A lower bound on the local extragalactic magnetic field

Assuming that the hard gamma-ray emission of Cen A is a result of synchrotron radiation of ultra-relativistic electrons, we derive a lower bound on the local extragalactic magnetic field, $B> 10^{-8}$ G. This result is consistent with (and close to) upper bounds on magnetic fields derived from consideration of cosmic microwave background distortions and Faraday rotation measurements.Comment: Includes extensive discussion of particle acceleration above 10^20 eV in the hot spot-like region of Cen

Isothermal Plasma Wave Properties of the Schwarzschild de-Sitter Black Hole in a Veselago Medium

In this paper, we study wave properties of isothermal plasma for the Schwarzschild de-Sitter black hole in a Veselago medium. We use ADM 3+1 formalism to formulate general relativistic magnetohydrodynamical (GRMHD) equations for the Schwarzschild de-Sitter spacetime in Rindler coordinates. Further, Fourier analysis of the linearly perturbed GRMHD equations for the rotating (non-magnetized and magnetized) background is taken whose determinant leads to a dispersion relation. We investigate wave properties by using graphical representation of the wave vector, the refractive index, change in refractive index, phase and group velocities. Also, the modes of wave dispersion are explored. The results indicate the existence of the Veselago medium.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophys. Space Sci. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1101.0884 and arxiv:1007.285

Energy and Flux Measurements of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays Observed During the First ANITA Flight

The first flight of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment recorded 16 radio signals that were emitted by cosmic-ray induced air showers. For 14 of these events, this radiation was reflected from the ice. The dominant contribution to the radiation from the deflection of positrons and electrons in the geomagnetic field, which is beamed in the direction of motion of the air shower. This radiation is reflected from the ice and subsequently detected by the ANITA experiment at a flight altitude of 36km. In this paper, we estimate the energy of the 14 individual events and find that the mean energy of the cosmic-ray sample is 2.9 EeV. By simulating the ANITA flight, we calculate its exposure for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. We estimate for the first time the cosmic-ray flux derived only from radio observations. In addition, we find that the Monte Carlo simulation of the ANITA data set is in agreement with the total number of observed events and with the properties of those events.Comment: Added more explanation of the experimental setup and textual improvement

Radiation fields of disk, BLR and torus in quasars and blazars: implications for gamma-ray absorption

The radiation fields external to the jets and originating from within a few parsecs from the black hole, are discussed in this paper. They are the direct radiation from an accretion disk in symbiosis with jets, the radiation field from the broad line region (BLR) surrounding the accretion disk, and the infrared radiation from a dusty torus. The jet/disk symbiosis modifies the energetics in the central parsec of AGN such that for a given accretion rate, a powerful jet would occur at the expense of the disk luminosity, and consequently the disk would less efficiently ionize the BRL clouds or heat the dust in the torus, thereby affecting potentially important target photon fields for interactions of gamma-rays, accelerated electrons and protons along the jet. Motivated by unification schemes of active galactic nuclei, we briefly review the evidence for the existence of broad line regions and small-scale dust tori in BL Lacs and Fanaroff-Riley Class I (FR-I) radio galaxies. We propose that an existing jet-accretion disk symbiosis can be extrapolated to provide a large scale-symbiosis between other important dusty constituents of the blazar/FR-I family. In the present paper, we discuss in the context of this symbiosis interactions of GeV and TeV gamma-rays produced in the jet with the various radiation fields external to the jet in quasars and blazars, taking account the anisotropy of the radiation.Comment: 27 pages, 12 figures. submitted to Astroparticle Physic

A new estimate of the extragalactic radio background and implications for ultra-high-energy gamma-ray propagation

We make a new estimate of the extragalactic radio background down to kHz frequencies based on the observed luminosity functions and radio spectra of normal galaxies and radio galaxies. We have constructed models for the spectra of these two classes of objects down to low frequencies based on observations of our Galaxy, other normal galaxies and radio galaxies. We check that the models and evolution of the luminosity functions give source counts consistent with data and calculate the radio background expected from kHz to GHz frequencies. The motivation for this calculation is that the propagation of ultra-high energy gamma-rays in the universe is limited by photon-photon pair production on the radio background. Electromagnetic cascades involving photon-photon pair production and subsequent synchrotron radiation in the intergalactic magnetic field may develop. Such gamma-rays may be produced in acceleration sites of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, as a result of interactions with the microwave background, or emitted as a result of decay or annihilation of topological defects. We find that photon-photon pair production on the radio background remains the dominant attenuation process for gamma-rays from $3 \times 10^{10}$ GeV up to GUT scale energies.Comment: LaTeX, 21 pages, including 10 postscript figures, tar'd and gzip'

The global atmospheric electrical circuit and climate

Evidence is emerging for physical links among clouds, global temperatures, the global atmospheric electrical circuit and cosmic ray ionisation. The global circuit extends throughout the atmosphere from the planetary surface to the lower layers of the ionosphere. Cosmic rays are the principal source of atmospheric ions away from the continental boundary layer: the ions formed permit a vertical conduction current to flow in the fair weather part of the global circuit. Through the (inverse) solar modulation of cosmic rays, the resulting columnar ionisation changes may allow the global circuit to convey a solar influence to meteorological phenomena of the lower atmosphere. Electrical effects on non-thunderstorm clouds have been proposed to occur via the ion-assisted formation of ultra-fine aerosol, which can grow to sizes able to act as cloud condensation nuclei, or through the increased ice nucleation capability of charged aerosols. Even small atmospheric electrical modulations on the aerosol size distribution can affect cloud properties and modify the radiative balance of the atmosphere, through changes communicated globally by the atmospheric electrical circuit. Despite a long history of work in related areas of geophysics, the direct and inverse relationships between the global circuit and global climate remain largely quantitatively unexplored. From reviewing atmospheric electrical measurements made over two centuries and possible paleoclimate proxies, global atmospheric electrical circuit variability should be expected on many timescale

The Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna Ultra-high Energy Neutrino Detector Design, Performance, and Sensitivity for 2006-2007 Balloon Flight

We present a detailed report on the experimental details of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) long duration balloon payload, including the design philosophy and realization, physics simulations, performance of the instrument during its first Antarctic flight completed in January of 2007, and expectations for the limiting neutrino detection sensitivity. Neutrino physics results will be reported separately.Comment: 50 pages, 49 figures, in preparation for PR

How to move ionized gas: an introduction to the dynamics of HII regions

This review covers the dynamic processes that are important in the evolution and structure of galactic HII regions, concentrating on an elementary presentation of the physical concepts and recent numerical simulations of HII region evolution in a non-uniform medium. The contents are as follows: (1) The equations (Euler equations; Radiative transfer; Rate equations; How to avoid the dynamics; How to avoid the atomic physics). (2) Physical concepts (Static photoionization equilibrium; Ionization front propagation; Structure of a D-type front; Photoablation flows; Other ingredients - Stellar winds, Radiation pressure, Magnetic fields, Instabilities). (3) HII region evolution (Early phases: hypercompact and ultracompact regions; Later phases: compact and extended regions; Clumps and turbulence).Comment: To be published as a chapter in 'Diffuse Matter from Star Forming Regions to Active Galaxies' - A volume Honouring John Dyson. Eds. T. W. Harquist, J. M. Pittard and S. A. E. G. Falle. 25 pages, 7 figures. Some figures degraded to meet size restriction. Full-resolution version available at http://www.ifront.org/wiki/Dyson_Festschrift_Chapte