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Jonas P. Pereira

Publications and source records attributed to Jonas P. Pereira.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Born-Infeld magnetars: larger production of gravitational waves due to larger toroidal magnetic fields

We discuss some aspects of Pereira et al. (2018) concerning magnetars described by nonlinear theories of the electromagnetism and make the case for the Born-Infeld Lagrangian. We focus on the increase of toroidal magnetic fields in these systems with respect to ordinary magnetars and the subsequent increase of gravitational wave production. In summary, nonlinear theories of the electromagnetism would make it more likely for the detection of gravitational waves with future detectors, which could constrain nonlinear aspects of electrodynamics not entirely possible on Earth-based particle accelerators.

astro-ph.HE↗

General relativistic surface degrees of freedom in perturbed hybrid stars

We study how the nature of a hybrid system (perfect fluid, solid or a mixture of them) could be related to the induction of general relativistic surface degrees of freedom on phase-splitting surfaces upon perturbation of its phases. We work in the scope of phase conversions in the vicinity of sharp phase transition surfaces whose timescales are either much smaller (rapid conversions) or larger (slow conversions) than the ones of the perturbations ($ω^{-1}$, where $ω$ is a characteristic frequency of oscillation of the star). In this first approach, perturbations are assumed to be purely radial. We show that surface degrees of freedom could emerge when either the core or the crust of a hybrid star is solid and phase conversions close to a phase-splitting surface are rapid. We also show how this would change the usual stability rule for solid hybrid stars, namely $\partial M_0/\partial ρ_c\geq 0$, where $M_0$ is the total mass to the background hybrid star and $ρ_c$ its central density. Further consequences of our analysis for asteroseismology are also briefly discussed.

gr-qc↗

Born-Infeld magnetars: larger than classical toroidal magnetic fields and implications for gravitational-wave astronomy

Magnetars are neutron stars presenting bursts and outbursts of X- and soft-gamma rays that can be understood with the presence of very large magnetic fields. Thus, nonlinear electrodynamics should be taken into account for a more accurate description of such compact systems. We study that in the context of ideal magnetohydrodynamics and make a realization of our analysis to the case of the well-known Born-Infeld (BI) electromagnetism in order to come up with some of its astrophysical consequences. We focus here on toroidal magnetic fields as motivated by already known magnetars with low dipolar magnetic fields and their expected relevance in highly magnetized stars. We show that BI electrodynamics leads to larger toroidal magnetic fields when compared to Maxwell's electrodynamics. Hence, one should expect higher production of gravitational waves (GWs) and even more energetic giant flares from nonlinear stars. Given current constraints on BI's scale field, giant flare energetics and magnetic fields in magnetars, we also find that the maximum magnitude of magnetar ellipticities should be $10^{-6}-10^{-5}$. Besides, BI electrodynamics may lead to a maximum increase of order $10\%-20\%$ of the GW energy radiated from a magnetar when compared to Maxwell's, while much larger percentages may arise for other physically motivated scenarios. Thus, nonlinear theories of the electromagnetism might also be probed in the near future with the improvement of GW detectors.

astro-ph.SR↗

Phase transition effects on the dynamical stability of hybrid neutron stars

We study radial oscillations of hybrid non-rotating neutron stars composed by a quark matter core and hadronic external layers. At first, we physically deduce the junction conditions that should be imposed between two any phases in these systems when perturbations take place. Then we compute the oscillation spectrum focusing on the effects of slow and rapid phase transitions at the quark-hadron interface. We use a generic MIT bag model for quark matter and a relativistic mean field theory for hadronic matter. In the case of rapid transitions at the interface we find a general relativistic version of the reaction mode which has similar properties as its classical counterpart. We also show that the usual static stability condition $\partial M/\partial ρ_c\geq 0$, where $ρ_c$ is the central density of a star whose total mass is $M$, remains always true for rapid transitions but breaks down in general for slow transitions. In fact, for slow transitions we find that the frequency of the fundamental mode can be a real number (indicating stability) even for some branches of stellar models that verify $\partial M/\partial ρ_c \leq 0$. Thus, when secular instabilities are suppressed, as expected below some critical stellar rotation rate, it would be possible the existence of twin or even triplet stars with the same gravitational mass but different radii, with one of the counterparts having $\partial M/\partial ρ_c \leq 0$. We explore some astrophysical consequences of these results.

