arXiv subjects

Wan Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Wan Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

An improved design method for conventional straight dipole magnets

The standard design method for conventional straight dipole magnets is improved in this paper. The good field region is not symmetric with respect to the magnet mechanical center, and its width is not enlarged to include the beam sagitta. The integrated field quality is obtained by integrating the field along nominal beam paths. 2D and 3D design procedures of the improved design method are introduced, and two application examples of straight dipole magnets are presented. It is shown that the differences in integrated field quality between different field integration paths cannot be neglected. Compared with the traditional design method of straight dipole magnets, the advantage of the improved method is that the integrated field quality is accurate; the pole width, magnet dimension and weight of a straight dipole magnet can be reduced.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2016

Design and Measurement of Dipole Magnets for CSNS 1.6GeV RCS

The Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) in Chinese Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) accelerates proton beam from 80Mev to 1.6GeV at a repetition rate of 25Hz. All dipole magnets of RCS are operated at AC with biased DC. Aiming at the properties of these dipole magnets, we take some methods to improve magnetic field quality in the good region and reduce eddy currents in the iron core . In this paper, we would present the process of the magnet design and temperature rise calculation. At the same time, the field measurement results and temperature test of the prototype magnet are also described and discussed.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Development of a Quasi-Periodic Undulator for the HLS

China's first quasi-periodic undulator (QPU) has been developed for the Hefei Light Source (HLS). It uses a magnetic configuration with varied thicknesses of NdFeB blocks, based on the QPU of European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). Depression of 3rd harmonic radiation is significantly improved over the ESRF QPU, as deduced from the measured magnetic fields. A method of configuring shims of different geometries and sizes, based on a symmetric principle to correct multi-pole field integrals, was demonstrated.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2012

From Brownian Dynamics to Markov Chain: an Ion Channel Example

A discrete rate theory for general multi-ion channels is presented, in which the continuous dynamics of ion diffusion is reduced to transitions between Markovian discrete states. In an open channel, the ion permeation process involves three types of events: an ion entering the channel, an ion escaping from the channel, or an ion hopping between different energy minima in the channel. The continuous dynamics leads to a hierarchy of Fokker-Planck equations, indexed by channel occupancy. From these the mean escape times and splitting probabilities (denoting from which side an ion has escaped) can be calculated. By equating these with the corresponding expressions from the Markov model the Markovian transition rates can be determined. The theory is illustrated with a two-ion one-well channel. The stationary probability of states is compared with that from both Brownian dynamics simulation and the hierarchical Fokker-Planck equations. The conductivity of the channel is also studied, and the optimal geometry maximizing ion flux is computed.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2010

The Stability and Dynamics of Localized Spot Patterns in the Two-Dimensional Gray-Scott Model

The dynamics and stability of multi-spot patterns to the Gray-Scott (GS) reaction-diffusion model in a two-dimensional domain is studied in the singularly perturbed limit of small diffusivity $ε$ of one of the two solution components. A hybrid asymptotic-numerical approach based on combining the method of matched asymptotic expansions with the detailed numerical study of certain eigenvalue problems is used to predict the dynamical behavior and instability mechanisms of multi-spot quasi-equilibrium patterns for the GS model in the limit $ε\to 0$. A differential algebraic ODE system for the collective coordinates $S_j$ and ${\mathbf x}_j$ for $j=1,...,k$ is derived, which characterizes the slow dynamics of a spot pattern. Instabilities of the multi-spot pattern due to the three distinct mechanisms of spot self-replication, spot oscillation, and spot annihilation, are studied by first deriving certain associated eigenvalue problems by using singular perturbation techniques. From a numerical computation of the spectrum of these eigenvalue problems, phase diagrams representing in the GS parameter space corresponding to the onset of spot instabilities are obtained for various simple spatial configurations of multi-spot patterns. In addition, it is shown that there is a wide parameter range where a spot instability can be triggered only as a result of the intrinsic slow motion of the collection of spots. The hybrid asymptotic-numerical results for spot dynamics and spot instabilities are validated from full numerical results computed from the GS model for various spatial configurations of spots.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Residual Velocities in Steady Free Boundary Value Problems of Vector Laplacian Type

