arXiv subjects

H. Tong

Publications and source records attributed to H. Tong.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

The braking index of PSR B0540-69 and the associated pulsar wind nebula emission after spin-down rate transition

In Dec. 2011 PSR B0540-69 experienced a spin-down rate transition (SRT), after which the spin-down power of the pulsar increased by ~36%. About 1000 days after the SRT, the X-ray luminosity of the associated pulsar wind nebula (PWN) was found to brighten by 32+/-8%. After the SRT, the braking index n of PSR B0540-69 changes from n=2.12 to n=0.03 and then keeps this value for about five years before rising to n=0.9 in the following years. We find that most of the current models have difficulties in explaining the measured braking index. One exceptive model of the braking index evolution is the increasing dipole magnetic field of PSR B0540-69. We suggest that the field increase may result from some instabilities within the pulsar core that enhance the poloidal component at the price of toroidal component of the magnetic field. The increasing dipole magnetic field will result in the X-ray brightening of the PWN. We fit the PWN X-ray light curve by two models: one assumes a constant magnetic field within the PWN during the brightening and the other assumes an enhanced magnetic field proportional to the energy density of the PWN. It appears that the two models fit the data well, though the later model seems to fit the data a bit better. This provides marginal observational evidence that magnetic field in the PWN is generated by the termination shock. Future high-quality and high-cadence data are required to draw a solid conclusion.

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arXiv2020

Periodicity in fast radio bursts due to forced precession by a fallback disk

Recently, a 16-day periodicity in one fast radio burst is reported. We propose that this 16-day periodicity may be due to forced precession of the neutron star by a fallback disk. When the rotation axis is misaligned with the normal direction of the disk plane, the neutron star will precess. The eccentricity of the neutron star may be due to rotation or strong magnetic field etc. We found that the 16-day period may be understood using typical masses of the fallback disk. Polarization observations and information about the neutron star rotation period may help to discriminate different models. The possible precession observations in pulsars, magnetars, and fast radio bursts may be understood together using forced precession by a fallback disk.

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arXiv2019

Large polar caps for twisted magnetosphere of magnetars

The magnetic field of magnetars may be twisted compared with that of normal pulsars. Previous works mainly discussed magnetic energy release in the closed field line regions of magnetars. For a twisted magnetic field, the field lines will inflate in the radial direction. Similar to normal pulsars, the idea of light cylinder radius is introduced. More field lines will cross the light cylinder and become open for a twisted magnetic field. Therefore, magnetars may have a large polar cap, which may correspond to the hot spot during outburst. Particle flow in the open field line regions will result in the untwisting of the magnetic field. Magnetic energy release in the open field line regions can be calculated. The model calculations can catch the general trend of magnetar outburst: decreasing X-ray luminosity, shrinking hot spot etc. For magnetic energy release in the open field line regions, the geometry will be the same for different outburst in one magnetar.

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arXiv2019

Evolution of the X-ray Profile of the Crab Pulsar

Using the archive data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer ({\sl RXTE}), we have studied the evolution of the X-ray profile of the Crab pulsar in a time span of 11 years. The X-ray profiles, as characterized by a few parameters, changed slightly but significantly in these years: the separation of the two peaks increased with a rate $0.88\pm0.20\,\textordmasculine$\,per century, the flux ratio of the second pulse to the first pulse decreased with $(3.64\pm0.86)\times10^{-2}$\,per century, and the pulse widths of the two pulses descended with $1.44\pm0.15\,\textordmasculine$\, and $1.09\pm0.73\,\textordmasculine$\,per century, respectively. The evolutionary trends of the above parameters are similar to the radio results, but the values are different. We briefly discussed the constraints of these X-ray properties on the geometry of the emission region of this pulsar.

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arXiv2019

Rotational Evolution of The Slowest Radio Pulsar PSR J0250+5854

We apply theoretical spin-down models of magnetospheric evolution and magnetic field decay to simulate the possible evolution of PSR J0250+5854, which is the slowest-spinning radio pulsar detected to date. Considering the alignment of inclination angle in a 3-D magnetosphere, it is possible that PSR J0250+5854 has a high magnetic field comparable with magnetars or/and high magnetic field pulsars, if a small inclination angle is considered. Our calculations show that similar long-period pulsars tend to have a relatively low period derivative in this case. In another case of magnetic field decay, calculations also show a possible connection between PSR J0250+5854 and high dipole-magnetic field magnetars. The evolutionary path indicates a relatively high spin-down rate for similar long-period pulsars.

