45 research outputs found
Flares, jets and quasi-periodic outbursts from neutron star merger remnants
Using numerical relativity simulations with a subgrid dynamo prescription to
generate strong initial magnetic fields, we investigate the possibility of
launching a jet-like outflow from the hypermassive neutron star (HMNS) during
the early stages of the merger, prior to the remnants collapse to a black hole.
We demonstrate that buoyant instabilities in the strongly magnetized HMNS can
lead to a periodic emission of powerful electromagnetic flares shortly after
the merger. These are followed by a collimated mildly relativistic outflow.
Both types of outflows feature quasi-periodic kilohertz substructure. These
early-time outflows may power precursors to short-duration gamma-ray bursts
(SGRB) or in some cases the entire SGRB. While the overall temporal power
spectrum we find broadly agrees with the one recently reported for
quasi-periodic oscillations in the SGRB GRB910711, our simulations suggest that
the periodic electromagnetic substructure is dominated by magnetohydrodynamic
shearing processes rather than correlating with the corresponding post-merger
gravitational wave signal.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
Electromagnetic precursor flares from the late inspiral of neutron star binaries
The coalescence of two neutron stars is accompanied by the emission of
gravitational waves, and can also feature electromagnetic counterparts powered
by mass ejecta and the formation of a relativistic jet after the merger. Since
neutron stars can feature strong magnetic fields, the non-trivial interaction
of the neutron star magnetospheres might fuel potentially powerful
electromagnetic transients prior to merger. A key process powering those
precursor transients is relativistic reconnection in strong current sheets
formed between the two stars. In this work, we provide a detailed analysis of
how the twisting of the common magnetosphere of the binary leads to an emission
of electromagnetic flares, akin to those produced in the solar corona. By means
of relativistic force-free electrodynamics simulations, we clarify the role of
different magnetic field topologies in the process. We conclude that flaring
will always occur for suitable magnetic field alignments, unless one of the
neutron stars has a magnetic field significantly weaker than the other.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figure
Reconnection-powered fast radio transients from coalescing neutron star binaries
It is an open question whether and how gravitational wave events involving
neutron stars can be preceded by electromagnetic counterparts. This work shows
that the collision of two neutron stars with magnetic fields well below
magnetar-level strengths can produce millisecond Fast-Radio-Burst-like
transients. Using global force-free electrodynamics simulations, we demonstrate
that electromagnetic flares, produced by overtwisted common flux tubes in the
binary magnetosphere, collide with the orbital current sheet and compress it,
resulting in enhanced magnetic reconnection. As a result, the current sheet
fragments into a sequence of plasmoids, which collide with each other leading
to the emission of coherent electromagnetic waves. The resulting
millisecond-long burst of radiation should have frequencies in the range of
for magnetic fields of at the
stellar surfaces.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, version accepted by PR
Electromagnetic precursors to black hole - neutron star gravitational wave events: Flares and reconnection-powered fast-radio transients from the late inspiral
The presence of magnetic fields in the late inspiral of black hole -- neutron
star binaries could lead to potentially detectable electromagnetic precursor
transients. Using general-relativistic force-free electrodynamics simulations,
we investigate pre-merger interactions of the common magnetosphere of black
hole -- neutron star systems. We demonstrate that these systems can feature
copious electromagnetic flaring activity, which we find depends on the magnetic
field orientation but not on black hole spin. Due to interactions with the
surrounding magnetosphere, these flares could lead to Fast Radio Burst-like
transients and X-ray emission, with as an upper bound for
the luminosity, where is the magnetic field strength on the surface of
the neutron star.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures; accepted version, to appear in ApJ