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B. Rudak

Publications and source records attributed to B. Rudak.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2009

The nature of pulsar radio emission

High-quality averaged radio profiles of some pulsars exhibit double, highly symmetric features both in emission and absorption. It is shown that both types of features are produced by a split-fan beam of extraordinary-mode curvature radiation (CR) that is emitted/absorbed by radially-extended streams of magnetospheric plasma. With no emissivity in the plane of the stream, such a beam produces bifurcated emission components (BFCs) when our line of sight passes through the plane. A distinct example of double component created in that way is present in averaged profile of the 5 ms pulsar J1012+5307. We show that the component can indeed be very well fitted by the textbook formula for the non-coherent beam of curvature radiation in the polarisation state that is orthogonal to the plane of electron trajectory. The observed width of the BFC decreases with increasing frequency at the rate that confirms the curvature origin. Likewise, the double absorption features (double notches) are produced by the same beam of the extraordinary-mode CR, when it is eclipsed by thin plasma streams. The intrinsic property of CR to create bifurcated fan beams explains the double features in terms of very natural geometry and implies the curvature origin of pulsar radio emission. (abbreviated)

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arXiv2007

On the Present and Future of Pulsar Astronomy

To face recent observational results obtained in multi-wavelength studies from neutron stars and pulsars with the various theoretical models and to discuss on future perspectives on neutron star astronomy we organized a Joined Discussion (JD02) during the XXVI IAU General Assembly which took place in 2006 August in Prague. More than 150 scientists took actively part in this Joint Discussion. Fourteen invited review talks were presented to view the present and future of pulsar astronomy. Fifty three poster contributions displayed new and exciting results. In this summary we give an overview of the invited review talks and contributed posters. The review talks are subject of review articles which will be published elsewhere. More information on this will be available at http://www.mpe.mpg.de/IAU_JD02 in the near future.

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arXiv2007

A model for double notches and bifurcated components in radio profiles of pulsars and magnetars - Evidence for the parallel acceleration maser in pulsar magnetosphere

Averaged pulse profiles of three nearby pulsars: B1929+10, J0437-4715 and B0950+08 exhibit unusual `double notches'. These W-like looking features consist of two adjacent V-shaped dips that approach each other at increasing observation frequency nuobs roughly at a rate sep \propto nuobs^{-1/2}, where sep is the separation between the notches' minima. We show that basic properties of the notches, namely their W-like look and the rate of their converging can be understood within a narrow class of models of coherent radio emission from pulsars: the free electron maser models based on coherent inverse Compton scattering of parallel oscillations of ambient electric field. The observed properties of the pulsars imply that the Fourier spectrum of the wiggler-like oscillations is narrow and that the broad-band character of the radio emission reflects the width of the electron energy distribution. Such a model provides a natural explanation for the frequency-independent separation between the main pulse and interpulse of B0950+08 as well as for the lack of radius to frequency mapping in the conal-like emission of J0437-4715. The frequency behaviour of the main pulse in the profile of the first radio magnetar XTE J1810-197 can also be explained within this model.

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arXiv2006

VIRGO sensitivity to binary coalescences and the Population III black hole binaries

We analyze the properties of VIRGO detector with the aim of studying its ability to search for coalescing black hole binaries. We focus on the remnants of the Population III stars, which currently should be massive black holes ($\sim 100-1000 M_\odot$), some of them bound in binary systems. The coalescence of such binaries due to emission of gravitational waves may be currently observable. We use a binary population synthesis to model the evolution of Population III binaries. We calculate the signal to noise ratios of gravitational waves emitted by the system in each of the coalescence phase: inspiral, merger and ringdown, and provide simple formulae for the signal to noise ratio as a function of masses of the binaries. We estimate the detection rates for the VIRGO interferometer and also compare them with the estimates for the current LIGO. We show that these expected rates are similar to, or larger than the expected rates from coalescences of Population I and II compact object binaries.

