arXiv subjects

S. B. Popov

Publications and source records attributed to S. B. Popov.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Evolution of isolated neutron stars till accretion. The role of initial magnetic field

We study evolution of isolated neutron stars on long time scale and calculate distribution of these sources in the main evolutionary stages: Ejector, Propeller, Accretor, and Georotator. We compare different initial magnetic field distributions taking into account a possibility of magnetic field decay, and include in our calculations the stage of subsonic Propeller. It is shown that though the subsonic propeller stage can be relatively long, initially highly magnetized neutron stars ($B_0\ga 10^{13}$ G) reach the accretion regime within the Galactic lifetime if their kick velocities are not too large. The fact that in previous studies made $>$10 years ago, such objects were not considered results in a slight increase of the Accretor fraction in comparison with earlier conclusions. Most of the neutron stars similar to the Magnificent seven are expected to become accreting from the interstellar medium after few billion years of their evolution. They are the main predecestors of accreting isolated neutron stars.

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arXiv2010

The needle in the haystack - Where to look for more isolated cooling neutron stars

Context: Isolated cooling neutron stars with thermal X-ray emission remain rarely detected objects despite many searches investigating the ROSAT data. Aims: We simulate the population of close-by young cooling neutron stars to explain the current observational results. Given the inhomogeneity of the neutron star distribution on the sky it is particularly interesting to identify promising sky regions with respect to on-going and future searches. Methods: Applying a population synthesis model the inhomogeneity of the progenitor distribution and the inhomogeneity of the X-ray absorbing interstellar medium are considered for the first time. The total number of observable neutron stars is derived with respect to ROSAT count rates. In addition, we present sky maps of neutron star locations and discuss age and distance distributions of the simulated neutron stars. Implications for future searches are discussed. Results: With our advanced model we can successfully explain the observed logN - logS distribution of close-by neutron stars. Cooling neutron stars will be most abundant in the directions of rich OB associations. New candidates are expected to be identified behind the Gould Belt, in particular in the Cygnus-Cepheus region. They are expected to be on average younger and then hotter than the known population of isolated cooling neutron stars. In addition, we propose to use data on runaway stars to search for more radio-quiet cooling neutron stars.

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arXiv2009

Population synthesis studies of isolated neutron stars with magnetic field decay

We perform population synthesis studies of different types of neutron stars (thermally emitting isolated neutron stars, normal radio pulsars, magnetars) taking into account the magnetic field decay and using results from the most recent advances in neutron star cooling theory. For the first time, we confront our results with observations using {\it simultaneously} the Log N -- Log S distribution for nearby isolated neutron stars, the Log N -- Log L distribution for magnetars, and the distribution of radio pulsars in the $P$ -- $\dot P$ diagram. For this purpose, we fix a baseline neutron star model (all microphysics input), and other relevant parameters to standard values (velocity distribution, mass spectrum, birth rates ...), allowing to vary the initial magnetic field strength. We find that our theoretical model is consistent with all sets of data if the initial magnetic field distribution function follows a log-normal law with $<\log (B_0/[G])>\sim 13.25$ and $σ_{\log B_0}\sim 0.6$. The typical scenario includes about 10% of neutron stars born as magnetars, significant magnetic field decay during the first million years of a NS life (only about a factor of 2 for low field neutron stars but more than an order of magnitude for magnetars), and a mass distribution function dominated by low mass objects. This model explains satisfactorily all known populations. Evolutionary links between different subclasses may exist, although robust conclusions are not yet possible.

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arXiv2009

New Limits on Radio Emission from X-ray Dim Isolated Neutron Stars

We have carried out a search for radio emission at 820 MHz from six X-ray dim isolated neutron stars with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Radio Telescope. No transient or pulsed emission was found using fast folding, fast Fourier transform, and single-pulse searches. The corresponding flux limits are about 0.01 mJy for pulsed emission, depending on the integration time for the particular source and assuming a duty cycle of 2%, and 20 mJy for single dispersed pulses. These are the most sensitive limits to date on radio emission from X-ray dim isolated neutron stars. There is no evidence for isolated radio pulses, as seen in a class of neutron stars known as rotating radio transients. Our results imply that either the radio luminosities of these objects are lower than those of any known radio pulsars, or they could simply be long-period nearby radio pulsars with high magnetic fields beaming away from the Earth. To test the latter possibility, we would need around 40 similar sources to provide a 1 sigma probability of at least one of them beaming toward us. We also give a detailed description of our implementation of the Fast Folding Algorithm.

