Waves in a one-dimensional magnetized relativistic pair plasma

Normal modes of a one-dimensional relativistically streaming electron–positron plasma in a superstrong magnetic field are considered, taking into account possible different bulk velocities and thermal effects. This physical picture corresponds to the plasma present on the open field lines of rotating neutron stars where the observed radio emission is generated. Various cases are considered: relativistic and non-relativistic relative streaming of cold components, and relativistically hot distributions. A distinction between superluminous and subluminous waves (which can be excited by the Cherenkov effect) is clearly stated. In the low-frequency regime the Cherenkov and cyclotron two-stream instabilities occur. Polarization of the quasi-transverse modes changes from circular for the propagation along magnetic field lines to linear for angles of propagation larger than some critical angle that depends on the relative velocity of the plasma components.     

On the electric field screening by electron–positron pairs in a pulsar magnetosphere

We present a steady one-dimensional model for a pulsar polar cap accelerator, where the field-aligned electric field and flow are solved self-consistently with a given current density. It is assumed that no particles return to the star. It is known that the space-charge-limited flow is accelerated to energies high enough to create electron–positron pairs if the assumed current density is high enough. We find that when pairs are created in such a space-charge-limited flow, the accelerating electric field is screened out within a short distance after pair creation, if the pair particle flux is larger than a critical value. We also find that a space charge density wave is excited in the screening region.
We find that a pair flux larger than the critical value M _c=10³–10⁵ must be reached in a layer with thickness equal to the braking distance for the decelerating component. Therefore, the required multiplicity – the number of pairs created by one primary particle – is too large to be realized in the actual pulsar magnetosphere. We suggest that in order to obtain a localized potential drop along the polar cap magnetic flux, one needs to take into account additional effects such as wave–particle interaction or quasi-periodic pair creation.     

Statistical theory of thermal instability

A new statistical approach is presented to study the thermal instability of an optically thin unmagnetized plasma. In the framework of this approach the time evolution of the mass distribution function over temperature φ( T ) is calculated. Function φ( T ) characterizes the statistical properties of the multiphase medium of arbitrarily spaced three-dimensional structure of arbitrary (small or large) temperature perturbations. We construct our theory under the isobarical condition ( P  = constant over space), which is satisfied in the short-wavelength limit of the perturbations. The developed theory is illustrated for the case of the thermal instability of a slowly expanding interstellar cloud (smooth scenario). Numerical solutions of equations of the statistical theory are constructed and compared with hydrodynamical solutions. The results of both approaches are identical in the short-wavelength range when the isobarity condition is satisfied. Also the limits of applicability of the statistical theory are estimated. The possible evolution of the initial spectrum of perturbations is discussed. The proposed theory and numerical models can be relevant to the formation of the two-phase medium in the ∼ 1 pc region around quasars. Then small warm ( T  ≃ 10⁴  K ) clouds are formed as the result of thermal instability in an expanded gas fragment, which is a product of either star–star or star–accretion disc collision.     

Induced Raman scattering in pulsar magnetospheres

It is shown that induced Raman scattering of electromagnetic waves in the strongly magnetized electron–positron plasma of pulsar magnetospheres may be important for wave propagation and as an effective saturation mechanism for electromagnetic instabilities. The frequencies at which strong Raman scattering occurs in the outer parts of a magnetosphere fall into the observed radio band. The typical threshold intensities for the strong Raman scattering are of the order of the observed intensities, implying that pulsar magnetospheres may be optically thick to Raman scattering of electromagnetic waves.     

常压室温等离子体技术诱变选育鲅鱼抗氧化肽发酵菌株

鲅鱼(Spanish mackerel)加工后的废弃物富含蛋白质,为了提高蛋白质的利用率并减少环境污染,可以采用微生物发酵的方法酶解这部分蛋白质制取抗氧化活性肽。本实验室已经筛选出一株芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)Hy-2,以其发酵水产加工废弃物得到了具有较高抗氧化性的产物。为了进一步提高产物的抗氧化性,作者以该株产蛋白酶芽孢杆菌Hy-2为出发菌,采用常压室温等离子体(ARTP)诱变的方法筛选出1株突变菌Hy-23,以鲅鱼加工后的废弃物为原料,接种该突变菌株进行发酵,得到了具有一定抗氧化活性的发酵产物,酶解物总抗氧化活性提高了12.4%。经遗传稳定性测定,该芽孢杆菌突变株在传代8次之后其遗传稳定性仍然良好。     

火星上游离子回旋波的观测研究

离子回旋波(Ion Cyclotron Wave, ICW)是指频率接近离子回旋频率的一种等离子体波,它在火星上游广泛存在,卫星观测到的频率多在质子回旋频率附近. ICW是拾起离子时的副产物,成为新生行星质子存在的间接标志.火星上游ICW自1990年首次报道以来,受到广泛的关注.总结了火星上游ICW的研究进展,包括ICW事件的观测、ICW的产生机制、统计性质以及将来的研究趋势.     

On the excitation of the Fe Kα line in AGNs by the impact of beams of highly relativistic electrons on the disk

The propagation of highly relativistic electron beams in dense matter induces a cascade of secondary particles that spreads in the environment redistributing efficiently the beam energy in the medium. Such a highly relativistic beams are expected to be produced in the magnetic reconnection events associated with the flaring activity of the magnetized accretion disks of the AGNs. This contribution presents a quantitative analysis of the possible role of these beams in the excitation of the Fe Kα line. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

实验室模拟磁力线重联的初步结果

在中国科学技术大学的线性磁化等离子体装置上,通过对两个平行电流板施加同向电流,实现重联磁场位型的构造,进而开展实验室等离子体中磁力线重联过程的研究.利用发射探针测量了重联过程中的平行(轴向)电场,实验验证了重联电流与通行粒子的依赖关系.利用磁探针测量了磁场通量的演化,未发现通量堆积现象,与数值预言相符.     

The structure of the hydrodynamic plasma flow near the heliopause stagnation point

The plasma flow in the vicinity of the heliopause stagnation point in the presence of the H atom flow is studied. The plasma at both sides of the heliopause is considered to be a single fluid. The back reaction of the plasma flow on the H atom flow is neglected, and the density, temperature and velocity of the H atom flow are taken to be constant. The solution describing the plasma flow is obtained in the form of power series expansions with respect to the radial distance from the symmetry axis. The main conclusion made on the basis of the obtained solution is that the heliopause is not the surface of discontinuity anymore. Rather, it is the surface separating the flows of the solar wind and interstellar medium with all plasma parameters continuous at this surface.     

Pulsar PSR B2303+30: a single system of drifting subpulses, moding and nulling

Analyses of multiple pulse sequences of the pulsar PSR B2303+30 reveal two distinct emission modes. One mode (B) follows a steady even–odd pattern and is more intense. The second mode (Q) is characteristically weak, but has intermittent drift bands with a periodicity of approximately 3 P ₁/cycle, and nulls much more frequently than the B mode. Both modes occur with roughly equal frequency, and their profiles have a similar single-humped form with a slight asymmetry. Our observations and analyses strongly suggest that the subpulse drift rates in both modes are linked in a series of cycles, which can be modelled as relaxing oscillations in the underlying circulation rate.