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Quan Cheng

Publications and source records attributed to Quan Cheng.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Investigating the neutron star physics through observations of several young pulsars in the dipole-field re-emergence scenario

The observed timing data, magnetic tilt angle $χ$, and age of young pulsars could be used to probe some important issues about neutron star (NS) physics, e.g., the NS internal magnetic field configuration, and the number of precession cycles $ξ$. \textbf{Both} quantities are critical in studying the continuous gravitational wave emission from pulsars, and the latter generally characterizes the mutual interactions between superfluid neutrons and other particles in the NS interior. The timing behavior of pulsars can be influenced by the dipole field evolution, which instead of decaying, may increase with time. An increase in the dipole field may result from the re-emergence of the initial dipole field $B_{\rm d,i}$ that was buried into the NS interior shortly after the birth of the NS. In this work, the field re-emergence scenario $ξ$ and the internal field configuration of several young pulsars, as well as their $B_{\rm d, i}$ are investigated by assuming typical accreted masses $ΔM$. Moreover, since the Crab pulsar has an exactly known age and its tilt angle change rate can be inferred from observations, we can set stringent constraints on its $ξ$, $B_{\rm d,i}$, and $ΔM$. Although for other young pulsars without exactly known ages and tilt angle change rates, these quantities cannot be accurately determined, we find that their $ξ$ are generally within $\sim10^4-10^6$, and some of them probably have magnetar-strength $B_{\rm d,i}$. Our work could be important for investigating the transient emissions associated with NSs, the origin of strong magnetic fields of NSs, pulsar population, continuous gravitational wave emission from pulsars, and accretion under extreme conditions in principle.

astro-ph.HE↗

Constraints on the internal physics of neutron stars from the observational data of several young pulsars: the role of a power-law decaying dipole magnetic field

The observational data (e.g., the timing data and magnetic tilt angles $χ$) of young pulsars can be used to probe some critical issues about the internal physics of neutron stars (NSs), for instance, the number of precession cycles $ξ$ and the internal magnetic field configuration (IMFC) of NSs. Evolution of the dipole magnetic field $B_{\rm d}$ of NSs may play an important role in determining the final results. In this work, a power-law form is adopted to describe the decay of $B_{\rm d}$. In such a scenario, the IMFC and $ξ$ of young pulsars with an ordinary $B_{\rm d}\sim10^{12}-\-10^{13}$ G and a steady braking index $n$ are investigated. Since the tilt angle change rates $\dotχ$ of pulsars with $n<3$ can be theoretically predicted, a test on the power-law decay model can thus be made by comparing the theoretical values to that obtained from observations. However, such a comparison can only be made on the Crab pulsar currently, and the results show that the power-law decay model is inconsistent with the Crab's observations. We suggest that rather than decay, the Crab's $B_{\rm d}$ should increase with time at a rate $\sim12-14$ G/s. A definite conclusion on the validity of the power-law decay model for pulsars with ordinary $B_{\rm d}$ may be given if $\dotχ$ of other pulsars could be measured.

astro-ph.HE↗

On the initial spin periods of magnetars born in weak supernova explosions and their gravitational wave radiation

The initial spin periods of newborn magnetars are \textbf{strongly associated with the origin of their strong magnetic fields, both of which can affect the electromagnetic radiation and gravitational waves (GWs) emitted at their birth.} Combining the upper limit $E_{\rm SNR}\lesssim10^{51}$ erg on the explosion energies of \textbf{the supernova (SN) remnants around slowly-spinning magnetars} with a detailed investigation on the evolution of newborn magnetars, we set constraints on the initial spin periods of magnetars \textbf{born in weak SN explosions}. Depending on the conversion efficiency $η$ of the electromagnetic energy of \textbf{these} newborn magnetars into the kinetic energy of SN ejecta, the minimum initial spin periods of \textbf{these} newborn magnetars are $P_{\rm i, min}\simeq 5-6$ ms for an ideal efficiency $η=1$, $P_{\rm i, min}\simeq 3-4$ ms for a possible efficiency $η=0.4$, and $P_{\rm i, min}\simeq 1-2$ ms for a relatively low efficiency $η=0.1$. \textbf{Based on these constraints and adopting reasonable values for the physical parameters of the newborn magnetars, we find that their GW radiation at $ν_{\rm e,1}=ν$ may be undetectable by the Einstein Telescope (ET) since the maximum signal-to-noise ratio (${\rm S/N}$) is only 2.41 even the sources are located at a very close distance of 5 Mpc, where $ν$ are the spin frequencies of the magnetars. At such a distance, the GWs emitted at $ν_{\rm e,2}=2ν$ from the newborn magnetars with dipole fields $B_{\rm d}=5\times10^{14}$ and $10^{15}$ G may be detectable by the ET because ${\rm S/N}$ are 10.01 and 19.85, respectively. However, if these newborn magnetars are located at $20$ Mpc away in the Virgo supercluster, no GWs could be detected by the ET due to low ${\rm S/N}$.