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arXiv2005

Pulsar shadow as the origin of double notches in radio pulse profiles

We present the model of eclipsing a rotating, spatially extended source of directional emission by a central absorber, and apply it to the pulsar magnetosphere. The model assumes the radially extended inward radio emission along the local direction of the magnetic field, and the pulsar as the absorber. The geometry of the magnetic field lines of the rotating dipole is favourable for the double eclipse events, which we identify with the double notches observed in pulse profiles of nearby pulsars. For pulsars with large dipole inclinations 70 <~ alpha <~ 110 deg the double notches are predicted to occur within a narrow phase range of 20 to 30 deg before the main radio peak. Application of the model to PSR B0950+08 establishes it as a nearly orthogonal rotator (alpha =~ 75 deg, beta =~ -10 deg) with many pulse components naturally interpreted in terms of the inward radio emission from a large range of altitudes. The inward components include the intermittently strong, leading component of the main pulse, which would traditionally have been interpeted as a conal emission in the outward direction. The model also identifies the magnetic field lines along which the radially extended inward radio emission occurs in B0950+08. These have a narrow range of the footprint parameter s close to 1.1 (closed field line region, near the last open field lines). We describe directional characteristics of inward emission from the radially extended region and compare them with characteristics of extended outward emission. Our work shows that pulse profiles of at least some pulsars may be a superposition of both inward and outward emission.

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arXiv2004

On the methods of determining the radio emission geometry in pulsar magnetospheres

We present a modification of the relativistic phase shift method of determining the radio emission geometry from pulsar magnetospheres proposed by Gangadhara & Gupta (2001). Our modification provides a method of determining radio emission altitudes which does not depend on the viewing geometry and does not require polarization measurements. We suggest application of the method to the outer edges of averaged radio pulse profiles to identify magnetic field lines associated with the edges of the pulse and, thereby, to test the geometric method based on the measurement of the pulse width at the lowest intensity level. We show that another relativistic method proposed by Blaskiewicz et al. (1991) provides upper limits for emission altitudes associated with the outer edges of pulse profiles. A comparison of these limits with the altitudes determined with the geometric method may be used to probe the importance of rotational distortions of magnetic field and refraction effects in the pulsar magnetosphere. We provide a comprehensive discussion of the assumptions used in the relativistic methods.

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arXiv2004

Relativistic effects and polarization in three high-energy pulsar models

We present the influence of the special relativistic effects of aberration and light travel time delay on pulsar high-energy lightcurves and polarization characteristics predicted by three models: the two-pole caustic model, the outer gap model, and the polar cap model. Position angle curves and degree of polarization are calculated for the models and compared with the optical data on the Crab pulsar. The relative positions of peaks in gamma-ray and radio lightcurves are discussed in detail for the models. We find that the two-pole caustic model can reproduce qualitatively the optical polarization characteristics of the Crab pulsar - fast swings of the position angle and minima in polarization degree associated with both peaks. The anticorrelation between the observed flux and the polarization degree (observed in the optical band also for B0656+14) naturally results from the caustic nature of the peaks which are produced in the model due to the superposition of radiation from many different altitudes, ie. polarized at different angles. The two-pole caustic model also provides an acceptable interpretation of the main features in the Crab's radio profile. Neither the outer gap model nor the polar cap model are able to reproduce the optical polarization data on the Crab. Although the outer gap model is very successful in reproducing the relative positions of gamma-ray and radio peaks in pulse profiles, it can reproduce the high-energy lightcurves only when photon emission from regions very close to the light cylinder is included.

