arXiv subjects

Zhi-Fu Gao

Publications and source records attributed to Zhi-Fu Gao.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Nuclear equation-of-state effects on the two-dimensional post-outburst thermal evolution of magnetized neutron-star crusts

We present a controlled two-dimensional study of nuclear-equation-of-state (EOS) effects on the post-outburst thermal relaxation of magnetized neutron-star crusts. Six EOS models are evolved at a fixed gravitational mass of $1.4 M_{\odot}$ with EOS-specific TOV backgrounds, crust compositions, and transport inputs under identical magnetic-field and heating prescriptions. Our analysis combines self-consistent multi-EOS evolution with a BSk-family factorization that separates structural, microphysical, and interaction contributions, together with an accepted-step energy ledger and a numerical-sensitivity budget. The models show EOS-dependent changes in both the early response and the later redistribution of heat between the surface, crust, and inner boundary; light-curve crossings near $10^2$ days demonstrate that the EOS effect is not a simple luminosity rescaling. By 1000 days the cumulative surface-photon energy fraction differs by less than one percentage point, whereas the internal energy partition differs much more strongly. The updated sensitivity tests show that the late-time luminosity differences and the largest peak contrasts exceed the corresponding BSk24 numerical-sensitivity scales, while the smallest early peak contrast remains less securely resolved. The calculations are intended as a reproducible EOS-sensitivity benchmark rather than an observational fit.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Gravitational-wave propagation and standard sirens in dynamical Barbero--Immirzi gravity: an action-level analysis

We develop an action-level framework for identifying which dynamical Barbero--Immirzi sectors can modify cosmological tensor propagation in a bosonic, two-derivative, curvature-linear Einstein--Cartan class. Eliminating the algebraic Lorentz connection shows that the Holst-to-Palatini ratio contributes to the scalar kinetic metric, whereas the transverse-traceless tensor normalization is controlled by the parity-even Hilbert--Palatini coefficient. Consequently, a dynamical Holst coefficient at fixed parity-even normalization does not by itself generate anomalous gravitational-wave friction: the minimal dynamical-Holst theory lies exactly on the general-relativistic propagation surface. We then construct a leading analytic parity-invariant nonminimal realization, exhibit a regular cosmological background satisfying both Friedmann equations, and verify the invariant two-derivative kinetic conditions along that benchmark. Finally, we recast published GWTC-3 and GWTC-4.0 constraints and the two public GWTC-4.0 hyperposterior products to determine which action-level combination present standard sirens constrain. The corresponding catalog constraints remain broad and depend on the adopted priors and population assumptions; itconstrains the evolution of a nonminimal parity-even curvature sector rather than minimal Barbero--Immirzi torsion, providing an action-level interpretation of standard-siren propagation tests.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Dynamical Barbero--Immirzi field coupled to quintessence: gravitational-wave propagation constraints and next-generation forecasts

We investigate the imprints of a dynamical Barbero--Immirzi (BI) field $γ(x)$ coupled to a quintessence scalar field $ϕ$ on gravitational-wave (GW) propagation. In the framework of Einstein--Cartan--Holst gravity, promoting $γ$ to a dynamical scalar introduces a stress--energy that back-reacts on the metric, modifying the GW friction term. A minimal coupling $\proptoβ\,ϕ^2γ^2$ between the BI field and quintessence leads to a two-parameter extension of the Belgacem--Maggiore parametrization, characterized by $\xBI$ (from the isolated BI field) and $\xcp$ (from the coupling). Using the LIGO--Virgo--KAGRA GWTC-3 dark-siren constraint $Ξ_0=1.2^{+0.7}_{-0.7}$, we obtain the first simultaneous constraints: $|\xBI|\lesssim0.7$ and $|\xcp|\lesssim0.13$ at 90\% credibility. We then forecast the sensitivity of next-generation detectors Einstein Telescope (ET) and Cosmic Explorer (CE), showing that a 10-year observation campaign can improve these bounds by roughly one to two orders of magnitude depending on the parameter---a factor of $\sim\!20$ for $\xBI$ and $\sim\!20$ for $\xcp$---reaching $σ(\xBI)\sim3\times10^{-2}$ and $σ(\xcp)\sim1.2\times10^{-2}$. Translated into microscopic parameters, this corresponds to $γ_{\rm dyn}\lesssim10^{-12}$ and $β\lesssim10^{-3}$, providing a powerful new observational window into the interplay between quantum-gravity phenomenology and dark energy.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Bayesian Geometrical Modeling of IXPE Polarization Angle Curves of the Magnetars 1E 2259+586 and 1E 1547.0-5408

