2,290 research outputs found
The Non-Relativistic Evolution of GRBs 980703 and 970508: Beaming-Independent Calorimetry
We use the Sedov-Taylor self-similar solution to model the radio emission
from the gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) 980703 and 970508, when the blastwave has
decelerated to non-relativistic velocities. This approach allows us to infer
the energy independent of jet collimation. We find that for GRB 980703 the
kinetic energy at the time of the transition to non-relativistic evolution,
t_NR ~ 40 d, is E_ST ~ (1-6)e51 erg. For GRB 970508 we find E_ST ~ 3e51 erg at
t_NR ~ 100 d, nearly an order of magnitude higher than the energy derived in
Frail, Waxman and Kulkarni (2000). This is due primarily to revised
cosmological parameters and partly to the maximum likelihood fit we use here.
Taking into account radiative losses prior to t_NR, the inferred energies agree
well with those derived from the early, relativistic evolution of the
afterglow. Thus, the analysis presented here provides a robust,
geometry-independent confirmation that the energy scale of cosmological GRBs is
about 5e51 erg, and additionally shows that the central engine in these two
bursts did not produce a significant amount of energy in mildly relativistic
ejecta at late time. Furthermore, a comparison to the prompt energy release
reveals a wide dispersion in the gamma-ray efficiency, strengthening our
growing understanding that E_gamma is a not a reliable proxy for the total
energy.Comment: Submitted to ApJ; 13 pages, 6 figures, 1 table; high-resolution
figures can be found at: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~ejb/NR
Confinement of supernova explosions in a collapsing cloud
We analyze the confining effect of cloud collapse on an expanding supernova
shockfront. We solve the differential equation for the forces on the shockfront
due to ram pressure, supernova energy, and gravity. We find that the expansion
of the shockfront is slowed and in fact reversed by the collapsing cloud.
Including radiative losses and a potential time lag between supernova explosion
and cloud collapse shows that the expansion is reversed at smaller distances as
compared to the non-radiative case. We also consider the case of multiple
supernova explosions at the center of a collapsing cloud. For instance, if we
scale our self-similar solution to a single supernova of energy 10^51 ergs
occurring when a cloud of initial density 10^2 H/cm^3 has collapsed by 50%, we
find that the shockfront is confined to ~15 pc in ~1 Myrs. Our calculations are
pertinent to the observed unusually compact non-thermal radio emission in blue
compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs). More generally, we demonstrate the potential of
a collapsing cloud to confine supernovae, thereby explaining how dwarf galaxies
would exist beyond their first generation of star formation.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure
Superlinear Increase of Photocurrent due to Stimulated Scattering into a Polariton Condensate
We show that when a monopolar current is passed through an n-i-n structure,
superlinear photocurrent response occurs when there is a polariton condensate.
This is in sharp contrast to the previously observed behavior for a standard
semiconductor laser. Theoretical modeling shows that this is due to a
stimulated exciton-exciton scattering process in which one exciton relaxes into
the condensate, while another one dissociates into an electron-hole pair.Comment: 17 pages with 10 figure
Spin resonance induced by a mechanical rotation of a polariton condensate
We study theoretically the polarization dynamics in a ring-shape bosonic
condensate of exciton-polaritons confined in a rotating trap. The interplay
between the rotating potential and TE-TM splitting of polariton modes offers a
tool of control over the spin state and the angular momentum of the condensate.
Specific selection rules describing the coupling of pseudospin and angular
momentum are formulated. The resonant coupling between states having linear and
circular polarizations leads to the polarization beats. The effect may be seen
as a polariton analogy to the electronic magnetic resonance in the presence of
constant and rotating magnetic fields. Remarkably, spin beats are induced by a
purely mechanical rotation of the condensate
Persistent polarization oscillations in ring-shape polariton condensates
We predict the limit cycle solution for a ring-shape bosonic condensate of
exciton-polaritons confined in an optically induced rotating trap. The limit
cycle manifests itself with polarization oscillations on a characteristic
timescale of tens of picoseconds. The effect arises due to the interplay
between orbital motion and the polarization degree of freedom. It is specific
to spinor bosonic condensates and would be absent in a scalar case, where a
bi-stability of stationary solutions would be observed instead. This work
offers a tool of initialisation and control of qubits based on superpositions
of polariton condensates characterised by different topologic charges
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