This paper describes a technique to determine the linear well-posedness of a general class of vector elliptic problems that include a steady interface, to be determined as part of the problem, that separates two subdomains. The interface satisfies mixed Dirichlet and Neumann conditions. We consider ``2+2'' models, meaning two independent variables respectively on each subdomain. The governing equations are taken to be vector Laplacian, to be able to make analytic progress. The interface conditions can be classified into four large categories, and we concentrate on the one with most physical interest. The well-posedness criteria in this case are particularly clear. In many physical cases, the movement of the interface in time-dependent situations can be reduced to a normal motion proportional to the residual in one of the steady state interface conditions (the elliptic interior problems and the other interface conditions are satisfied at each time). If only the steady state is of interest, one can consider using other residuals for the normal velocity. Our analysis can be extended to give insight into choosing residual velocities that have superior numerical properties. Hence, in the second part, we discuss an iterative method to solve free boundary problems. The advantages of the correctly chosen, non-physical residual velocities are demonstrated in a numerical example, based on a simplified model of two-phase flow with phase change in porous media.

math.NA↗

arXiv2002

Ozone Depletion from Nearby Supernovae

Estimates made in the 1970's indicated that a supernova occurring within tens of parsecs of Earth could have significant effects on the ozone layer. Since that time, improved tools for detailed modeling of atmospheric chemistry have been developed to calculate ozone depletion, and advances have been made in theoretical modeling of supernovae and of the resultant gamma-ray spectra. In addition, one now has better knowledge of the occurrence rate of supernovae in the galaxy, and of the spatial distribution of progenitors to core-collapse supernovae. We report here the results of two-dimensional atmospheric model calculations that take as input the spectral energy distribution of a supernova, adopting various distances from Earth and various latitude impact angles. In separate simulations we calculate the ozone depletion due to both gamma-rays and cosmic rays. We find that for the combined ozone depletion roughly to double the ``biologically active'' UV flux received at the surface of the Earth, the supernova must occur at <8 pc. Based on the latest data, the time-averaged galactic rate of core-collapse supernovae occurring within 8 pc is ~1.5/Gyr. In comparing our calculated ozone depletions with those of previous studies, we find them to be significantly less severe than found by Ruderman (1974), and consistent with Whitten et al. (1976). In summary, given the amplitude of the effect, the rate of nearby supernovae, and the ~Gyr time scale for multicellular organisms on Earth, this particular pathway for mass extinctions may be less important than previously thought.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Evolution of Iron K$_α$ Line Emission in the Black Hole Candidate GX 339-4

GX 339-4 was regularly monitored with RXTE during a period (in 1999) when its X-ray flux decreased significantly (from 4.2$\times 10^{-10}$ erg cm$^{-2} s^{-1}$ to 7.6$\times 10^{-12}$ erg cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ in the 3--20 keV band), as the source settled into the ``off state''. Our spectral analysis revealed the presence of a prominent iron K$_α$ line in the observed spectrum of the source for all observations. The line shows an interesting evolution: it is centered at $\sim$6.4 keV when the measured flux is above 5$\times 10^{-11}$ erg cm$^{-2} s^{-1}$, but is shifted to $\sim$6.7 keV at lower fluxes. The equivalent width of the line appears to increase significantly toward lower fluxes, although it is likely to be sensitive to calibration uncertainties. While the fluorescent emission of neutral or mildly ionized iron atoms in the accretion disk can perhaps account for the 6.4 keV line, as is often invoked for black hole candidates, it seems difficult to understand the 6.7 keV line with this mechanism, because the disk should be less ionized at lower fluxes (unless its density changes drastically). On the other hand, the 6.7 keV line might be due to recombination cascade of hydrogen or helium like iron ions in an optically thin, highly ionized plasma. We discuss the results in the context of proposed accretion models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Three-Layered Atmospheric Structure in Accretion Disks Around Stellar-Mass Black Holes

