Thermo-Rotational Instability in Plasma Disks Around Compact Objects

Differentially rotating plasma disks, around compact objects, that are imbedded in a ``seed'' magnetic field are shown to develop vertically localized ballooning modes that are driven by the combined radial gradient of the rotation frequency and vertical gradients of the plasma density and temperature. When the electron mean free path is shorter than the disk height and the relevant thermal conductivity can be neglected, the vertical particle flows produced by of these modes have the effect to drive the density and temperature profiles toward the ``adiabatic condition'' where $\eta_{T}\equiv(dlnT/dz)/(dlnn/dz)=2/3$. Here $T$ is the plasma temperature and $n$ the particle density. The faster growth rates correspond to steeper temperature profiles $(\eta_{T}>2/3)$ such as those produced by an internal (e.g., viscous) heating process. In the end, ballooning modes excited for various values of $\eta_{T}$ can lead to the evolution of the disk into a different current carrying configuration such as a sequence of plasma rings

Probing dissipation mechanisms in BL Lac jets through X-ray polarimetry

The dissipation of energy flux in blazar jets plays a key role in the acceleration of relativistic particles. Two possibilities are commonly considered for the dissipation processes, magnetic reconnection -- possibly triggered by instabilities in magnetically-dominated jets -- , or shocks -- for weakly magnetized flows. We consider the polarimetric features expected for the two scenarios analyzing the results of state-of-the-art simulations. For the magnetic reconnection scenario we conclude, using results from global relativistic MHD simulations, that the emission likely occurs in turbulent regions with unstructured magnetic fields, although the simulations do not allow us to draw firm conclusions. On the other hand, with local particle-in-cell simulations we show that, for shocks with a magnetic field geometry suitable for particle acceleration, the self-generated magnetic field at the shock front is predominantly orthogonal to the shock normal and becomes quasi-parallel downstream. Based on this result we develop a simplified model to calculate the frequency-dependent degree of polarization, assuming that high-energy particles are injected at the shock and cool downstream. We apply our results to HBLs, blazars with the maximum of their synchrotron output at UV-soft X-ray energies. While in the optical band the predicted degree of polarization is low, in the X-ray emission it can ideally reach 50\%, especially during active/flaring states. The comparison between measurements in the optical and in the X-ray band made during active states (feasible with the planned {\it IXPE} satellite) are expected to provide valuable constraints on the dissipation and acceleration processes.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication by MNRA

Closure Relations for Electron-Positron Pair-Signatures in Gamma-Ray Bursts

We present recipes to diagnose the fireball of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by combining observations of electron-positron pair-signatures (the pair-annihilation line and the cutoff energy due to the pair-creation process). Our recipes are largely model-independent and extract information even from the non-detection of either pair-signature. We evaluate physical quantities such as the Lorentz factor, optical depth and pair-to-baryon ratio, only from the observable quantities. In particular, we can test whether the prompt emission of GRBs comes from the pair/baryonic photosphere or not. The future-coming Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) satellite will provide us with good chances to use our recipes by detecting or non-detecting pair-signatures.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, with extended discussions. Conclusions unchange

Iron K Lines from Gamma Ray Bursts

We present models for reprocessing of an intense flux of X-rays and gamma rays expected in the vicinity of gamma ray burst sources. We consider the transfer and reprocessing of the energetic photons into observable features in the X-ray band, notably the K lines of iron. Our models are based on the assumption that the gas is sufficiently dense to allow the microphysical processes to be in a steady state, thus allowing efficient line emission with modest reprocessing mass and elemental abundances ranging from solar to moderately enriched. We show that the reprocessing is enhanced by down-Comptonization of photons whose energy would otherwise be too high to absorb on iron, and that pair production can have an effect on enhancing the line production. Both "distant" reprocessors such as supernova or wind remnants and "nearby" reprocessors such as outer stellar envelopes can reproduce the observed line fluxes with Fe abundances 30-100 times above solar, depending on the incidence angle. The high incidence angles required arise naturally only in nearby models, which for plausible values can reach Fe line to continuum ratios close to the reported values.Comment: 37 pages, 10 figures. Ap. J in pres

Witnessing the gradual slow-down of powerful extragalactic jets: The X-ray -- optical -- radio connection

A puzzling feature of the {\it Chandra}--detected quasar jets is that their X-ray emission decreases faster along the jet than their radio emission, resulting to an outward increasing radio to X-ray ratio. In some sources this behavior is so extreme that the radio emission peak is located clearly downstream of that of the X-rays. This is a rather unanticipated behavior given that the inverse Compton nature of the X-rays and the synchrotron radio emission are attributed to roughly the same electrons of the jet's non-thermal electron distribution. In this note we show that this morphological behavior can result from the gradual deceleration of a relativistic flow and that the offsets in peak emission at different wavelengths carry the imprint of this deceleration. This notion is consistent with another recent finding, namely that the jets feeding the terminal hot spots of powerful radio galaxies and quasars are still relativistic with Lorentz factors $\Gamma \sim 2-3$. The picture of the kinematics of powerful jets emerging from these considerations is that they remain relativistic as they gradually decelerate from Kpc scales to the hot spots, where, in a final collision with the intergalactic medium, they slow-down rapidly to the subrelativistic velocities of the hot spot advance speed.Comment: Submitted in ApJ Letters on Jan. 14, 200

Anatomy and embryology of tracheo-esophageal fistula

Anomalies in tracheo-esophageal development result in a spectrum of congenital malformations ranging from, most commonly, esophageal atresia with or without trachea-esophageal fistula (EA+/-TEF) to esophageal web, duplication, stricture, tracheomalacia and tracheal agenesis. Despite the relative frequency of EA, however, the underlying etiology remains unknown and is likely due to a combination of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. In recent years, animal models have dramatically increased our understanding of the molecular and morphological processes involved in normal esophageal development during the key stages of anterior-posterior regionalization, dorsal-ventral patterning and morphogenic separation. Moreover, the use of animal models in conjunction with increasingly advanced techniques such as genomic sequencing, sophisticated live imaging studies and organoid models have more recently cast light on potential mechanisms involved in EA pathogenesis. This article aims to unravel some of the mysteries behind the anatomy and embryology of EA whilst providing insights into future directions for research