21 research outputs found
On the existence of a reverse shock in magnetized gamma-ray burst ejecta
The role of magnetic fields in gamma-ray burst (GRB) flows remains controversial. The study of the early afterglow phases and, in particular, of the reverse shock dynamics and associated emission offers a promising probe of the magnetization of the ejecta. In this paper, we derive the conditions for the existence of a reverse shock in arbitrarily magnetized ejecta that decelerate and interact with the circumburst medium. Both constant and wind-like density profiles are considered. We show, in contrast to previous estimates, that ejecta with magnetization σ0 >∼ 1 are not crossed by a reverse shock for a large fraction of the parameter space relevant to GRB flows. Allowing for shell spreading, there is always a relativistic or mildly relativistic reverse shock forming in σ0 <∼ 0.3 ejecta. From this, we conclude that the paucity of optical flashes, believed to be a distinctive signature of a reverse shock, may be explained by the existence of dynamically important magnetic fields in the [email protected]; [email protected]
On the influence of a hybrid thermal-non-thermal distribution in the internal shocks model for blazars
Internal shocks occurring in blazars may accelerate both thermal and non-thermal electrons. While the non-thermal tail fills the higher end of the electron energy distribution (EED), thermal electrons populate the lowest energies of the shock-accelerated particles. In this paper, we examine the consequences that such a hybrid (thermal-non-thermal) EED has on the spectrum of blazars. Since the thermal component of the EED may extend to very low energies, the synchrotron emission of ultrarelativistic electrons may not be sufficiently accurate to compute blazar spectra. Thus, we replace the standard synchrotron process by the more general magneto-bremsstrahlung (MBS) mechanism encompassing the discrete emission of harmonics in the cyclotron regime, the transition from the discrete to continuum and the continuum emission in the synchrotron realm. In the γ-ray band, an EED of mostly thermal particles displays significant differences with respect to the one dominated by non-thermal particles. A thermally dominated EED produces a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) peak extending only up to a few MeV, and the valley separating the MBS and the SSC peaks is much deeper than if the EED is dominated by non-thermal particles. The combination of these effects modifies the Compton dominance of a blazar, suggesting that the vertical scatter in the distribution of FSRQs and BL Lacs in the peak synchrotron frequency-Compton dominance parameter space could be attributed to different proportions of thermal/non-thermal particles in the EED of blazars
Axisymmetric simulations of magnetorotational core collapse: approximate inclusion of general relativistic effects
We continue our investigations of the magnetorotational collapse of stellar cores by discussing simulations performed with a modified Newtonian gravitational potential that mimics general relativistic effects. The approximate TOV gravitational potential used in our simulations captures several basic features of fully relativistic simulations quite well. In particular, it is able to correctly reproduce the behavior of models that show a qualitative change both of the dynamics and the gravitational wave signal when switching from Newtonian to fully relativistic simulations. For models where the dynamics and gravitational wave signals are already captured qualitatively correctly by a Newtonian potential, the results of the Newtonian and the approximate TOV models differ quantitatively. The collapse proceeds to higher densities with the approximate TOV potential, allowing for a more efficient amplification of the magnetic field by differential rotation. The strength of the saturation fields (∼10^15 G at the surface of the inner core) is a factor of two to three higher than in Newtonian gravity. Due to the more efficient field amplification, the influence of magnetic fields is considerably more pronounced than in the Newtonian case for some of the models. As in the Newtonian case, sufficiently strong magnetic fields slow down the core’s rotation and trigger a secular contraction phase to higher densities. More clearly than in Newtonian models, the collapsed cores of these models exhibit two different kinds of shock generation. Due to magnetic braking, a first shock wave created during the initial centrifugal bounce at subnuclear densities does not suffice for ejecting any mass, and the temporarily stabilized core continues to collapse to supranuclear densities. Another stronger shock wave is generated during the second bounce as the core exceeds nuclear matter density. The gravitational wave signal of these models does not fit into the standard classification. Therefore, in the first paper of this series we introduced a new type of gravitational wave signal, which we call type IV or “magnetic type”. This signal type is more frequent for the approximate relativistic potential than for the Newtonian one. Most of our weak-field models are marginally detectable with the current LIGO interferometer for a source located at a distance of 10 kpc. Strongly magnetized models emit a substantial fraction of their GW power at very low frequencies. A flat spectrum between 10 Hz and <∼100 kHz denotes the generation of a jet-like hydromagnetic outflow.Aloy Toras, Miguel Angel, [email protected]
Scheduled Relaxation Jacobi method: Improvements and applications
Elliptic partial differential equations (ePDEs) appear in a wide variety of areas of mathematics, physics and engineering. Typically, ePDEs must be solved numerically, which sets an ever growing demand for efficient and highly parallel algorithms to tackle their computational solution. The Scheduled Relaxation Jacobi (SRJ) is a promising class of methods, atypical for combining simplicity and efficiency, that has been recently introduced for solving linear Poisson-like ePDEs. The SRJ methodology relies on computing the appropriate parameters of a multilevel approach with the goal of minimizing the number of iterations needed to cut down the residuals below specified tolerances. The efficiency in the reduction of the residual increases with the number of levels employed in the algorithm. Applying the original methodology to compute the algorithm parameters with more than 5 levels notably hinders obtaining optimal SRJ schemes, as the mixed (non- linear) algebraic-differential system of equations from which they result becomes notably stiff. Here we present a new methodology for obtaining the parameters of SRJ schemes that overcomes the limitations of the original algorithm and provide parameters for SRJ schemes with up to 15 levels and resolutions of up to 2^15 points per dimension, allowing for acceleration factors larger than several hundreds with respect to the Jacobi method for typical resolutions and, in some high resolution cases, close to 1000. Most of the success in finding SRJ optimal schemes with more than 10 levels is based on an analytic reduction of the complexity of the previously mentioned system of equations. Furthermore, we extend the original algorithm to apply it to certain systems of non-linear ePDEs
Radio Emission from 3D Relativistic Hydrodynamic Jets: Observational Evidence of Jet Stratification
We present the first radio emission simulations from high resolution three
dimensional relativistic hydrodynamic jets, which allow for a study of the
observational implications of the interaction between the jet and external
medium. This interaction gives rise to a stratification of the jet where a fast
spine is surrounded by a slow high energy shear layer. The stratification, and
in particular the large specific internal energy and slow flow in the shear
layer largely determines the emission from the jet. If the magnetic field in
the shear layer becomes helical (e.g., resulting from an initial toroidal field
and an aligned field component generated by shear) the emission shows a cross
section asymmetry, in which either the top or the bottom of the jet dominates
the emission. This, as well as limb or spine brightening, is a function of the
viewing angle and flow velocity, and the top/bottom jet emission predominance
can be reversed if the jet changes direction with respect to the observer, or
presents a change in velocity. The asymmetry is more prominent in the polarized
flux, because of field cancellation (or amplification) along the line of sight.
