with a periodicity of 7 years. In addition to the evidence of internal toroidal components, we also find strong evidence of non–dipolar magnetic fields, since all spectral properties are better reproduced with models with strong quadrupolar components.      

环加速间隙下的脉冲星星风制动模型

为了解释间歇脉冲星PSR B1931+24在射电噪比射电宁静状态下更大的自转减慢率和模拟蟹状星云脉冲星的自转演化,建立同时考虑了具有不同加速电势的核区和环区的环加速间隙下的星风制动模型.其中对于PSR B1931+24通过计算得到它的磁场强度和磁倾角,并且预言了其理论制动指数.对于蟹状星云脉冲星,通过计算得到它的磁场强度和磁倾角,还计算得到其制动指数随周期的演化和它在周期-周期导数图上的自转演化.相比于真空加速间隙、外加速间隙等,环加速间隙也同样能够适用于星风制动模型.     

Magnetic and spin evolution of neutron stars in close binaries

The evolution of neutron stars in close binary systems with a low-mass companion is considered, assuming the magnetic field to be confined within the solid crust. We adopt the standard scenario for the evolution in a close binary system, in which the neutron star passes through four evolutionary phases ('isolated pulsar'–'propeller'– accretion from the wind of a companion – accretion resulting from Roche-lobe overflow). Calculations have been performed for a great variety of parameters characterizing the properties of both the neutron star and the low-mass companion. We find that neutron stars with more or less standard magnetic field and spin period that are processed in low-mass binaries can evolve to low-field rapidly rotating pulsars. Even if the main-sequence life of a companion is as long as 10¹⁰ yr, the neutron star can maintain a relatively strong magnetic field to the end of the accretion phase. The model that is considered can account well for the origin of millisecond pulsars.     

Formation of Solar Delta Active Regions： Twist and Writhe of Magnetic Ropes

We analyze the process of formation of delta configuration in some well-known super active regions based on photospheric vector magnetogram observations. It is found that the magnetic field in the initial developing stage of some delta active regions shows a potential-like configuration in the solar atmosphere, the magnetic shear develops mainly near the magnetic neutral line with magnetic islands of opposite polarities, and the large-scale photospheric twisted field forming gradually later. Some results are obtained: (1) The analysis of magnetic writhe of whole active regions cannot be limited in the strong field of sunspots, because the contribution of the fraction of decayed magnetic field is non-negligible. (2) The magnetic model of kink magnetic ropes, supposed to be generated in the subatmosphere, is not consistent with the evolution of large-scale twisted photospheric transverse magnetic field and not entirely consistent with the relationship with magnetic shear in some delta active regions. (3) T     

General relativistic electromagnetic fields of a slowly rotating magnetized neutron star – I. Formulation of the equations

We present analytic solutions of Maxwell equations in the internal and external background space–time of a slowly rotating magnetized neutron star. The star is considered isolated and in vacuum, with a dipolar magnetic field not aligned with the axis of rotation. With respect to a flat space–time solution, general relativity introduces corrections related both to the monopolar and the dipolar parts of the gravitational field. In particular, we show that in the case of infinite electrical conductivity general relativistic corrections resulting from the dragging of reference frames are present, but only in the expression for the electric field. In the case of finite electrical conductivity, however, corrections resulting from both the space–time curvature and the dragging of reference frames are shown to be present in the induction equation. These corrections could be relevant for the evolution of the magnetic fields of pulsars and magnetars. The solutions found, while obtained through some simplifying assumption, reflect a rather general physical configuration and could therefore be used in a variety of astrophysical situations.     

The effect of the neutron-star crust on the evolution of a core magnetic field

We consider the expulsion of the magnetic field from the super-conducting core of a neutron star and its subsequent decay in the crust. Particular attention is paid to a strong feedback of the distortion of magnetic field lines in the crust on the expulsion of the flux from the core. This causes a considerable delay in the core flux expulsion if the initial field strength is larger than 10¹¹ G. It is shown that the hypothesis on the magnetic field expulsion induced by the neutron-star spin-down is adequate only for a relatively weak initial magnetic field B ≈10¹¹ G. The expulsion time-scale depends not only on the conductivity of the crust, but also on the initial magnetic field strength itself. Our model of the field evolution naturally explains the existence of the residual magnetic field of neutron stars. Its strength is correlated with the impurity concentration in neutron-star crusts and anticorrelated with the initial field strengths.     

