Atomic X-ray Spectroscopy of Accreting Black Holes

Current astrophysical research suggests that the most persistently luminous objects in the Universe are powered by the flow of matter through accretion disks onto black holes. Accretion disk systems are observed to emit copious radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, each energy band providing access to rather distinct regimes of physical conditions and geometric scale. X-ray emission probes the innermost regions of the accretion disk, where relativistic effects prevail. While this has been known for decades, it also has been acknowledged that inferring physical conditions in the relativistic regime from the behavior of the X-ray continuum is problematic and not satisfactorily constraining. With the discovery in the 1990s of iron X-ray lines bearing signatures of relativistic distortion came the hope that such emission would more firmly constrain models of disk accretion near black holes, as well as provide observational criteria by which to test general relativity in the strong field limit. Here we provide an introduction to this phenomenon. While the presentation is intended to be primarily tutorial in nature, we aim also to acquaint the reader with trends in current research. To achieve these ends, we present the basic applications of general relativity that pertain to X-ray spectroscopic observations of black hole accretion disk systems, focusing on the Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions to the Einstein field equations. To this we add treatments of the fundamental concepts associated with the theoretical and modeling aspects of accretion disks, as well as relevant topics from observational and theoretical X-ray spectroscopy.Comment: 63 pages, 21 figures, Einstein Centennial Review Article, Canadian Journal of Physics, in pres

Ion-implanted Nd:MgO:LiNbO₃ planar waveguide laser

Laser oscillation in an ion-implanted planar Nd:MgO:LiNbO3 waveguide is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. Details of the waveguide structure, spectroscopic properties, photorefractive effects. and laser performance are given. A simple calculation of the absorbed power threshold gives ~8mW, in fair agreement with the experimental value of ~17mW

Modeling of Photoionized Plasmas

In this paper I review the motivation and current status of modeling of plasmas exposed to strong radiation fields, as it applies to the study of cosmic X-ray sources. This includes some of the astrophysical issues which can be addressed, the ingredients for the models, the current computational tools, the limitations imposed by currently available atomic data, and the validity of some of the standard assumptions. I will also discuss ideas for the future: challenges associated with future missions, opportunities presented by improved computers, and goals for atomic data collection.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, to appear in the proceedings of Xray2010, Utrecht, the Netherlands, March 15-17 201

The Gribov-Zwanziger action in the presence of the gauge invariant, nonlocal mass operator Tr∫d4xFμν(D2)−1FμνTr \int d^4x F_{\mu\nu} (D^2)^{-1} F_{\mu\nu} in the Landau gauge

We prove that the nonlocal gauge invariant mass dimension two operator $F_{\mu\nu} (D^2)^{-1} F_{\mu\nu}$ can be consistently added to the Gribov-Zwanziger action, which implements the restriction of the path integral's domain of integration to the first Gribov region when the Landau gauge is considered. We identify a local polynomial action and prove the renormalizability to all orders of perturbation theory by employing the algebraic renormalization formalism. Furthermore, we also pay attention to the breaking of the BRST invariance, and to the consequences that this has for the Slavnov-Taylor identity.Comment: 30 page

Active Galactic Nuclei at the Crossroads of Astrophysics

Over the last five decades, AGN studies have produced a number of spectacular examples of synergies and multifaceted approaches in astrophysics. The field of AGN research now spans the entire spectral range and covers more than twelve orders of magnitude in the spatial and temporal domains. The next generation of astrophysical facilities will open up new possibilities for AGN studies, especially in the areas of high-resolution and high-fidelity imaging and spectroscopy of nuclear regions in the X-ray, optical, and radio bands. These studies will address in detail a number of critical issues in AGN research such as processes in the immediate vicinity of supermassive black holes, physical conditions of broad-line and narrow-line regions, formation and evolution of accretion disks and relativistic outflows, and the connection between nuclear activity and galaxy evolution.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures; review contribution; "Exploring the Cosmic Frontier: Astrophysical Instruments for the 21st Century", ESO Astrophysical Symposia Serie

Magnetogenesis and the dynamics of internal dimensions

The dynamical evolution of internal space-like dimensions breaks the invariance of the Maxwell's equations under Weyl rescaling of the (conformally flat) four-dimensional metric. Depending upon the number and upon the dynamics of internal dimensions large scale magnetic fields can be created. The requirements coming from magnetogenesis together with the other cosmological constraints are examined under the assumption that the internal dimensions either grow or shrink (in conformal time) prior to a radiation dominated epoch. If the internal dimensions are growing the magnitude of the generated magnetic fields can seed the galactic dynamo mechanism.Comment: 27 in RevTex style, four figure

The renormalization group inspired approaches and estimates of the tenth-order corrections to the muon anomaly in QED

We present the estimates of the five-loop QED corrections to the muon anomaly using the scheme-invariant approaches and demonstrate that they are in good agreement with the results of exact calculations of the corresponding tenth-order diagrams supplemented by the additional guess about the values of the non-calculated contributions.Comment: LATEX 15 pages, figures available upon request; preprint CERN-TH.7518/9