gr-qc↗

Probing nonlinear electrodynamics in slowly rotating spacetimes through neutrino astrophysics

Huge electromagnetic fields are known to be present during the late stages of the dynamics of supernovae. Thus, when dealing with electrodynamics in this context, the possibility may arise to probe nonlinear theories (generalizations of the Maxwellian electromagnetism). We firstly solve Einstein field equations minimally coupled to an arbitrary (current-free) nonlinear Lagrangian of electrodynamics (NLED) in the slow rotation regime $a\ll M$ (black hole's mass), up to first order in $a/M$. We then make use of the robust and self-contained Born-Infeld Lagrangian in order to compare and contrast the physical properties of such NLED spacetime with its Maxwellian counterpart (a slowly rotating Kerr-Newman spacetime), especially focusing on the astrophysics of both neutrino flavor oscillations ($ν_e \rightarrow ν_μ, ν_τ$) and spin-flip ($ν_l \rightarrow ν_r$, "$l$" stands for "left" and "$r$" stands for "right", change of neutrino handedness) mass level-crossings, the equivalent to gyroscopic precessions. Such analysis proves that in the spacetime of a slowly rotating nonlinear charged black hole (RNCBH), intrinsically associated with the assumption the electromagnetism is nonlinear, the neutrino dynamics in core-collapse supernovae could be significantly changed. In such astrophysical environment a positive enhancement (reduction of the electron fraction $Y_e<0.5$) of the r-process may take place. Consequently, it might result in hyperluminous supernova explosions due to enlargement, in atomic number and amount, of the decaying nuclides. Finally, we envisage some physical scenarios that may lead to short-lived charged black holes with high charge-to-mass ratios (associated with unstable highly magnetized neutron stars) and ways to possibly disentangle theories of the electromagnetism from other black holes observables (by means of light polarization measurements).

gr-qc↗

Magnetic liquids under high electric fields as optical diodes

We show and give examples of how unidirectional propagation of light rays in the limit of geometric optics could arise in some magnetic fluids due to the magnetoelectric effect under weak DC magnetic fields and strong DC electric fields around half of their dielectric breakdown. For such liquids as kerosene and transformer oils, one-way propagation of light may occur for 30 nm diameter magnetic nanoparticles (e.g. cobalt) and concentrations of 2% or larger.

physics.optics↗

Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle as a Probe of Modified Newtonian Dynamics

The proposed Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) will detect possible violations of the Weak Equivalence Principle by measuring relative accelerations between test masses of different composition with a precision of one part in $10^{18}$. A serendipitous byproduct of the experimental design is that the absolute (common-mode) acceleration of the test masses is also measured to high precision as they oscillate along a common axis under the influence of restoring forces produced by the position sensor currents, which in drag-free mode lead to Newtonian accelerations as small as $10^{-14}$ g. This is deep inside the low-acceleration regime where Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) diverges strongly from the Newtonian limit of General Relativity. We show that MOND theories (including those based on the widely-used $n$-family of interpolating functions as well as the covariant Tensor-Vector-Scalar formulation) predict an easily detectable increase in the frequency of oscillations of the STEP test masses if the Strong Equivalence Principle holds. If it does not hold, MOND predicts a cumulative increase in oscillation amplitude which is also detectable. STEP thus provides a new and potentially decisive test of Newton's law of inertia, as well as the equivalence principle in both its strong and weak forms.

gr-qc↗

The flexibility of optical metrics

We firstly revisit the importance, naturalness and limitations of the so-called optical metrics for describing the propagation of light rays in the limit of geometric optics. We then exemplify their flexibility and nontriviality in some nonlinear material media and in the context of nonlinear theories of the electromagnetism, both underlain by curved backgrounds, where optical metrics could be flat and impermeable membranes only to photons could be conceived, respectively. Finally, we underline and discuss the relevance and potential applications of our analyses in a broad sense, ranging from material media to compact astrophysical systems.