Modeling of the x-ray spectra of the Galactic superluminal jet sources GRS 1915+105 and GRO J1655-40 reveal a three-layered atmospheric structure in the inner region of their accretion disks. Above the cold and optically thick disk of a temperature 0.2-0.5 keV, there is a warm layer with a temperature of 1.0-1.5 keV and an optical depth around 10. Sometimes there is also a much hotter, optically thin corona above the warm layer, with a temperature of 100 keV or higher and an optical depth around unity. The structural similarity between the accretion disks and the solar atmosphere suggest that similar physical processes may be operating in these different systems.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Phase Lag and Coherence Function of X-ray emission from Black Hole Candidate XTE J1550-564

We report the results from measuring the phase lag and coherence function of X-ray emission from black hole candidate (BHC) XTE J1550-564. These X-ray temporal properties have been recognized to be increasingly important in providing important diagnostics of the dynamics of accretion flows around black holes. For XTE J1550-564, we found significant hard lag --- the X-ray variability in high energy bands {\em lags} behind that in low energy bands --- associated both with broad-band variability and quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO). However, the situation is more complicated for the QPO: while hard lag was measured for the first harmonic of the signal, the fundamental component showed significant {\em soft} lag. Such behavior is remarkably similar to what was observed of microquasar GRS 1915+105. The phase lag evolved during the initial rising phase of the 1998 outburst. The magnitude of both the soft and hard lags of the QPO increases with X-ray flux, while the Fourier spectrum of the broad-band lag varies significantly in shape. The coherence function is relatively high and roughly constant at low frequencies, and begins to drop almost right after the first harmonic of the QPO. It is near unity at the beginning and decreases rapidly during the rising phase. Also observed is that the more widely separated the two energy bands are the less the coherence function between the two. It is interesting that the coherence function increases significantly at the frequencies of the QPO and its harmonics. We discuss the implications of the results on the models proposed for BHCs.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Evidence for Doppler-Shifted Iron Emission Lines in Black Hole Candidate 4U 1630-47

We report the first detection of a pair of correlated emission lines in the X-ray spectrum of black hole candidate 4U 1630-47 during its 1996 outburst, based on RXTE observations of the source. At the peak plateau of the outburst, the emission lines are detected, centered mostly at $\sim$5.7 keV and $\sim$7.7 keV, respectively, while the line energies exhibit random variability $\sim$5%. Interestingly, the lines move in a concerted manner to keep their separation roughly constant. The lines also vary greatly in strength, but with the lower-energy line always much stronger than the higher-energy one. The measured equivalent width ranges from $\sim$50 eV to $\sim$270 eV for the former, and from insignificant detection to $\sim$140 eV for the latter; the two are reasonably correlated. The correlation between the lines implies a causal connection --- perhaps they share a common origin. Both lines may arise from a single $K_α$ line of highly ionized iron that is Doppler-shifted either in a Keplerian accretion disk or in a bi-polar outflow or even both. In both scenarios, a change in the line energy might simply reflect a change in the ionization state of line-emitting matter. We discuss the implication of the results and also raise some questions about such interpretations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