Recent observations of jet cross section emission asymmetries in the blazar
1055+018 can be explained assuming the existence of a shear layer with a
helical magnetic field.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 1 latex style file, ApJL accepte
Magnetorotational supernovae: A nucleosynthetic analysis of sophisticated 3D models
Magnetorotational supernovae are a rare type of core-collapse supernovae
where the magnetic field and rotation play a central role in the dynamics of
the explosion. We present the post-processed nucleosynthesis of
state-of-the-art neutrino-MHD supernova models that follow the post explosion
evolution for few seconds. We find three different dynamical mechanisms to
produce heavy r-process elements: i) a prompt ejection of matter right after
core bounce, ii) neutron-rich matter that is ejected at late times due to a
reconfiguration of the protoneutronstar shape, iii) small amount of mass
ejected with high entropies in the center of the jet. We investigate total
ejecta yields, including the ones of unstable nuclei such as Al,
Ti, Ni, and Fe. The obtained Ni masses vary between
. The latter maximum is compatible with hypernova
observations. Furthermore, all of our models synthesize Zn masses in agreement
with observations of old metal-poor stars. We calculate simplified light curves
to investigate whether our models can be candidates for superluminous
supernovae. The peak luminosities obtained from taking into account only
nuclear heating reach up to a few . Under
certain conditions, we find a significant impact of the Ni decay chain
that can raise the peak luminosity up to compared to models
including only the Ni decay chain. This work reinforces the theoretical
evidence on the critical role of magnetorotational supernovae to understand the
occurrence of hypernovae, superluminous supernovae, and the synthesis of heavy
elements
Magnetorotational supernovae: a nucleosynthetic analysis of sophisticated 3D models
Magnetorotational supernovae are a rare type of core-collapse supernovae where the magnetic field and rotation play a central role in the dynamics of the explosion. We present the post-processed nucleosynthesis of state-of-the-art neutrino-MHD supernova models that follow the post explosion evolution for few seconds. We find three different dynamical mechanisms to produce heavy r-process elements: (i) a prompt ejection of matter right after core bounce, (ii) neutron-rich matter that is ejected at late times due to a reconfiguration of the protoneutronstar shape, (iii) small amount of mass ejected with high entropies in the centre of the jet. We investigate total ejecta yields, including the ones of unstable nuclei such as 26Al, 44Ti, 56Ni, and 60Fe. The obtained 56Ni masses vary between 0.01−1M⊙. The latter maximum is compatible with hypernova observations. Furthermore, all of our models synthesize Zn masses in agreement with observations of old metal-poor stars. We calculate simplified light curves to investigate whether our models can be candidates for superluminous supernovae. The peak luminosities obtained from taking into account only nuclear heating reach up to a few ∼1043ergs−1. Under certain conditions, we find a significant impact of the 66Ni decay chain that can raise the peak luminosity up to ∼38 percent compared to models including only the 56Ni decay chain. This work reinforces the theoretical evidence on the critical role of magnetorotational supernovae to understand the occurrence of hypernovae, superluminous supernovae, and the synthesis of heavy elements
Jet stability and the generation of superluminal and stationary components
We present a numerical simulation of the response of an expanding
relativistic jet to the ejection of a superluminal component. The simulation
has been performed with a relativistic time-dependent hydrodynamical code from
which simulated radio maps are computed by integrating the transfer equations
for synchrotron radiation. The interaction of the superluminal component with
the underlying jet results in the formation of multiple conical shocks behind
the main perturbation. These trailing components can be easily distinguished
because they appear to be released from the primary superluminal component,
instead of being ejected from the core. Their oblique nature should also result
in distinct polarization properties. Those appearing closer to the core show
small apparent motions and a very slow secular decrease in brightness, and
could be identified as stationary components. Those appearing farther
downstream are weaker and can reach superluminal apparent motions. The
existence of these trailing components indicates that not all observed
components necessarily represent major perturbations at the jet inlet; rather,
multiple emission components can be generated by a single disturbance in the
jet. While the superluminal component associated with the primary perturbation
exhibits a rather stable pattern speed, trailing components have velocities
that increase with distance from the core but move at less than the jet speed.
The trailing components exhibit motion and structure consistent with the
triggering of pinch modes by the superluminal component.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters. LaTeX, 19 pages, 4 PostScript figure