太阳磁场观测研究

简要回顾了近几年国际上太阳磁场研究的一些重要进展，包括耀斑与磁切和电流的关系，电流螺度和磁螺度，磁场拓扑性，三维磁场外推，色球磁场研究，日冕磁场研究，内网络磁元，磁流和振荡，极区磁场观测以及色球磁元观测等方面内容，同时也介绍了怀柔太阳观测站最近所取得的主要成果，自20世纪90年代以来，YOHKOH高分辨率的太阳X射线数据，SOHO的多波段大尺度观测，TRACE的高分辨太阳过渡区资料，为研究太阳磁场从内部到距离几十太阳半径处的大范围演化提供了依据，高效的空间资料结合长期的地面资料，将是正派推动太阳磁场研究的重要手段和必然趋势。     

The Latitudinal Effect of Corotating Interaction Regions on Galactic Cosmic Rays

The response of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) to an isolated enhancement of the non-axisymmetric component of the solar open magnetic field between June and November 1996 is investigated by using a combination of solar observations and numerical modelling of the interplanetary medium. The most obvious coronal hole visible from Earth at the time had little shielding effect on the flux of GCRs, as measured at Earth by neutron monitors. It is found that the evolution of the corotating interaction regions generated by a less obvious coronal hole was the principal controlling factor. Moreover, we demonstrate the imprint of the latitudinal and longitudinal evolution of that coronal hole on the variation of GCRs. The latitudinal extent of this solar minimum corotating interaction region had a determining, but local, shielding effect on GCRs, confirming previous modelling results.     

Accretion disc–stellar magnetosphere interaction: field line inflation and the effect on the spin-down torque

We calculate the structure of a force-free magnetosphere which is assumed to corotate with a central star and which interacts with an embedded differentially rotating accretion disc. The magnetic and rotation axes are aligned, and the stellar field is assumed to be a dipole. We concentrate on the case when the amount of field line twisting through the disc–magnetosphere interaction is large , and consider different outer boundary conditions. In general the field line twisting produces field line inflation (e.g. Bardou & Heyvaerts), and in some cases with large twisting many field lines can become open. We calculate the spin-down torque acting between the star and the disc, and we find that it decreases significantly for cases with large field line twisting. This suggests that the oscillating torques observed for some accreting neutron stars could be caused by the magnetosphere varying between states with low and high field line inflation. Calculations of the spin evolution of T Tauri stars may also have to be revised in the light of the significant effect that field line twisting has on the magnetic torque resulting from star–disc interactions.     

Magneto–Thermal Evolution of Neutron Stars with Emphasis to Radio Pulsars

The magnetic and thermal evolution of neutron stars is a very complex process with many non-linear interactions. For a decent understanding of neutron star physics, these evolutions cannot be considered isolated. A brief overview is presented, which describes the main magneto–thermal interactions that determine the fate of both isolated neutron stars and accreting ones. Special attention is devoted to the interplay of thermal and magnetic evolution at the polar cap of radio pulsars. There, a strong meridional temperature gradient is maintained over the lifetime of radio pulsars. It may be strong enough to drive thermoelectric magnetic field creation which perpetuate a toroidal magnetic field around the polar cap rim. Such a local field component may amplify and curve the poloidal surface field at the cap, forming a strong and small scale magnetic field as required for the radio emission of pulsars.     

Magnetic field evolution of accreting neutron stars – III

The evolutionary scenario of a neutron star magnetic field is examined assuming a spin-down induced expulsion of magnetic flux originally confined to the core, in a case in which the expelled flux undergoes ohmic decay. The nature of field evolution, for accreting neutron stars, is investigated incorporating the crustal microphysics and material movement resulting from accretion. This scenario may explain the observed field strengths of neutron stars but only if the crustal lattice contains a large amount of impurity, which is in direct contrast to the models that assume an original crustal field.