The Progenitor of the New COMPTEL/ROSAT Supernova Remnant in Vela

We show that (1) the newly discovered supernova remnant (SNR), GRO J0852--4642/RX J0852.0--4622, was created by a core-collapse supernova of a massive star, and (2) the same supernova event which produced the $^{44}$Ti detected by COMPTEL from this source is probably also responsible for a large fraction of the observed $^{26}$Al emission in the Vela region detected by the same instrument. The first conclusion is based on the fact that the remnant is currently expanding too slowly given its young age for it to be caused by a Type Ia supernova. If the current SNR shell expansion speed is greater than 3000 km/s, a $15 M_\odot$ Type II supernova with a moderate kinetic energy exploding at about 150 pc away is favored. If the SNR expansion speed is lower than 2000 km s$^{-1}$, as derived naively from the X-ray data, a much more energetic supernova is required to have occurred at $\sim250$ pc away in a dense environment at the edge of the Gum nebula. This progenitor has a preferred ejecta mass of $\le10 M_\odot$ and therefore, it is probably a Type Ib or Type Ic supernova. However, the required high ambient density of $n_H \ge 100 cm^{-3}$ in this scenario is difficult to reconcile with the regional CO data. A combination of our estimates of the age/energetics of the new SNR and the almost perfect positional coincidence of the new SNR with the centroid of the COMPTEL $ ^{26}$Al emission feature of the Vela region strongly favors a causal connection. If confirmed, this will be the first case where both $^{44}$Ti and $^{26}$Al are detected from the same young SNR and together they can be used to select preferred theoretical core-collapse supernova models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Strong Aperiodic X-ray Variability and Quasi-Periodic Oscillation in X-ray Nova XTE J1550-564

We report the discovery of strong aperiodic X-ray variability and quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the X-ray light curves of a new X-ray Nova, XTE J1550-564, and the evolution of the observed temporal properties during the rise of the recent X-ray outburst. The power spectral analysis of the first observation reveals strong aperiodic X-ray variability of the source (~28%), as well as the presence of a QPO at ~82 mHz with fractional rms amplitude ~14% over the 2-60 keV energy range. Also apparent is the first harmonic of the QPO with the amplitude ~9%. As the X-ray flux increases, the source tends to become less variable, and the QPO frequency increases rapidly, from 82 mHz to 4 Hz, over the flux (2-50 keV) range of 1.73-5.75 x 10^{-8} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1}. The amplitude of the fundamental component of the QPO varies little, while that of the harmonic follows a decreasing trend. The fundamental component strengthens toward high energies, while its harmonic weakens. Initially, the power spectrum is roughly flat at low frequencies and turns into a power law at high frequencies, with the QPO harmonic sitting roughly at the break. In later observations, however, the high-frequency portion of the continuum can actually be better described by a broken power law (as opposed to a simple power law). This effect becomes more apparent at higher energies. The overall amplitude of the continuum shows a similar energy dependence to that of the fundamental component of the QPO. Strong rapid X-ray variability, as well as hard energy spectrum, makes XTE J1550-564 a good black hole candidate. We compare its temporal properties with those of other black hole candidates.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

On Gravitomagnetic Precession and Qpo in Black Hole Candidates

The X-ray observation of black hole candidates provides a valuable tool to probe regions very close to the central black hole, where strong-field relativistic effects become important. Recent studies have shown that these effects seem to manifest themselves in the observed X-ray spectrum, in terms of the shape of X-ray continuum and the profile of emission lines, and in the X-ray light curves, in terms of certain quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). The latter will be the focus of this paper. We will review the proposed observational evidence for gravitomagnetic precession in black hole candidates, in light of new observational data and alternative models. Quantitative comparison will be made between the data and the models. We will comment on recent theoretical and observational efforts to address whether the gravitomagnetic precession of accreted, orbiting matter around a rotating black hole is a viable process for producing the observed QPOs. The results are inconclusive. We will mention a few areas where further progress can be made to possibly shed more light on the issue.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Evidence for Frame-Dragging Around Spinning Black Holes in X-Ray Binaries