astro-ph.HE↗

STAGER checklist: Standardized Testing and Assessment Guidelines for Evaluating Generative AI Reliability

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds immense potential in medical applications. Numerous studies have explored the efficacy of various generative AI models within healthcare contexts, but there is a lack of a comprehensive and systematic evaluation framework. Given that some studies evaluating the ability of generative AI for medical applications have deficiencies in their methodological design, standardized guidelines for their evaluation are also currently lacking. In response, our objective is to devise standardized assessment guidelines tailored for evaluating the performance of generative AI systems in medical contexts. To this end, we conducted a thorough literature review using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, focusing on research that tests generative AI capabilities in medicine. Our multidisciplinary team, comprising experts in life sciences, clinical medicine, medical engineering, and generative AI users, conducted several discussion sessions and developed a checklist of 23 items. The checklist is designed to encompass the critical evaluation aspects of generative AI in medical applications comprehensively. This checklist, and the broader assessment framework it anchors, address several key dimensions, including question collection, querying methodologies, and assessment techniques. We aim to provide a holistic evaluation of AI systems. The checklist delineates a clear pathway from question gathering to result assessment, offering researchers guidance through potential challenges and pitfalls. Our framework furnishes a standardized, systematic approach for research involving the testing of generative AI's applicability in medicine. It enhances the quality of research reporting and aids in the evolution of generative AI in medicine and life sciences.

cs.HC↗

Constraining mechanism associated with fast radio burst and glitch from SGR J1935

The discovery of fast radio burst (FRB) 200428 from galactic SGR J1935+2154 makes it possible to measure rotational changes accompanied by FRBs and to test several FRB models which may be simultaneously associated with glitches. Inspired by this idea, we present order of magnitude calculations to the scenarios proposed. FRB models such as global starquakes, crust fractures and collisions between pulsars and asteroids/comets are discussed. For each mechanism, the maximum glitch sizes are constrained by the isotropic energy release during the X-ray burst and/or the SGR J1935+2154-like radio burst rate. Brief calculations show that, the maximum glitch sizes for different mechanisms differ by order(s) of magnitude. If glitches are detected to be coincident with FRBs from galactic magnetars in the future, glitch behaviors (such as glitch size, rise timescale, the recovery coefficient and spin down rate offset) are promising to serve as criterions to distinguish glitch mechanisms and in turn to constrain FRB models.

astro-ph.HE↗

What can PSR J1640-4631 tell us about the internal physics of this neutron star?

Gravitational wave emissions (GWEs) of pulsars could not only make them promising targets for continuous gravitational wave searches but also leave imprints in their timing data. We interpret the measured braking index of PSR J1640-4631 with a model involving both the GWE and dipole magnetic field decay. Combining the timing data of PSR J1640-4631 and the theory of magnetic field decay, we propose a new approach of constraining the number of precession cycles, $ξ$, which is highly uncertain currently but can be tightly related to the interior physics of a neutron star and its GWE. We suggest that future observation of the tilt angle $χ$ of PSR J1640-4631 would not merely help to constrain $ξ$ but also possibly provide information about the internal magnetic field configuration of this pulsar. We find that $ξ$ would be larger than previous estimates unless a tiny angle $χ\lesssim5^\circ$ is observed. Furthermore, a measured angle $χ\gtrsim12^\circ$ would indicate $ξ\gtrsim 10^6$, which is at least ten times larger than that suggested previously.

astro-ph.HE↗

Probing the physics of newly born magnetars through observation of superluminous supernovae