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arXiv2003

Two-Pole Caustic Model for High-Energy Lightcurves of Pulsars

We present a new model of high-energy lightcurves from rotation powered pulsars. The key ingredient of the model is the gap region (i.e. the region where particle acceleration is taking place and high-energy photons originate) which satisfies the following assumptions: i) the gap region extends from each polar cap to the light cylinder; ii) the gap is thin and confined to the surface of last open magnetic-field lines; iii) photon emissivity is uniform within the gap region. The model lightcurves are dominated by strong peaks (either double or single) of caustic origin. Unlike in other pulsar models with caustic effects, the double peaks arise due to crossing two caustics, each of which is associated with a different magnetic pole. The generic features of the lightcurves are consistent with the observed characteristics of pulsar lightcurves: 1) the most natural (in terms of probability) shape consists of two peaks (separated by 0.4 to 0.5 in phase for large viewing angles); 2) the peaks posess well developed wings; 3) there is a bridge (inter-peak) emission component; 4) there is a non-vanishing off-pulse emission level; 5) the radio pulse occurs before the leading high-energy peak. The model is well suited for four gamma-ray pulsars - Crab, Vela, Geminga and B1951+32 - with double-peak lightcurves exhibiting the peak separation of 0.4 to 0.5 in phase. Hereby, we apply the model to the Vela pulsar. Moreover, we indicate the limitation of the model in accurate reproducing of the lightcurves with single pulses and narrowly separated (about 0.2 in phase) pulse peaks. We also discuss the optical polarization properties for the Crab pulsar in the context of the two-pole caustic model.

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arXiv2003

Astrophysical significance of detection of coalescing binaries with gravitational waves

We use the StarTrack stellar population synthesis code to analyze properties of double compact object binaries as sources of gravitational waves. Since the distribution of lifetimes of these objects extends up to the Hubble time we conclude that a proper calculation of the expected rate must include a full cosmological model. We present such model, calculate the expected coalescence rates, and analyze the intrinsic sensitivity of these rates to the model assumptions. We find that the rate alone is a very poor estimator of the underlying stellar evolution model. However we show that the distribution of observed chirp masses is very sensitive to the underlying stellar evolution model, while it is very insensitive to the underlying cosmology, star formation rate history and variation of detector sensitivity.

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arXiv2003

Signatures of Pulsar Polar-Cap Emission at the High-Energy Spectral Cut-off

We address four unique signatures in pulsar gamma-ray radiation as predicted by polar-cap models. These signatures are expected to be present nearby the spectral high-energy cutoff at around several GeV. Their magnitude and, therefore, their observability depends strongly on the orientational factors, the rotation, as well as on the details of the polar cap structure. These strong predictions are likely to be verified by the NASA's future gamma-ray mission GLAST.

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arXiv2002

Rotation as a source of asymmetry in the double-peak lightcurves of the bright EGRET pulsars

We investigate the role of rotational effects in inducing asymmetry present above ~5 GeV in the double-peak lightcurves of the bright EGRET pulsars: Vela, Crab, and Geminga. According to Thompson 2001, the trailing peak dominates over the leading peak above ~5 GeV consistently for all three pulsars, even though this is not the case over the entire energy range of EGRET, i.e. above ~100 MeV. We present the results of Monte Carlo simulations of electromagnetic cascades in a pulsar magnetosphere within a single-polar-cap scenario with rotationally-induced propagation effects of the order of v/c (where v is the local corotation velocity). We find that even in the case of nearly aligned rotators with spin periods of P ~ 0.1 s rotation may lead to asymmetric (with respect to the magnetic axis) magnetic photon absorption which in turn leads to asymmetric gamma-ray pulse profiles. The resulting features - softer spectrum of the leading peak and the dominance of the trailing peak above ~5 GeV - agree qualitatively with the EGRET data of the bright gamma-ray pulsars.

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arXiv2002

High-energy radiation from pulsars: a challenge to polar-cap models

Spectacular results of pulsar observations in X-ray and gamma-ray domains gave a new boost to theoretical models of pulsar magnetospheric activity. A challenging aspect of these efforts is that lightcurves and broadband energy spectra of the brightest HE sources exhibit unexpected richness of features, making each object almost a unique case to be interpreted with a custom-made model. This review offers our subjective account of how the models of high-energy radiation used within the framework of SCLF polar-cap scenarios tackle these challenges. We describe major characteristics of all radiative processes relevant for modeling the observed features. Then we address successes as well as noticeable disadvantages of these models upon their confrontation with the available data.