In the context of black hole spin in X-ray binaries, we propose that certain type of quasi-period oscillations (QPOs) observed in the light curves of black hole binaries (BHBs) are produced by X-ray modulation at the precession frequency of accretion disks, due to relativistic dragging of inertial frames around spinning black holes. These QPOs tend to be relatively stable in their centroid frequencies. They have been observed in the frequency range of a few to a few hundred Hz for several black holes with dynamically determined masses. By comparing the computed disk precession frequency with that of the observed QPO, we can derive the black hole angular momentum, given its mass. When applying this model to GRO J1655-40, GRS 1915+105, Cyg X-1, and GS 1124-68, we found that the black holes in GRO J1655-40 and GRS 1915+105, the only known BHBs that occasionally produce superluminal radio jets, spin at a rate close to the maximum limit, while Cyg X-1 and GS 1124-68, typical (persistent and transient) BHBs, contain only moderately rotating ones. Extending the model to the general population of black hole candidates, the fact that only low-frequency QPOs have been detected is consistent with the presence of only slowly spinning black holes in these systems. Our results are in good agreement with those derived from spectral data, thus strongly support the classification scheme that we proposed previously for BHBs.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Evolution of AQL X-1 During the Rising Phase of its 1998 Outburst

We present results from 16 snapshots of Aql X-1 with RXTE during the rising phase of its recent outburst. The observations were carried out at a typical rate of once or twice per day. The source shows interesting spectral evolution during this period. Phenomenologically, it bears remarkable similarities to ``atoll'' sources. Shortly after the onset of the outburst, the source is seen to be in an ``island'' state, but with little X-ray variability. It then appears to have made a rapid spectral transition (on a time scale less than half a day) to another ``island'' state, where it evolves slightly and stays for 4 days. In this state, the observed X-ray flux becomes increasingly variable as the source brightens. Quasi-period oscillation (QPO) in the X-ray intensity is detected in the frequency range 670--870 Hz. The QPO frequency increases with the X-ray flux while its fractional rms decreases. The QPO becomes undetectable following a transition to a ``banana'' state, where the source continues its evolution by moving up and down the ``banana'' branch in the color-color diagram as the flux (presumably, the mass accretion rate) fluctuates around the peak of the outburst. Throughout the entire period, the power density spectrum is dominated by very-low frequency noises. Little power can be seen above ~1 Hz, which is different from typical ``atoll'' sources. In the ``banana'' state, the overall X-ray variability remains low (with fractional rms ~3--4%) but roughly constant. The observed X-ray spectrum is soft with few photons from above $\sim$25 keV, implying the thermal origin of the emission. The evolution of both spectral and temporal X-ray properties is discussed in the context of disk-instability models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Cygnus X-1: A Spinning Black Hole?

It has been a long-standing puzzle what triggers the spectral transition between the hard and soft states in Cyg X-1. Also, the origin of the frequently observed X-ray flares in the source still remains a mystery. In this paper, we will make an attempt to address these issues in light of our recent work on black hole spin and its observational consequences.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

The Properties of X-Ray and Optical Light Curves of X-Ray Novae

We have collected the available data from the literature and from public data archives covering the past two decades for the long-term X-ray and optical light curves of X-ray nova (XN) outbursts, and carry out for the first time a systematic, statistical study of XN light curves which are classified into 5 morphological types. Basic light curve parameters, e.g., the outburst peak flux, amplitude, luminosity, rise and decay timescales, the observed and expected outburst durations, and total energy radiated, are tabulated and discussed. The rise timescales are found to have a flat distribution while the decay timescales have a much narrower and near-Gaussian distribution, centered around 30 days and dominated by the strongest outbursts. The peak luminosity is also distributed like a Gaussian, centered around 0.2 in Eddington units, while the total energy released has a much broader distribution around 10E44 ergs. We identify and discuss additional light curve features, such as precursors, plateaus, and secondary maxima. The plateaus exhibited in the light curves of black hole sources are found to have, on average, longer durations and they are followed by longer decays. The identified secondary maxima seem to occur mostly in black hole systems. For the frequency of outbursts, we find that the average XN outburst rate is about 2.6 per year for events >0.3 Crab, and that the mean recurrence time between outbursts from a single source is 6 years. The spatial and logN-logS distribution of the XN sources, with limited statistics, agrees with a source population in the Galactic disk, as observed from a point at a distance of 8.5 kpc from the Galactic center. Finally, we point out that the observed XN light curve properties can in general be explained by a disk thermal instability model, although some important problems still remain.

astro-ph↗