The central engines of some superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) are generally suggested to be newly born fast rotating magnetars, which spin down mainly through magnetic dipole radiation and gravitational wave emission. We calculate the magnetar-powered SLSNe light curves (LCs) with the tilt angle evolution of newly born magnetars involved. We show that, depending on the internal toroidal magnetic fields ${\bar B}_{\rm t}$, the initial spin periods $P_{\rm i}$, and the radii $R_{\rm DU}$ of direct Urca (DU) cores of newly born magnetars, as well as the critical temperature $T_{\rm c}$ for $^3P_2$ neutron superfluidity, bumps could appear in the SLSNe LCs after the maximum lights when the tilt angles grow to $π/2$. The value of $T_{\rm c}$ determines the arising time and the relative amplitude of a bump. The quantity $R_{\rm DU}$ can affect the arising time and the luminosity of a bump, as well as the peak luminosity of a LC. Moreover, it is interesting that a stronger ${\bar B}_{\rm t}$ will lead to both a brighter peak and a brighter bump in a LC. While keeping other quantities unchanged, the bump in the LC disappears for the magnetar with smaller $P_{\rm i}$. We suggest that, once the SLSNe LCs with such kinds of bumps are observed, by fitting these LCs with our model, not only $B_{\rm d}$ and $P_{\rm i}$ of newly born magnetars but also the crucial physical quantities ${\bar B}_{\rm t}$, $R_{\rm DU}$, and $T_{\rm c}$ could be determined. Nonobservation of SLSNe LCs with such kinds of bumps hitherto may already put some (\textit{though very rough}) constraints on ${\bar B}_{\rm t}$, $P_{\rm i}$, $R_{\rm DU}$, and $T_{\rm c}$. Therefore, observation of SLSNe LCs may provide a new approach to probe the physics of newly born magnetars.

astro-ph.HE↗

Bondi accretion of dark matter by neutron stars

In this paper, we have compared two different accretion mechanisms of dark matter particles by a canonical neutron star with $M=1.4~M_{\odot}$ and $R=10~{\rm km}$, and shown the effects of dark matter heating on the surface temperature of star. We should take into account the Bondi accretion of dark matter by neutron stars rather than the accretion mechanism of Kouvaris (2008) \citep{Kouvaris08}, once the dark matter density is higher than $\sim3.81~\rm GeV/cm^3$. Based on the Bondi accretion mechanism and heating of dark matter annihilation, the surface temperature platform of star can appear at $\sim 10^{6.5}$ year and arrive $\sim 1.12\times10^5$ K for the dark matter density of $3.81~\rm GeV/cm^3$, which is one order of magnitude higher than the case of Kouvaris (2008) with dark matter density of $30~\rm GeV/cm^3$.

hep-ph↗

A possible origin of the Galactic Center magnetar SGR 1745-2900

Since a large population of massive O/B stars and putative neutron stars (NSs) located in the vicinity of the Galactic center (GC), intermediate-mass X-ray binaries (IMXBs) constituted by a NS and a B-type star probably exist here. We investigate the evolutions of accreting NSs in IMXBs (similar to M82 X-2) with a $\sim5.2M_\odot$ companion, and orbit period $\simeq2.53$ day. By adopting an mildly super-Eddington rate $\dot{M}=6\times10^{-8}M_\odot~{\rm yr}^{-1}$ for the early Case B Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF) accretion, we find only in accreting NSs with quite elastic crusts (slippage factor $s=0.05$), the toroidal magnetic fields can be amplified within 1 Myrs, which is assumed to be the longest duration of the RLOF. These IMXBs will evolve into NS+white dwarf (WD) binaries if they are dynamical stable. However, before the formation of NS+WD binaries, the high stellar density in the GC will probably lead to frequent encounters between the NS+evolved star binaries (in post-early Case B mass transfer phase) and NSs or exchange encounters with other stars, which may produce single NSs. These NSs will evolve into magnetars when the amplified poloidal magnetic fields diffuse out to the NS surfaces. Consequently, our results provide a possible explanation for the origin of the GC magnetar SGR 1745-2900. Moreover, the accreting NSs with $s>0.05$ will evolve into millisecond pulsars (MSPs). Therefore, our model reveals the GC magnetars and MSPs could both originate from the special kind of IMXBs.

astro-ph.HE↗

Stochastic gravitational wave background from newly born massive magnetars: The role of a dense matter equation of state

