On invisible plasma content in radio-loud AGNs: The case of TeV blazar Markarian 421

Invisible plasma content in blazar jets such as protons and/or thermal electron-positron ($e^{\pm}$) pairs is explored through combined arguments of dynamical and radiative processes. By comparing physical quantities required by the internal shock model with those obtained through the observed broadband spectra for Mrk 421, we obtain that the ratio of the Lorentz factors of a pair of cold shells resides in about $2\sim 20$, which implies that the shocks are at most mildly relativistic. Using the obtained Lorentz factors, the total mass density $\rho$ in the shocked shells is investigated. The upper limit of $\rho$ is obtained from the condition that thermal bremsstrahlung emission should not exceed the observed $\gamma$-ray luminosity, whilst the lower limit is constrained from the condition that the energy density of non-thermal electrons is smaller than that of the total plasma. Then we find $\rho$ is $10^2$-$10^3$ times heavier than that of non-thermal electrons for pure $e^{\pm}$ pairs, while $10^2$-$10^6$ times heavier for pure electron-proton ($e/p$) content, implying the existence of a large amount of invisible plasma. The origin of the continuous blazar sequence is shortly discussed and we speculate that the total mass density and/or the blending ratio of $e^{\pm}$ pairs and $e/p$ plasma could be new key quantities for the origin of the sequence.Comment: Accepted MNRAS; 8 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Gossamer Superconductivity near Antiferromagnetic Mott Insulator in Layered Organic Conductors

Layered organic superconductors are on the verge of the Mott insulator. We use Gutzwiller variational method to study a Hubbard model including a spin exchange coupling term. The ground state is found to be a Gossamer superconductor at small on-site Coulomb repulsion U and an antiferromagnetic Mott insulator at large U, separated by a first order phase transition. Our theory is qualitatively consistent with major experiments reported in organic superconductors.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Charge Ordering in Organic ET Compounds

The charge ordering phenomena in quasi two-dimensional 1/4-filled organic compounds (ET)_2X (ET=BEDT-TTF) are investigated theoretically for the $\theta$ and $\alpha$-type structures, based on the Hartree approximation for the extended Hubbard models with both on-site and intersite Coulomb interactions. It is found that charge ordered states of stripe-type are stabilized for the relevant values of Coulomb energies, while the spatial pattern of the stripes sensitively depends on the anisotropy of the models. By comparing the results of calculations with the experimental facts, where the effects of quantum fluctuation is incorporated by mapping the stripe-type charge ordered states to the S=1/2 Heisenberg Hamiltonians, the actual charge patterns in the insulating phases of $\theta$-(ET)_2MM'(SCN)_4 and $\alpha$-(ET)_2I_3 are deduced. Furthermore, to obtain a unified view among the $\theta$, $\alpha$ and $\kappa$-(ET)_2X families, the stability of the charge ordered state in competition with the dimeric antiferromagnetic state viewed as the Mott insulating state, which is typically realized in $\kappa$-type compounds, and with the paramagnetic metallic state, is also pursued by extracting essential parameters.Comment: 35 pages, 27 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Miniature photonic-crystal hydrophone optimized for ocean acoustics

This work reports on an optical hydrophone that is insensitive to hydrostatic pressure, yet capable of measuring acoustic pressures as low as the background noise in the ocean in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 kHz. The miniature hydrophone consists of a Fabry-Perot interferometer made of a photonic-crystal reflector interrogated with a single-mode fiber, and is compatible with existing fiber-optic technologies. Three sensors with different acoustic power ranges placed within a sub-wavelength sized hydrophone head allow a high dynamic range in the excess of 160 dB with a low harmonic distortion of better than -30 dB. A method for suppressing cross coupling between sensors in the same hydrophone head is also proposed. A prototype was fabricated, assembled, and tested. The sensitivity was measured from 100 Hz to 100 kHz, demonstrating a minimum detectable pressure down to 12 {\mu}Pa (1-Hz noise bandwidth), a flatband wider than 10 kHz, and very low distortion

Limb-Brightened Jet of 3C 84 Revealed by the 43-GHz Very-Long-Baseline-Array Observation

We present a study of sub-pc scale radio structure of the radio galaxy 3C 84/NGC 1275 based on the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) data at 43 GHz. We discover a limb-brightening in the "restarted" jet associated with the 2005 radio outburst. In the 1990s, the jet structure was ridge-brightening rather than limb-brightening, despite the observations being done with similar angular resolution. This indicates that the transverse jet structure has changed recently. This change in the morphology shows an interesting agreement with the $\gamma$-ray flux increase, i.e., the $\gamma$-ray flux in 1990s was at least seven times lower than the current one. One plausible explanation for the limb-brightening is the velocity structure of the jet in the context of the stratified jet, which is a successful scenario to explain the $\gamma$-ray emission in some active galactic nuclei (AGNs). If this is the case, the change in apparent transverse structure might be caused by the change in the transverse velocity structure. We argue the possibility that the transition from ridge-brightening to limb-brightening is related to the $\gamma$-ray time variability on the timescale of decades. We also discuss the collimation profile of the jet.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for Publication in Ap

Effect of Grain Size and Preferred Crystal Texture on Acoustic Properties of 304 Stainless Steel

Several acoustic properties have been measured in an annealed round rolled bar of type 304 stainless steel. These properties were observed to depend upon both microstructure and the non-random crystal texture of this single phase, polycrystalline, face-centered cubic alloy. All measurements were made with longitudinal waves propagating parallel to the bar axis. The acoustic velocity was observed to be 0.3% higher near the outer surface than along the center of the bar, consistent with a stronger [111] texture in the outer fibers than at the center. The attenuation coefficient at the center was twice as large as at the outer surface. The measured difference in grain size at the center and surface was consistent with the observed attenuation difference. The acousto-elastic coefficient measured for a uniaxial tension stress applied along a bar diameter was at least 20% higher at the bar center than at its outer surface