Showing papers by "Roger Blandford published in 1994"

Physical processes in eclipsing pulsars: Eclipse mechanisms and diagnostics

Abstract: We investigate how the radio emission of a pulsar interacts with plasma derived from a stellar companion. Various physical mechanisms that can cause radio pulse eclipse are discussed, and predictions are made for the polarization properties of the emergent radio wave. We consider eclipses by a wind from the stellar companion, by a stellar magnetosphere, or by material entrained in the pulsar wind. Eclipses due to refraction require either a relatively high plasma density or a sharp edge to the plasma distribution. The conditions that must prevail for free-free absorption to be effective in eclipsing a radio beam are also outlined. Pulse smearing may be important at higher frequencies; related eclipse mechanisms include pulse spreading due to a rapidly changing electron column, and scattering by Langmuir turbulence. The high brightness temperature radio beam can generate its own plasma turbulence via a number of nonlinear parametric instabilities, such as the instability associated with stimulated Raman scattering. When the plasma turbulence is heavily damped, the radio bean can still undergo induced Compton scattering. Stimulated scattering effects such as these are very sensitive to the presence of narrow-band substructure in the pulsar radio emission. Finally, we consider the possibility that plasma derived from a stellar companion may mix with the relativistic pulsar wind and cause cyclotron absorption at low radio frequencies. Even if the cyclotron optical depth is small, fluctuations in the emergent polarization of the radio beam on the timescale of a few seconds are a very sensitive probe of the spatial structure of the magnetic field in the pulsar wind. The current observational properties of two known eclipsing pulsar systems, PSR 1957+20 and PSR 1744-24A, are used to construct tentative eclipse models. The favored model for PSR 1957+20 is cyclotron or synchrotron absorption by plasma embedded in the pulsar wind combined with pulse smearing at high frequency, and the favored model for PSR 1744-24A is backscattering off plasma turbulence generated by the stimulated Raman scattering parametric instability. Pulsar eclipses promise to provide a good diagnostic of pulsar winds and possible of the pulse emission mechanism.

The Gravitational lens system B1422+231: Dark matter, superluminal expansion and the hubble constant

Abstract: A gravitational lens model of the radio quasar B1422+231 is presented which can account for the image arrangement and approximately for the relative magnifications. The locations of the principal lensing mass and a more distant secondary mass concentration were predicted and subsequently luminous galaxies were found at these locations. This argues against the existence of substantial numbers of ``dark'' galaxies. The model suggests that if the compact radio source is intrinsically superluminal then the observed component motions may be as large as ~100c with image B moving in the opposite direction to images A and C. The prospects for a measuring the Hubble constant from a model incorporating lens galaxy locations, compact radio source expansion speeds and radio time delays, if and when these are measured, are briefly assessed.

Particle acceleration mechanisms

Abstract: High-energy particle acceleration is observed to proceed in a diverse variety of astrophysical sites ranging from the terrestrial aurorae to the most distant quasars. Particle acceleration is a fairly common channel for the release of large-scale kinetic, rotational, and magnetic energy. Physical mechanisms include electrostatic acceleration, stochastic processes, and diffusive shock energization. Cosmic-ray energy spectra have shapes which reflect escape, collisional, and radiative losses. The overall acceleration efficiency is controlled by the low-energy particle injection which may, in turn, feed back into the energization. Recent observational developments, which illustrate these general principles and raise fresh questions, are briefly summarized.

On the polarization of resonantly scattered emission lines – I. Emission and absorption coefficients in an anisotropic radiation field

Abstract: Source functions and absorptions coefficients for polarized radiation in a given ansiotropic radiation field are calculated for a variety of permitted electric dipole transitions in the L-S coupling limit. Collisional, radiative and magnetic mixing of the ground sublevels are all considered. The polarization of the self-consistent, emergent radiation field is computed, using an anisotropic escape probability formalism to treat the radiative transfer. It is found that the radiative mixing can enhance the polarization for transitions with large angular momentum, and degrees of polarization less than or approximately 10 per cent are obtained for transitions with small angular momentum.

Evidence for enhanced MHD turbulence outside sharp-rimmed supernova remnants

Abstract: We consider the propagation of synchrotron-emitting electrons near the shocks of supernova remnants. Using highresolution radio observations of four Galactic supernova remnants, we set upper limits on the scattering mean free paths of these electrons in front of the supernova shock fronts. It is shown that for the sharpest rims, this mean free path is typically less than one percent of that derived for cosmic rays of similar rigidity in the interstellar medium. This result is interpreted in terms of an enhanced hydromagnetic wave intensity generated by diffusive shock acceleration. The dimensionless intensities of the scattering waves near supernova remnants are shown to be J SNR (5 GV/c) ≥ 6 × 10 −4 , in contrast to typical interstellar values J ISM (5 GV/c) ≤ 10 −5

On the Timing History of PSR:B1509-58

Abstract: The measurement of the third frequency derivative of PSR B1509-58 reported by Kaspi et al. is consistent with a constant magnetic moment. If a more accurate, stable measurement can be made, it should be possible to test directly models in which the magnetic moment varies

Particle Acceleration Mechanisms

Abstract: High-energy particle acceleration is observed to proceed in a diverse variety of astrophysical sites ranging from the terrestrial aurorae to the most distant quasars. Particle acceleration is a fairly common channel for the release of large-scale kinetic, rotational, and magnetic energy. Physical mechanisms include electrostatic acceleration, stochastic processes and diffusive shock energization. Cosmic-ray energy spectra have shapes which reflect escape, collisional, and radiative losses. The overall acceleration efficiency is controlled by the low-energy particle injection which may, in turn, feed back into the energization. Recent observational developments, which illustrate these general principles and raise fresh questions, are briefly summarized. Subject heading: acceleration of particles