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arXiv2019

Comments on "No magnetars in ULXs"

The magnetic dipole field of ultraluminous X-ray pulsars may not be very high. However, it is too early to say that they are not magnetars. The existence of low magnetic field magnetars should be taken into consideration.

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arXiv2018

Accreting magnetars: linking ultraluminous X-ray pulsars and the slow pulsation X-ray pulsars

Possible manifestations of accreting magnetars are discussed. It is shown that the four ultra-luminous X-ray pulsars can be understood in the accreting low magnetic field magnetar scenario. The NGC300 ULX1 pulsar may have a higher dipole magnetic field than other sources. General constraint on their mass accretion rate confirmed their super-Eddington nature. Lower limits on their beaming factor are obtained. They do not seem to have strong beaming. The duty cycle of the ULX burst state can also be constrained by their timing observations. ULX pulsars may be in accretion equilibrium in the long run. During the outburst, they will spin up, and run from the previous equilibrium state to the new equilibrium state. It is proposed that the slowest puslation X-ray pulsar AX J1910.7+0917 may be an accreting magnetar with a low mass accretion rate. ULX pulsars, slow pulsation X-ray pulsars may all be accreting magnetars with different accretion rates. Seven possible signatures of an accreting magnetar are summarized.

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arXiv2018

A magnetically driven origin for the low luminosity GRB 170817A associated with GW170817

The gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A associated with GW170817 is subluminous and subenergetic compared with other typical short GRBs. It may be due to a relativistic jet viewed off-axis, or a structured jet, or cocoon emission. Giant flares from magnetars may possibly be ruled out. However, the luminosity and energetics of GRB 170817A is coincident with that of magnetar giant flares. After the coalescence of the binary neutron star, a hypermassive neutron star may be formed. The hypermassive neutron star may have magnetar-strength magnetic field. During the collapse of the hypermassive neutron star, the magnetic field energy will also be released. This giant-flare-like event may explain the the luminosity and energetics of GRB 170817A. Bursts with similar luminosity and energetics are expected in future neutron star-neutron star or neutron star-black hole mergers.

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arXiv2017

Phase Evolution of the Crab Pulsar between Radio and X-ray

We study the X-ray phases of the Crab pulsar utilizing the 11-year observations from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, 6-year radio observations from the Nanshan Telescope, and the ephemeris from Jodrell Bank Observatory. It is found that the X-ray phases in different energy bands and the radio phases from Nanshan Telescope show similar behaviors, including long-time evolution and short-time variations. Such strong correlations between the X-ray and radio phases imply that the radio and X-ray timing noises are both generated from the pulsar spin that cannot be well described by the the monthly ephemeris from the Jodrell Bank observatory. When using the Nanshan phases as references to study the X-ray timing noise, it has a significantly smaller variation amplitude and shows no long-time evolution, with a change rate of $(-1.1\pm1.1)\times10^{-7}$ periods per day. These results show that the distance of the X-ray and radio emission regions on the Crab pulsar has no detectable secular change, and it is unlikely that timing-noises resulted from any unique physical processes in the radio or X-ray emitting regions. The similar behaviors of the X-ray and radio timing noises also imply that the variation of the interstellar medium is not the origin of the Crab pulsar's timing noises, which is consistent with the results obtained from the multi-frequency radio observations of PSR B1540-06.

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arXiv2017

Understanding recent observations of isolated magnetars and accreting magnetars from the magnetospheric point of view

The wind braking model and its applications of magnetars are discussed. The decreasing torque of magnetars during outbursts, anti-glitch, and anti-correlations between radiation and timing are understandable in the wind braking model. Recent timing observations of magnetars are also consistent with the previous modeling. A magnetism-powered wind nebula and a braking index smaller than three are the two predictions. Besides isolated magnetars, there may also be accreting magnetars in binary systems and magnetars accreting from fallback disks. Observationally, ultra-luminous X-ray pulsars may be accreting magnetars, while super-slow magnetars may be magnetars with fallback disks in the past. Many works are needed for both isolated magnetars and accreting magnetars.