X-ray polarimetry directly probes the radiation geometry and large-scale magnetic configuration of magnetars. We present a uniform Bayesian comparison between a dipole-dominated classical rotating vector model (CRVM) and a modified rotating vector model (MRVM) including a first-order magnetospheric twist correction. The models are applied to the phase-resolved IXPE polarization position angle (PA) curves of 1E~2259+586 and 1E~1547.0$-$5408. Parameters are inferred with a PA-level likelihood, and the models are compared using $χ^2$, AIC, BIC, and Bayesian evidence. For 1E~1547.0$-$5408, we also test radio-derived geometrical constraints using radio-informed priors and radio-fixed fits. The current IXPE PA data for both sources are consistent with a dipole-dominated geometry and do not require a significant global twist. The MRVM gives only a marginal improvement for 1E~2259+586, with a Bayes factor of $\simeq3.3$, and no meaningful improvement for 1E~1547.0$-$5408, with a Bayes factor of $\simeq1.29$. We confirm that for 1E 1547, the nearly aligned radio geometry is not ruled out, but the radio RVM central geometry is not preferred by the X-ray PA data alone. The two sources show different impact angles, suggesting that magnetar X-ray polarization diversity reflects both viewing geometry and source-dependent emission physics. This work provides a framework for future Stokes-level and multi-epoch polarimetric studies with missions such as eXTP.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Formation of a Possible Black-hole Ultracompact X-ray Binary with the Shortest Orbital Period

In the bulge of M31, the Chandra observations discovered a possible black hole (BH) ultracompact X-ray binary (UCXB) Seq.1 with an orbital period of 7.7 minutes and a maximum X-ray luminosity $L_{\rm X}=1.09^{+0.02}_{-0.01}\times10^{38}~ \rm erg\,s^{-1}$ in the $0.5-8$ keV band. The minimum orbital period of the BH UCXBs predicted by the standard magnetic braking (MB) model is longer than 8.3 minutes. In this work, we investigate whether the convection- and rotation-boosted (CARB) MB prescription can account for the formation of a BH UCXB like Seq.1. Our detailed stellar evolution models indicate that the CARB MB law can drive isolated BH-main sequence (MS) binaries to evolve toward BH UCXBs with an orbital period of $7.7~ \rm minutes$, in which a low-mass white dwarf transfers the material onto a BH in a short-term mass transfer episode, producing an X-ray luminosity of $10^{38}~\rm erg\,s^{-1}$. We also obtain an initial parameter space of BH-MS binaries as the progenitors of Seq.1 in the donor-star masses and orbital periods plane, which can be applied to future population synthesis simulations. If Seq.1 is indeed a BH UCXB, future spaceborne gravitational wave (GW) detectors can detect the low-frequency GW signals from this source, and a tidal disruption event will be expected after 0.12 Myr.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Reheating chiral dynamos with spin-0 and massive spin-1 torsions via chiral asymmetry