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arXiv2002

The Spectrum of the Millisecond Pulsar J0218+4232 - Theoretical Interpretations

We interpret the unique high-energy spectrum of the millisecond pulsar PSR J0218+4232 within polar cap scenarios. We show that the spectral data from BeppoSAX (Mineo et al.2000) and EGRET (Kuiper et al 2000) impose very restrictive limitations on possible radiation mechanisms, energy spectrum of radiating charges as well as viewing geometry. Theoretical spectra are able to reproduce the data, however, this can be achieved provided very special -- unusual within the conventional polar cap picture -- conditions are satisfied. Those include off-beam viewing geometry along with one of the following alternatives: 1) strong acceleration of secondary pairs; 2) broad energy distribution of primary electrons extending down to $10^5$ MeV; 3) high-altitude synchrotron emission.

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arXiv2001

Rotationally-induced asymmetry in the double-peak lightcurves of the bright EGRET pulsars?

Pulsed emission from the bright EGRET pulsars - Vela, Crab, and Geminga - extends up to 10 GeV. The generic gamma lightcurve features two peaks separated by 0.4 to 0.5 in phase. According to Thompson (2001) the lightcurve becomes asymmetrical above 5 GeV in such a way that the trailing peak dominates over the leading peak. We attempt to interpret this asymmetry within a single-polar-cap scenario. We investigate the role of rotational effects on the magnetic one-photon absorption rate in inducing such asymmetry. Our Monte Carlo simulations of pulsar gamma-ray beams reveal that in the case of oblique rotators with rotation periods of a few millisecond the rotational effects lead to the asymmetry of the requested magnitude. However, the rotators relevant for the bright EGRET pulsars must not have their inclination angles too large in order to keep the two peaks at a separation of 0.4 in phase. With such a condition imposed on the model rotators the resulting effects are rather minute and can hardly be reconciled with the magnitude of the observed asymmetry.

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arXiv2001

Neutron Stars as Sources of High Energy Particles - the case of RPP

Highly magnetised rapidly spinning neutron stars are widely considered to be natural sites for acceleration of charged particles. Powerful acceleration mechanism due to unipolar induction is thought to operate in the magnetospheres of isolated neutron stars, bringing the particles to ultrarelativistic energies at the expense of the neutron star rotational energy, with inevitable emission of high energy photons. The aim of this review is to present basic ingredients of modern models of magnetospheric activity of rotation powered pulsars in the context of high-energy radiation from these objects. Several aspects of pulsar activity are addressed and related to spectacular results of pulsar observations with two major satellite missions of the past - CGRO and ROSAT. It is then argued that high sensitivity experiments of the future - GLAST, VERITAS and MAGIC - will be vital for a progress in our understanding of pulsar magnetospheric processes. In a conservative approach rotation powered pulsars are not expected to be the sources of UHE Cosmic Rays. However, several scenarios have been proposed recently to explain the UHECR events above the GZK limit with the help of acceleration processes in the immediate surrounding of newly born pulsars. Major features of these scenarios are reviewed along with references to contemporary models of magnetospheric activity.

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arXiv2000

Model Spectra of Rotation Powered Pulsars in the INTEGRAL Range

The energy range of IBIS is a promising ground for testing mutual relations of distinct components expected in the spectra of high-energy radiation from rotation powered pulsars. According to some polar-cap models two such components - due to curvature and synchrotron emission - may contribute comparable amounts of power between 15 keV and 10 MeV (Rudak & Dyks 1999). Zhang & Harding (2000) argued recently for the inclusion of a third possible component, due to inverse Compton scattering (ICS) of soft thermal photons on secondary $\epm$-pairs. Here we present the results of Monte Carlo calculations of all three spectral components within a polar-cap model which allows for interactions of relativistic particles with the soft photons coming from the pulsar surface. For teragauss pulsars with the surface temperature of a few times 10^5 K the ICS component dominates the spectrum in the energy range below 10 MeV, and thus its presence increases the ratio of X-ray to gamma-ray luminosity (in comparison to the models ignoring the ICS on secondary $\epm$-pairs) to a level observed in the Vela pulsar.

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