gr-qc↗

The influence of quantum vacuum friction on pulsars

We firstly revisit the energy loss mechanism known as quantum vacuum friction (QVF), clarifying some of its subtleties. Then we investigate the observables that could easily differentiate QVF from the classical magnetic dipole radiation for pulsars with braking indices (n) measured accurately. We show this is specially the case for the time evolution of a pulsar's magnetic dipole direction ($\dotϕ$) and surface magnetic field ($\dot{B}_0$). As it is well known in the context of the classic magnetic dipole radiation, $n<3$ would only be possible for positive $(\dot{B}_0/B_0 + \dotϕ/\tanϕ)$, which, for instance, leads to $\dot{B}_0>0$ ($\dotϕ>0$) when $ϕ$ ($B_0$) is constant. On the other hand, we show that QVF can result in very contrasting predictions with respect to the above ones. Finally, even in the case $\dot{B}_0$ in both aforesaid models for a pulsar has the same sign, for a given $ϕ$, we show that they give rise to different associated timescales, which could be another way to falsify QVF.

astro-ph.HE↗

Energy decomposition within Einstein-Born-Infeld black holes

We analyze the consequences of the recently found generalization of the Christodoulou-Ruffini black hole mass decomposition for Einstein-Born-Infeld black holes [characterized by the parameters $(Q,M,b)$, where $M = M(M_{irr},Q,b)$, $b$ scale field, $Q$ charge, $M_{irr}$ "irreducible mass", physically meaning the energy of a black hole when its charge is null] and their interactions. We show in this context that their description is largely simplified and can basically be split into two families depending upon the parameter $b|Q|$. If $b|Q|\leq 1/2$, then black holes could have even zero irreducible masses and they always exhibit single, non degenerated, horizons. If $b|Q|>1/2$, then an associated black hole must have a minimum irreducible mass (related to its minimum energy) and has two horizons up to a transitional irreducible mass. For larger irreducible masses, single horizon structures raise again. By assuming that black holes emit thermal uncharged scalar particles, we further show in light of the black hole mass decomposition that one satisfying $b|Q|>1/2$ takes an infinite amount of time to reach the zero temperature, settling down exactly at its minimum energy. Finally, we argue that depending on the fundamental parameter $b$, the radiation (electromagnetic and gravitational) coming from Einstein-Born-Infeld black holes could differ significantly from Einstein-Maxwell ones. Hence, it could be used to assess such a parameter.

gr-qc↗

Multirefringence phenomena in nonlinear electrodynamics

Wave propagation in nonlinear theories of the electromagnetism described by Lagrangian densities dependent upon its two local invariants L(F, G) is revisited. On the light of the recent findings in metamaterials, it is here shown that trirefringence is also a possible phenomenon to occur in the realm of such nonlinear theories. A specific model exhibiting this effect is investigated both in terms of phase and group velocities. It is claimed that wave propagation in some well known nonlinear models for spin-one fields, like QED and QCD in certain regimes, may exhibit trirefringence.

physics.optics↗

Radial stability in stratified stars

We formulate within a generalized distributional approach the treatment of the stability against radial perturbations for both neutral and charged stratified stars in Newtonian and Einstein's gravity. We obtain from this approach the boundary conditions connecting two any phases within a star and underline its relevance for realistic models of compact stars with phase transitions, owing to the modification of the star's set of eigenmodes with respect to the continuous case.

gr-qc↗

Stability of thin-shell interfaces inside compact stars

We use the thin-shell Darmois-Israel formalism to model and assess the stability of the interfaces separating phases, e.g. the core and the crust, within compact stars. We exemplify the relevance and non-triviality of this treatment in the simplest case of an incompressible star, in constant pressure phase transitions, and in the case of strange quark stars with crust.

gr-qc↗

One-way propagation of light in Born-Infeld-like metamaterials

We propose and investigate a family of nonlinear metamaterials in which light rays propagate just in one direction -- one-way propagation. Furthermore, we argue how such nonlinear media could provide an analog model for investigating the Born-Infeld Lagrangian in the realm of fields larger than its scale field.

physics.optics↗

Trirefringence in nonlinear metamaterials

We study the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the limit of geometrical optics for a class of nearly transparent nonlinear uniaxial metamaterials for which their permittivity tensors present a negative principal component. Their permeability are assumed positive and dependent on the electric field. We show that light waves experience triple refraction -- trirefringence. Additionally to the ordinary wave, two extraordinary waves propagate in such media.

physics.optics↗