Search results for "Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics"
showing 10 items of 347 documents
K-band spectroscopy of IGR J16358-4726 and IGR J16393-4643: two new symbiotic X-ray binaries
2009
Symbiotic X-ray Binaries (SyXBs) are a recently discovered subclass of Low Mass X-ray Binaries. Their growing number makes them an important evolutionary channel of X-ray Binaries. Our goal is to perform spectral analysis and classification of the proposed counterparts to IGR J16358-4726 and IGR J16393-4643 and to establish their nature as X-ray systems. We used the ESO/UT1 ISAAC spectrograph to observe the proposed counterparts to the two sources, obtaining K-band medium resolution spectra (R = 500) with a S/N > 140. Data reduction was performed with the standard procedure. We classified them by means of comparison with published atlases. We performed SED fitting in order to refine the …
Core-collapse supernova simulations in one and two dimensions: comparison of codes and approximations
2018
We present spherically symmetric (1D) and axisymmetric (2D) supernova simulations for a convection-dominated 9 Msun and a 20 Msun progenitor that develops violent activity by the standing-accretion-shock instability (SASI). We compare in detail the Aenus-Alcar code, which uses fully multidimensional two-moment neutrino transport with an M1 closure, with a ray-by-ray-plus (RbR+) version of this code and with the Prometheus-Vertex code that employs RbR+ two-moment transport with a Boltzmann closure. Besides testing consequences of ignored non-radial neutrino-flux components in the RbR+ approximation, we also discuss the influence of various transport ingredients applied or not applied in rece…
Collimation and asymmetry of the hot blast wave from the recurrent nova V745 Scorpii
2016
The recurrent symbiotic nova V745 Sco exploded on 2014 February 6 and was observed on February 22 and 23 by the Chandra X-ray Observatory Transmission Grating Spectrometers. By that time the supersoft source phase had already ended and Chandra spectra are consistent with emission from a hot, shock-heated circumstellar medium with temperatures exceeding 10^7K. X-ray line profiles are more sharply peaked than expected for a spherically-symmetric blast wave, with a full width at zero intensity of approximately 2400 km/s, a full width at half maximum of 1200 +/- 30 km/s and an average net blueshift of 165 +/- 10 km/s. The red wings of lines are increasingly absorbed toward longer wavelengths by…
Magnetorotational core collapse of possible GRB progenitors – II. Formation of protomagnetars and collapsars
2020
We assess the variance of the post-collapse evolution remnants of compact, massive, low-metallicity stars, under small changes in the degrees of rotation and magnetic field of selected pre-supernova cores. These stellar models are commonly considered progenitors of long gamma-ray bursts. The fate of the proto-neutron star (PNS) formed after collapse, whose mass may continuously grow due to accretion, critically depends on the poloidal magnetic field strength at bounce. Should the poloidal magnetic field be sufficiently weak, the PNS collapses to a black hole (BH) within a few seconds. Models on this evolutionary track contain promising collapsar engines. Poloidal magnetic fields smooth over…
Termination of the magnetorotational instability via parasitic instabilities in core-collapse supernovae
2016
The magnetorotational instability (MRI) can be a powerful mechanism amplifying the magnetic field in core-collapse supernovae. Whether initially weak magnetic fields can be amplified by this instability to dynamically relevant strengths is still a matter of debate. One of the main uncertainties concerns the process that terminates the growth of the instability. Parasitic instabilities of both Kelvin-Helmholtz and tearing-mode type have been suggested to play a crucial role in this process, disrupting MRI channel flows and quenching magnetic field amplification. We perform two-dimensional and three-dimensional sheering-disc simulations of a differentially rotating protoneutron star layer in …
Magnetorotational Instability in Core-Collapse Supernovae
2017
We discuss the relevance of the magnetorotational instability (MRI) in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). Our recent numerical studies show that in CCSNe, the MRI is terminated by parasitic instabilities of the Kelvin-Helmholtz type. To determine whether the MRI can amplify initially weak magnetic fields to dynamically relevant strengths in CCSNe, we performed three-dimensional simulations of a region close to the surface of a differentially rotating proto-neutron star in non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics with two different numerical codes. We find that under the conditions prevailing in proto-neutron stars, the MRI can amplify the magnetic field by (only) one order of magnitude. This severely …
Magneto-elastic oscillations of neutron stars: exploring different magnetic field configurations
2012
We study magneto-elastic oscillations of highly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) which have been proposed as an explanation for the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) appearing in the decaying tail of the giant flares of soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs). We extend previous studies by investigating various magnetic field configurations, computing the Alfv��n spectrum in each case and performing magneto-elastic simulations for a selected number of models. By identifying the observed frequencies of 28 Hz (SGR 1900+14) and 30 Hz (SGR 1806-20) with the fundamental Alfv��n QPOs, we estimate the required surface magnetic field strength. For the magnetic field configurations investigated (dipole…
Evidence of nonthermal particles in coronal loops heated impulsively by nanoflares
2014
The physical processes causing energy exchange between the Sun's hot corona and its cool lower atmosphere remain poorly understood. The chromosphere and transition region (TR) form an interface region between the surface and the corona that is highly sensitive to the coronal heating mechanism. High resolution observations with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) reveal rapid variability (about 20 to 60 seconds) of intensity and velocity on small spatial scales at the footpoints of hot dynamic coronal loops. The observations are consistent with numerical simulations of heating by beams of non-thermal electrons, which are generated in small impulsive heating events called "corona…
Efficient magnetic-field amplification due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in binary neutron star mergers
2015
We explore magnetic-field amplification due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability during binary neutron star mergers. By performing high-resolution general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations with a resolution of $17.5$ m for $4$--$5$ ms after the onset of the merger on the Japanese supercomputer "K", we find that an initial magnetic field of moderate maximum strength $10^{13}$ G is amplified at least by a factor of $\approx 10^3$. We also explore the saturation of the magnetic-field energy and our result shows that it is likely to be $\gtrsim 4 \times 10^{50}$ erg, which is $\gtrsim 0.1\%$ of the bulk kinetic energy of the merging binary neutron stars.
Core collapse with magnetic fields and rotation
2018
We study the effects of magnetic fields and rotation on the core collapse of a star of an initial mass of M = 20 solar masses using axisymmetric simulations coupling special relativistic magnetohydrodynamics, an approximately relativistic gravitational potential, and spectral neutrino transport. We compare models of the same core with different, artificially added profiles of rotation and magnetic field. A model with weak field and slow rotation does not produce an explosion, while stronger fields and fast rotation open the possibility of explosions. Whereas the neutrino luminosities of the exploding models are the same as or even less than those of the non-exploding model, magnetic fields …