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arXiv2009

Magnetars, Gamma-ray Bursts, and Very Close Binaries

We consider the possible existence of a common channel of evolution of binary systems, which results in a gamma-ray burst during the formation of a black hole or the birth of a magnetar during the formation of a neutron star. We assume that the rapid rotation of the core of a collapsing star can be explained by tidal synchronization in a very close binary. The calculated rate of formation of rapidly rotating neutron stars is qualitatively consistent with estimates of the formation rate of magnetars. However, our analysis of the binarity of newly-born compact objects with short rotational periods indicates that the fraction of binaries among them substantially exceeds the observational estimates. To bring this fraction into agreement with the statistics for magnetars, the additional velocity acquired by a magnetar during its formation must be primarily perpendicular to the orbital plane before the supernova explosion, and be large.

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arXiv2009

The isolated neutron star candidate 2XMM J104608.7-594306

Over the last decade, X-ray observations unveiled the existence of several classes of isolated neutron stars (INSs) which are radio-quiet or exhibit radio emission with properties much at variance with those of ordinary radio pulsars. The identification of new sources is crucial in order to understand the relations among the different classes and to compare observational constraints with theoretical expectations. A recent analysis of the 2XMMp catalogue provided less than 30 new thermally emitting INS candidates. Among these, the source 2XMM J104608.7-594306 appears particularly interesting because of the softness of its X-ray spectrum and of the present upper limits in the optical, which imply a logarithmic X-ray-to-optical flux ratio greater than 3.1, corrected for absorption. We present the X-ray and optical properties of 2XMM J104608.7-594306 and discuss its nature in the light of two possible scenarios invoked to explain the X-ray thermal emission from INSs: the release of residual heat in a cooling neutron star, as in the seven radio-quiet ROSAT-discovered INSs, and accretion from the interstellar medium. We find that the present observational picture of 2XMM J104608.7-594306 is consistent with a distant cooling INS with properties in agreement with the most up-to-date expectations of population synthesis models: it is fainter, hotter and more absorbed than the seven ROSAT sources and possibly located in the Carina Nebula, a region likely to harbour unidentified cooling neutron stars. The accretion scenario, although not entirely ruled out by observations, would require a very slow (~10 km/s) INS accreting at the Bondi-Hoyle rate.

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arXiv2009

Pulsar spin-velocity alignment from single and binary neutron star progenitors

The role of binary progenitors of neutron stars in the apparent distribution of space velocities and spin-velocity alignment observed in young pulsars is studied. A Monte-Carlo synthesis of pulsar population from single and binary stars with different assumptions about the NS natal kick model (direction distribution, amplitude, and kick reduction in binary progenitors which experienced mass exchange due to Roche lobe overflow with initial masses on the main sequence from the range 8-11 $M_\odot$) is performed. The calculated spin-velocity alignment distributions are compared with observational data obtained from radio polarization measurements. The observed space velocity of pulsars is found to be mostly shaped by the natal kick velocity form and its amplitude; the fraction of binaries is not important here for reasonably large kicks. The distribution of kick direction relative to the spin axis during the formation of a NS is found to affect strongly the spin-velocity correlation of pulsars. Comparison with observed pulsar spin-velocity angles favours a sizeable fraction of binary progenitors and the kick-spin angle $\sim 5-20^\circ$. The form of the initial binary mass ratio distribution does not affect our results.

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arXiv2008

Scenarios for GCRT J1745-3009

I discuss several scenarios to explain properties of the radio transient source GCRT J1745-3009. Namely, a highly magnetized neutron star on the propeller or georotator stage, a transient propeller, and an ejector in a binary system are discussed. Simple populational estimates favor the transient propeller model.