Newly born massive magnetars are generally considered to be produced by binary neutron star (NS) mergers, which could give rise to short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs). The strong magnetic fields and fast rotation of these magnetars make them promising sources for gravitational wave (GW) detection using ground based GW interferometers. Based on the observed masses of Galactic NS-NS binaries, by assuming different equations of state (EOSs) of dense matter, we investigate the stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) produced by an ensemble of newly born massive magnetars. The massive magnetar formation rate is estimated through: (i) the SGRB formation rate (hereafter entitled as MFR1); (ii) the NS-NS merger rate (hereafter entitled as MFR2). We find that for massive magnetars with masses $M_{\rm mg}=2.4743 M_\odot$, if EOS CDDM2 is assumed, the resultant SGWBs may be detected by the future Einstein Telescope (ET) even for MFR1 with minimal local formation rate, and for MFR2 with a local merger rate $\dotρ_{\rm c}^{\rm o}(0)\lesssim 10$ ${\rm Mpc}^{-3}{\rm Myr}^{-1}$. However, if EOS BSk21 is assumed, the SGWB may be detectable by the ET for MFR1 with the maximal local formation rate. Moreover, the background spectra show cutoffs at about 350 Hz in the case of EOS BSk21, and at 124 Hz for CDDM2, respectively. We suggest that if the cutoff at $\sim100$ Hz in the background spectrum from massive magnetars could be detected, then the quark star EOS CDDM2 seems to be favorable. Moreover, the EOSs, which present relatively small TOV maximum masses, would be excluded.

astro-ph.HE↗

Stochastic gravitational wave background from magnetic deformation of newly born magnetars

Newly born magnetars are promising sources for gravitational wave (GW) detection due to their ultra-strong magnetic fields and high spin frequencies. Within the scenario of a growing tilt angle between the star's spin and magnetic axis, due to the effect of internal viscosity, we obtain improved estimates of the stochastic gravitational wave backgrounds (SGWBs) from magnetic deformation of newly born magnetars. We find that the GW background spectra contributed by the magnetars with ultra-strong toroidal magnetic fields of 10^{17} G could roughly be divided into four segments. Most notably, in contrast to the background spectra calculated by assuming constant tilt angles χ=π/2, the background radiation above 1000 Hz are seriously suppressed. However, the background radiation at the frequency band \sim100-1000 Hz are moderately enhanced, depending on the strengths of the dipole magnetic fields. We suggest that if all newly born magnetars indeed have toroidal magnetic fields of 10^{17} G, the produced SGWBs should show sharp variations with the observed frequency at several tens to about 100 hertz. If these features could be observed through sophisticated detection of the SGWB using the proposed Einstein Telescope, it will provide us a direct evidence of the tilt angle evolutions and further some deep understandings about the properties of newly born magnetars.

astro-ph.SR↗

How can newly born rapidly rotating neutron stars become magnetars?

In a newly born (high-temperature and Keplerian rotating) neutron star, r-mode instability can lead to stellar differential rotation, which winds the seed poloidal magnetic field ($\sim 10^{11}$ G) to generate an ultra-high ($\sim 10^{17}$ G) toroidal field component. Subsequently, by succumbing to the Tayler instability, the toroidal field could be partially transformed into a new poloidal field. Through such dynamo processes, the newly born neutron star with sufficiently rapid rotation could become a magnetar on a timescale of $\sim 10^{2-3}$ s, with a surface dipolar magnetic field of $\sim10^{15}$ G. Accompanying the field amplification, the star could spin down to a period of $\sim5$ ms through gravitational wave radiation due to the r-mode instability and, in particular, the non-axisymmetric stellar deformation caused by the toroidal field. This scenario provides a possible explanation for why the remnant neutron stars formed in gamma-ray bursts and superluminous supernovae could be millisecond magnetars.

astro-ph.HE↗

Could strange stars be in the color-flavor-locked phase: Tested by their thermal evolutions

The thermal evolution of strange stars in both normal and color-flavor-locked (CFL) phases are investigated together with the evolutions of the stellar rotation and the r-mode instability. The heating effects due to the deconfinement transition of the stellar crust and the dissipation of the r-modes are considered. As a result, the cooling of the stars in the normal phase is found to be not very different from the standard one. In contrast, for the stars in the CFL phase, a big bump during the first hundred years and a steep decay ($\sim$7% in ten years) at the ages of $\sim10^{4-6}$ yrs are predicted in their thermal evolution curves. These unique features provide an effective observational test for determining whether or not the CFL phase is reached in strange stars. This thermal test method is independent of and complementary to the rotational test method, which is a direct consequence of the r-mode instability.

astro-ph.SR↗