arXiv subjects

M. Coleman Miller

Publications and source records attributed to M. Coleman Miller.

184 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

arXiv1996

Spectral Effects of the Vacuum Resonance in Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters

The association of all three soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) with supernova remnants has established that SGRs are young neutron stars, and has given us a starting point for detailed modeling. One of the most popular classes of models involves strongly magnetised neutron stars, with surface dipole fields B~ 10^{14}-10^{15} Gauss. In such strong magnetic fields, many otherwise negligible processes can play an important role. Here we consider the effects of vacuum polarisation on Compton scattering. Vacuum polarisation introduces a characteristic density-dependent photon frequency at which the normal modes of polarisation become nonorthogonal and the mean free path of photons decreases sharply. Our analytic results and Monte Carlo simulations of photon propagation through a magnetised plasma show that this effect leads, under a wide range of physical conditions, to a broad absorption-like feature in the energy range ~5 keV---40 keV. We discuss this effect in light of the spectra from SGR 1806-20.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Magnetized Iron Atmospheres for Neutron Stars

Using a Hartree-Fock formalism, we estimate energy levels and photon cross sections for atomic iron in magnetic fields B ~ 10^13 G. Computing ionization equilibrium and normal mode opacities with these data, we construct LTE neutron star model atmospheres at 5.5 < Log(T_eff) < 6.5 and compute emergent spectra. We examine the dependence of the emergent spectra on T_eff and B. We also show the spectral variation with the angle between the magnetic field and the atmosphere normal and describe the significant limb darkening in the X-ray band. These results are compared with recent detailed computations of neutron star H model atmospheres in high fields and with low field Fe and H model atmospheres constructed from detailed opacities. The large spectral differences for different surface compositions may be discernible with present X-ray data; we also note improvements needed to allow comparison of Fe models with high quality spectra.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

GRO J1744-28: Last Gasps of a Dying Low-mass X-ray Binary

We argue that the bursting, transient X-ray source GRO J1744-28 is a binary consisting of a very low-mass ($M \approx 0.2 M_\sun$), highly evolved giant star that is transferring mass by Roche lobe overflow onto a high-mass ($M \approx 1.8 M_\sun$) neutron star. We explore a picture in which the bursts are due to thermonuclear flashes in matter that has accreted onto the neutron star. We attribute the unusually hard spectra of the bursts and the high burst rate compared to normal Type I X-ray burst sources -- indeed the existence of unstable nuclear burning itself -- to the unusually strong surface magnetic field, $ B_s \approx 1 \times 10^{13}$ G, of the neutron star.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1995

Compton scattering effects in the spectra of soft gamma-ray repeaters

The association of all three soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) with supernova remnants has made possible estimates of the distance to and luminosity of the sources of SGRs, which have provided a starting point for detailed modeling. One of the most popular classes of models involves strongly magnetized neutron stars, with surface dipole fields $B\sim 10^{14}-10^{15}$ G. In these ``magnetar" models, many otherwise negligible processes can play an important role. Here we consider the spectral effects of strong-field modifications to Compton scattering, in particular those related to the contribution of vacuum polarization to the dielectric tensor. Vacuum polarization introduces a density-dependent photon frequency, called the second vacuum frequency, at which the normal modes of polarization become nonorthogonal and the mean free path of photons decreases sharply. Monte Carlo simulations of photon propagation through a magnetized plasma show that this effect leads, under a wide range of physical conditions, to a broad absorption-like feature in the energy range $\sim$5 keV---40 keV.

astro-ph↗