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arXiv2008

Conversion of Dark matter axions to photons in magnetospheres of neutron stars

We propose a new method to detect observational appearance of Dark Matter axions. The method utilizes observations of neutron stars (NSs) in radio. It is based on the conversion of axions to photons in strong magnetic fields of NSs (Primakoff effect). Whether the conversion takes place, the radio spectrum of the object would have a very distinctive feature -- a narrow spike at a frequency corresponding to the rest mass of the axion. For example, if the coupling constant of the photon-axion interaction is $M=10^{10}$ GeV, the density of Dark Matter axions is $ρ=10^{-24} {\rm g cm^{-3}}$, and the axion mass is $5 {\rm μeV}$, then a flux from a strongly magnetized ($10^{14}$ G) NS at the distance 300 pc from the Sun is expected to be about few tenths of mJy at the frequency $\approx 1200$ MHz in the bandwidth $\approx 3$ MHz. Close-by X-ray dim isolated neutron stars are proposed as good candidates to look for such radio emission.

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arXiv2008

Tkachenko waves, glitches and precession in neutron star

Here I discuss possible relations between free precession of neutron stars, Tkachenko waves inside them and glitches. I note that the proposed precession period of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4-3125 (Haberl et al. 2006) is consistent with the period of Tkachenko waves for the spin period 8.4s. Based on a possible observation of a glitch in RX J0720.4-3125 (van Kerkwijk et al. 2007), I propose a simple model, in which long period precession is powered by Tkachenko waves generated by a glitch. The period of free precession, determined by a NS oblateness, should be equal to the standing Tkachenko wave period for effective energy transfer from the standing wave to the precession motion. A similar scenario can be applicable also in the case of the PSR B1828-11.

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arXiv2008

Soft gamma repeaters activity in time

In this short note I discuss the hypothesis that bursting activity of magnetars evolves in time analogously to the glitching activity of normal radio pulsars (i.e. sources are more active at smaller ages), and that the increase of the burst rate follows one of the laws established for glitching radio pulsars. If the activity of soft gamma repeaters decreases in time in the way similar to the evolution of core-quake glitches ($\propto t^{5/2}$), then it is more probable to find the youngest soft gamma repeaters, but the energy of giant flares from these sources should be smaller than observed $10^{44}$ --$10^{46}$ ergs as the total energy stored in a magnetar's magnetic field is not enough to support thousands of bursts similar to the prototype 5 March 1979 flare.

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arXiv2007

Hyperflares of SGRs as an engine for millisecond extragalactic radio bursts

We propose that the strong millisecond extragalactic radio burst (mERB) discovered by Lorimer et al. (2007) may be related to a hyperflare from an extragalactic soft gamma-ray repeater. The expected rate of such hyperflares, $\sim$ 20 - 100 d$^{-1}$ Gpc$^{-3}$, is in good correspondence with the value estimated by Lorimer et al. The possible mechanism of radio emission can be related to the tearing mode instability in the magnetar magnetosphere as discussed by Lyutikov (2002), and can produce the radio flux corresponding to the observed $\sim$ 30 Jy from the mERB using a simple scaling of the burst energy.

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arXiv2007

Space cowboys odyssey: beyond the Gould Belt

We present our new advanced model for population synthesis of close-by cooling NSs. Detailed treatment of the initial spatial distribution of NS progenitors and a detailed ISM structure up to 3 kpc give us an opportunity to discuss the strategy to look for new isolated cooling NSs. Our main results in this respect are the following: new candidates are expected to be identified behind the Gould Belt, in directions to rich OB associations, in particular in the Cygnus-Cepheus region; new candidates, on average, are expected to be hotter than the known population of cooling NS. Besides the usual approach (looking for soft X-ray sources), the search in 'empty' $γ$-ray error boxes or among run-away OB stars may yield new X-ray thermally emitting NS candidates.

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arXiv2007

On the dynamical formation of accreting intermediate mass black holes

We compute the probability that intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs) capture companions due to dynamical interactions and become accreting sources, and explore the possibility that the accreting IMBHs would appear as ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs). We focus on IMBHs originating from low-metallicity Population III stars. Two channels of IMBH formation are considered: from primordial halos in the framework of hierarchical clustering, and from non-mixed, zero-metallicity primeval gas in galactic discs. IMBHs can form binary systems due to tidal captures of single stars and exchange interactions with existing binary systems in galactic discs. We find that neither formation mechanism of the accreting IMBH binary is able to provide enough sources to explain the observed population of ULXs. Even at sub-ULX luminosity, the total number of accreting IMBHs with $L> 10^{36}$ erg s$^{-1}$ with dynamically captured companions is found to be $< 0.01$ per galaxy.