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arXiv2017

Possible evolution of the pulsar braking index from larger than three to about one

The coupled evolution of pulsar rotation and inclination angle in the wind braking model is calculated. The oblique pulsar tends to align. The pulsar alignment will affect its spin-down behavior. As a pulsar evolves from the magneto-dipole radiation dominated case to the particle wind dominated case, the braking index will first increase and then decrease. In the early time, the braking index may be larger than 3. And during the following long time, the braking index will be always smaller than 3. The minimum braking index is about one. This can explain the existence of high braking index larger than 3, and low braking index of pulsars simultaneously. The pulsar braking index is expected to evolve from larger than three to about one. A general trend is that the pulsar braking index will evolve from the Crab-like case to the Vela-like case.

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arXiv2016

Rotational evolution of magnetars in the presence of a fallback disk

Magnetars may have strong surface dipole field. Observationally, two magnetars may have passive fallback disks. In the presence of a fallback disk, the rotational evolution of magnetars may be changed. In the self-similar fallback disk model, it is found that: (1) When the disk mass is significantly smaller than $10^{-6} \,\rm M_{\odot}$, the magnetar is unaffected by the fallback disk and it will be a normal magnetar. (2) When the disk mass is large, but the magnetar's surface dipole field is about or below $10^{14} \,\rm G$, the magnetar will also be a normal magnetar. A magnetar plus a passive fallback disk system is expected. This may correspond to the observations of magnetars 4U 0142$+$61, and 1E 2259$+$586. (3) When the disk mass is large, and the magnetar's surface dipole field is as high as $4\times 10^{15} \,\rm G$, the magnetar will evolve from the ejector phase to the propeller phase, and then enter rotational equilibrium. The magnetar will be slowed down quickly in the propeller phase. The final rotational period can be as high $2\times 10^4 \,\rm s$. This may correspond to the super-slow magnetar in the supernova remnant RCW 103. Therefore, the three kinds of magnetars can be understood in a unified way.

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arXiv2016

On the possible wind nebula of magnetar Swift J1834.9-0846: a magnetism-powered synchrotron nebula

Recently, the magnetar Swift J1834.9$-$0846 is reported to have a possible wind nebula. It is shown that both the magnetar and its wind nebula are understandable in the wind braking scenario. The magnetar's rotational energy loss rate is not enough to power the particle luminosity. The required particle luminosity should be about $10^{36} \,\rm erg \,s^{-1}$ to $10^{38} \,\rm erg \,s^{-1}$. It is obtained in three different approaches: considering wind braking of Swift J1834.9$-$0846; the spectral and spatial observations of the wind nebula; and an empirical upper bound on wind nebula X-ray luminosity. The nebula magnetic field is about $10^{-4} \,\rm G$. The possible wind nebula of Swift J1834.9$-$0846 should be a magnetar wind nebula. It is powered by the magnetic energy release of the magnetar.

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arXiv2016

The Magnetic Field Evolution of ULX NuSTAR J095551+6940.8 in M82--A Legacy of Accreting Magnetar

Ultra-luminous X-ray sources are usually believed to be black holes with mass about $10^{2-3}M_{\odot}$. However, the recent discovery of NuSTAR J095551+6940.8 in M82 by Bachetti et al. shows that it holds the spin period $P=1.37\rm\,s$ and period {\bf derivative} $\dot{P}\approx-2\times10^{-10}\rm\,s\,s^{-1}$, which provides a strong evidence that some ultra-luminous X-ray sources could be neutron stars. We obtain that the source may be an evolved magetar, according to our simulation by employing the model of accretion induced the polar magnetic field decay and standard spin-up torque of an accreting neutron star. The results show that NuSTAR J095551+6940.8 is still in the spin-up process, and the polar magnetic field decays to about $4.5\times10^{12}\rm\,G$ after accreting $\sim 10^{-2.5}$\ms, while the strong magnetic field exists in the out-polar region, which could be responsible for the observed low field magnetar. The ultra luminosity of the source can be explained by the beaming effort and two kinds of accretion--radial random accretion and disk accretion. Since the birth rate of magnetars is about ten percent of the normal neutron stars, we guess that several ultra-luminous X-ray sources should share the similar properties to that of NuSTAR J095551+6940.8.

