Dispersion Relation of Longitudinal Oscillations in Relativistic Plasmas of Fast Electron Distribution

In the relativistic case, the dispersion equation of longitudinal oscillations in unmagnetized, collisionless and isotropic plasmas of fast electron distribution is derived from the longitudinal dielectric constant of plasma. The equation is analytically solved, and the long-wavelength and short-wavelength dispersion relations are obtained. Because of the discontinuity of the analytical dispersion curve, the dimensionless dispersion equation of longitudinal oscillations is numerically calculated to obtain the full dispersion curve of longitudinal oscillations in relativistic plasmas of fast electron distribution. Further more, by fitting the numerical solution, a simple functional expression of the dispersion curve is given in favor of applications. Finally, in the extremely relativistic case, the dispersion relation of fast electron distribution is compared with that of Maxwell distribution. It is shown that the two kinds of dispersion relations have similar properties in a certain range of wave numbers.     

Kinetic Alfvén wave driven by the density inhomogeneity in the presence of loss-cone distribution function—particle aspect analysis

Kinetic Alfven waves (KAWs) driven by the diamagnetic drift instability that is excited by the density inhomogeneity in low-β plasmas, such as plasmas in the auroral region, are investigated by adopting the particle aspect analysis and loss-cone distribution function. The results obtained in this paper indicate that the propagation and evolution of kinetic Alfven waves decrease and the kinetic Alfven wave excitation becomes not easier with increasing loss-cone index J. But the spatial scales of the perpendicular perturbation driving kinetic Alfven waves have a decreasing tendency with the larger values of J, which perhaps is in relation with the decreasing width of loss-cone. A single hump appears in the plots of the growth rate of the instability when J=2. But the hump cannot emerge when J=0 or J=1. The density inhomogeneity of ions plays an important role in driving KAWs and it cannot be ignored. KAWs can be easier driven and KAWs can propagate and evolve faster with the increasing level of density inhomogeneity. However, the range of the perpendicular wave number of the wave instability decreases, namely, the longer the scale of perpendicular disturbance the easier the excitation of KAW. As the density inhomogeneity increases, the tendency of numerical solutions of the dispersion relation is similar to that obtained by the kinetic theory and Maxwellian distribution function (Duan and Li, 2004). But the profiles of the plots of numerical solutions are different. This means that the velocity distribution function of particles is important for KAW driven in magnetoplasmas, especially in the active regions of the magnetosphere, such as auroral region, and plasma sheet boundary.     

Absolute broad-band polarization behaviour of PSR B0329+54: a glimpse of the core emission process

In this paper we report multifrequency single-pulse polarization observations of the PSR B0329+54 normal mode using the Giant Metre-wave Radio Telescope at 325 and 610 MHz and the Effelsberg Observatory at 2695 MHz. Our observations show that towards the central part of the polarization position angle traverse there is an unusual 'arc'-like structure, which comprises a broad-band 'kink' and a frequency-dependent 'spot'. The features are intimately connected with the intensity dependence of the core component: the stronger emission arrives earlier and its linear polarization is displaced farther along the 'kink'. Moreover, at high intensities, the circular polarization is −/+ antisymmetric; the nearly complete positive circular is characteristic of the weaker, later core subpulses. We find that the 'kink' emission is associated with the extraordinary (X) propagation mode, and hence propagation effects do not appear to be capable of producing the core component's broad-band, intensity-dependent emission. Rather, the overall evidence points to a largely geometric interpretation in which the 'kink' provides a rare glimpse of the accelerating cascade or height-dependent amplifier responsible for the core radiation.     

Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Magnetized Plasmas

We review the particle-in-cell simulation results related to the recently discovered particle acceleration mechanism called the Diamagnetic Relativistic Pulse Accelerator, or DRPA. This mechanism may be relevant to the prompt gamma-ray emission of gamma-ray bursts. It may also be testable with future laboratory experiments using ultra-intense lasers.     

Calculated spectra for HeH+ and its effect on the opacity of cool metal-poor stars

The wavelength and Einstein A coefficient are calculated for all rotation–vibration transitions of  ⁴He¹H⁺, ³He¹H⁺, ⁴He²H⁺  and  ³ He²H⁺  , giving a complete line list and the partition function for  ⁴HeH⁺  and its isotopologues. This opacity is included in the calculation of the total opacity of low-metallicity stars and its effect is analysed for different conditions of temperature, density and hydrogen number fraction. For a low helium number fraction (as in the Sun), it is found that HeH⁺ has a visible but small effect for very low densities  (ρ≤ 10⁻¹⁰ g cm⁻³)  , at temperatures around 3500 K. However, for high helium number fraction, the effect of HeH⁺ becomes important for higher densities  (ρ≤ 10⁻⁶ g cm⁻³)  , its effect being most important for a temperature around 3500 K. Synthetic spectra for a variety of different conditions are presented.     

Unidentified cometary emission lines as the photoluminescence of frozen hydrocarbon particles

We discuss the possible nature of unidentified cometary emission lines. We propose a model of the ice particles in cometary halos as a mixture of frozen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and acyclic hydrocarbons. We describe the general properties of frozen hydrocarbon particles (FHPs) and suggest interpreting some of the unidentified cometary emission lines as the photoluminescence of FHPs. We compare the positions of unidentified emission lines in the spectrum of Comet 122P/de Vico with the positions of quasi-lines in the photoluminescence spectrum of PAHs that were dissolved in acyclic hydrocarbons at a temperature of 77 K and that constituted a polycrystalline solution. We estimate the detectability of FHP photoluminescence in cometary spectra.     

Hco+ in the Coma of Comet Hale–Bopp

Maps of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) in the millimeter-wave emission of the ion HCO⁺ revealed a local minimum near the nucleus position, with a maximum about 100,000 km in the antisolar direction. These observed features of the HCO⁺ emission require a low abundance of HCO⁺ due to enhanced destruction in the inner coma of the comet, within a region of low electron temperature (T_e). To set constraints on the formation of HCO⁺ in the coma, as well as the location and magnitude of the transition to higher T_e, the data are compared with the results of ion-molecule chemistry models. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.