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arXiv2007

The Zoo of Neutron Stars

In these lecture notes I briefly discuss the present day situation and new discoveries in astrophysics of neutron stars focusing on isolated objects. The latter include soft gamma repeaters, anomalous X-ray pulsars, central compact objects in supernova remnants, the Magnificent seven, and rotating radio transients. In the last part of the paper I describe available tests of cooling curves of neutron stars and discuss different additional constraints which can help to confront theoretical calculations of cooling with observational data.

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arXiv2006

Be born slow or die fast: spin evolution of neutron stars with alignment or counteralignment

We revisit the case of magneto-rotational evolution of neutron stars (NSs) with accounting for changes of the angle χbetween spin and magnetic axes. This element of the evolution of NSs is very important for age estimates and population modeling, but usually it is neglected. In the framework of two models of energy losses we demonstrate that unless NSs are born with the inclination angle χ_0 very close (within 1 degree) to the position of maximal losses, pulsars with short initial periods quickly reach regions of small energy losses (aligned rotators in the case of magneto-dipole losses and orthogonal rotators -- in the case of current losses) without significant spin-down. This means that either most of known NSs should be born with relatively long periods close to presently observed values, or the initial inclination angles should be large (close to 90) for the magnetodipole model and very small (close to 0) for the current losses model, or that both models cannot be applied for the whole evolutionary track of a typical NS. In particular, magnetar candidates should be born with periods close to the observed ones within the scope of both models of energy losses. We discuss how these considerations can influence population synthesis models and age estimates for different types of isolated NSs. Focusing on the model of current losses we illustrate our conclusion with evolutionary track reconstructions on the P--\sin χplane. We conclude, that most probably both existing models of energy losses -- magneto-dipole and longitudinal current -- require serious modifications, on the other hand, estimates obtained under the standard assumption of \sin χ=1=const does not have solid theoretical ground and should be taken with care.

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arXiv2006

Astronomy meets QCD: cooling constraints for the theories of internal structure of compact objects

We discuss a set of tests which confront observations of cooling compact objects and theories of their thermal evolution. As an example we apply the recently developed $\mathrm{Log N}$-$\mathrm{Log S}$ test of compact star cooling theories to hybrid stars with a color superconducting quark matter core, we also apply and discuss other existing tests. While there is not yet a microscopically founded superconducting quark matter phase which would fulfill constraints from cooling phenomenology, we explore the hypothetical 2SC+X phase and show that the magnitude and density-dependence of the X-gap can be chosen to satisfy a set of tests: the temperature -- age ($\mathrm{T}$-$\mathrm{t}$) test, the $\mathrm{Log N}$-$\mathrm{Log S}$ test, the brightness constraint, and the mass spectrum constraint. Some recent modifications of the population synthesis model used to obtain the $\mathrm{Log N}$-$\mathrm{Log S}$ distribution are briefly discussed. In addition, we propose to use the age-distance diagram as a new tool to study the local population of young isolated neutron stars.

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arXiv2006

The Magnificent Seven in the dusty prairie -- The role of interstellar absorption on the observed neutron star population

The Magnificent Seven have all been discovered by their exceptional soft X-ray spectra and high ratios of X-ray to optical flux. They all are considered to be nearby sources. Searching for similar neutron stars with larger distances, one expects larger interstellar absorption resulting in harder X-ray counterparts. Current interstellar absorption treatment depends on chosen abundances and scattering cross-sections of the elements as well as on the 3D distribution of the interstellar medium. After a discussion of these factors we use the comprehensive 3D measurements of the Local Bubble by Lallement et al. 2003 to construct two simple models of the 3D distribution of the hydrogen column density. We test these models by using a set of soft X-ray sources with known distances. Finally, we discuss possible applications for distance estimations and population synthesis studies.

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