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arXiv2016

Fluctuating neutron star magnetosphere: braking indices of eight pulsars, frequency second derivatives of 222 pulsars and 15 magnetars

Eight pulsars have low braking indices, which challenge the magnetic dipole braking of pulsars. 222 pulsars and 15 magnetars have abnormal distribution of frequency second derivatives, which also make contradiction with classical understanding. How neutron star magnetospheric activities affect these two phenomena are investigated by using the wind braking model of pulsars. It is based on the observational evidence that pulsar timing is correlated with emission and both aspects reflect the magnetospheric activities. Fluctuations are unavoidable for a physical neutron star magnetosphere. Young pulsars have meaningful braking indices, while old pulsars' and magnetars' fluctuation item dominates their frequency second derivatives. It can explain both the braking index and frequency second derivative of pulsars uniformly. The braking indices of eight pulsars are the combined effect of magnetic dipole radiation and particle wind. During the life time of a pulsar, its braking index will evolve from three to one. Pulsars with low braking index may put strong constraint on the particle acceleration process in the neutron star magnetosphere. The effect of pulsar death should be considered during the long term rotational evolution of pulsars. An equation like the Langevin equation for Brownian motion was derived for pulsar spin-down. The fluctuation in the neutron star magnetosphere can be either periodic or random, which result in anomalous frequency second derivative and they have similar results. The magnetospheric activities of magnetars are always stronger than those of normal pulsars.

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arXiv2016

Pulsar braking: magnetodipole vs. wind

Pulsars are good clocks in the universe. One fundamental question is that why they are good clocks? This is related to the braking mechanism of pulsars. Nowadays pulsar timing is done with unprecedented accuracy. More pulsars have braking indices measured. The period derivative of intermittent pulsars and magnetars can vary by a factor of several. However, during pulsar studies, the magnetic dipole braking in vacuum is still often assumed. It is shown that the fundamental assumption of magnetic dipole braking (vacuum condition) does not exist and it is not consistent with the observations. The physical torque must consider the presence of the pulsar magnetosphere. Among various efforts, the wind braking model can explain many observations of pulsars and magnetars in a unified way. It is also consistent with the up-to-date observations. It is time for a paradigm shift in pulsar studies: from magnetic dipole braking to wind braking. As one alternative to the magnetospheric model, the fallback disk model is also discussed.

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arXiv2015

On the variable timing behavior of PSR B0540-69: an almost excellent example to study pulsar braking mechanism

PSR B0540-69 has braking index measurement in its persistent state: n=2.129 \pm 0.012. Recently, it is reported to have spin-down state changes: a suddenly 36 % increase in the spin-down rate. Combining the persistent state braking index measurement and different spin-down states, PSR B0540-69 is more powerful than intermittent pulsars in constraining pulsar spin-down models. The pulsar wind model is applied to explain the variable timing behavior of PSR B0540-69. The persistent state braking index of PSR B0540-69 is the combined effect of magnetic dipole radiation and particle wind. The particle density reflects the magnetospheric activity in real-time and may be responsible for the changing spin-down behavior. Corresponding to the 36 % increase in the spin-down rate of PSR B0540-69, the relative increase in the particle density is 88 % in the vacuum gap model. And the model calculated braking index in the new state is n=1.79. Future braking index observation of PSR B0540-69 in the new spin-down state will be very powerful in distinguishing between different pulsar spin-down models and different particle acceleration models in the wind braking scenario. The variable timing behavior of PSR J1846-0258 is also understandable in the pulsar wind model.

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arXiv2015

Ultraluminous X-ray pulsar: accreting magnetar?

Magnetars are a special kind of neutron stars. There may also be accreting magnetars. From the studies of isolated magnetars, it is known that a neutron star with a strong dipole field only is not a magnetar. Super-slow X-ray pulsars may just be accreting high magnetic field neutron stars. The ultra-luminous X-ray pulsar NuSTAR J095551+6940.8 may be an accreting magnetar. It may be an accreting low magnetic field magnetar with multipole field of 10^14 G and dipole field of 10^12 G. This point of view is consistent with the study of isolated magnetars. An ultra-luminous X-ray pulsar phase in the binary evolution may result in massive millisecond pulsars.

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