Recently, Syderenko et al. (JCAP, 10: 018, 2016) investigated magnetogenesis and chiral asymmetry in the early hot universe. This study explores the impact of minimally coupling a constant torsion in their cosmological model, suggesting new chiral physics. Physically, this means that if torsion is right chiral, the difference between the number of right and left chiralities does not change. Moreover, the decay of chiral asymmetry depends on torsion chirality. We solve the chiral torsionful dynamo equation for magnetic field seeds. Magnetic helical fields are considered important for chiral fermion asymmetry. Even in $(3+1)$ dimensional spacetime, torsion is highly suppressed beyond inflation (Eur Phys J C 82: 291, 2022). However, torsion of $1\,\mathrm{MeV}$ appears in the early universe. Equations for correlated magnetic field coefficients are solved in terms of torsion. Weak magnetic fields of the order of $10^{-42}$ Gauss are boosted by powerful torsionful dynamo amplification, generating a much stronger magnetic field of the order of $10^{-9}$ Gauss in the present universe. A galactic magnetic field of $10^{-6}$ Gauss in the present universe, with torsion of $10^{-15}$ Gauss, leads us to a galactic dynamo seed of $10^{-9}$ Gauss. We also discuss reheating dynamo regeneration of decaying cosmic magnetic fields during the hadronization era. The relation between the reheating contribution to e-folds and the connection between CMF and temperature squared allows us to obtain dynamo amplification in terms of N-folds of inflation. The main innovation of this work is the exploration of constant torsion in a cosmological model, revealing new chiral physics. This study offers a new perspective on the origin and evolution of magnetic fields in the early universe.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Dark photons and tachyonic instability induced by Barbero-Immirzi parameter and axion-torsion transmutation

In this paper, we investigate Holst gravity by examining two distinct examples. The first example involves minimal coupling to torsion, while the second explores non-minimal coupling. The motivation for the first example stems from the recent work by Dombriz, which utilized a technique of imposing constraint constant coefficients to massive torsion in the model Lagrangian to determine parameters for the Einstein-Cartan-Holst gravity. We extend this methodology to investigate dark photons, where axial torsion transforms into axions.Interest in elucidating the abundance of dark photons within the framework of general relativity was sparked by Agrawal. Building on the work of Barman, who explored minimal coupling of massive torsion mediated by dark matter (DM) with light torsion on the order of 1.7 TeV, we have derived a Barbero-Immirzi (BI) parameter of approximately 0.775. This value falls within the range established by Panza et al. at TeV scales, specifically $0\leβ\le{1.185}$. This seems to our knowledge the first time BI parameter is induced by dark photons on a minimal EC gravity. Very recently, implications of findings of BI parameter in cosmological bounces has appeared in the literature. For a smaller BI parameter a higher torsion mass of 1.51 TeV is obtained. Nevertheless. this figure is still a signature of light torsion which can be compatible with light dark photon masses. Magnetic helicity instability of dark photons is investigated. Axion oscillation frequency is shown to depend on the BI parameter and the BI spectra is determined by an histogram. This study not only broadens the understanding of Holst gravity but also provides crucial insights into the interplay between torsion, dark photons, and axions in the cosmological context.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Axion-photon-mixing dark matter conversion mediated by torsion mass constrained by the Barbero-Immirzi parameter

In the Standard Model\,(SM) of particle physics, photon-torsion mixing is extended to include the Einstein-Cartan portal to dark-photon-axion-torsion mixing beyond the Standard Model\,(BSM), mediated by torsion. The Barbero-Immirzi(BI) parameter, of the order of $10^{-31}$, is more stringent than those obtained by Aliberti and Lambiase using matter-antimatter asymmetry. This paper presents the coupling of the SM with dark matter\,(DM) axions, both mediated by torsion. We discuss tordions, the quanta of torsion, and the damping of propagating torsion. It is shown that with both kinds of vectorial torsion masses, equations from Einstein-Cartan-Holst gravity can be derived, which reduce to axionic photon equations where torsion appears only through its mass spectrum. Photon-axion conversions and axion mixing are found to depend on the BI parameter. This study demonstrates that when the spin-0 torsion mass is finite and Proca electrodynamics is not ghost-free, dark axion masses align with spin-0 torsion masses via axion-driven torsion and photon-torsion mixing. Our results provide innovative insights into Proca gravity models and the role of torsion in photon-axion conversion and dark matter dynamics, thereby offering a solid foundation for future research and new theoretical frameworks in quantum gravity.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

A short review on the pulsar magnetic inclination angles

The inclination angle $χ$ between magnetic and rotation axes of pulsars is an important parameter in pulsar physics. The changes in the inclination angle of a pulsar would lead to observable effects, such as changes in the pulse beam width and braking index of the star. In this paper, we perform a short review on the evolution of pulsar's magnetic inclination angle, as well as the latest research progress. Using an alignment rotator model in vacuum, we investigate the magnetic inclination angle change rates for 12 high-braking index pulsars without glitch, whose timing observations are obtained using the Nanshan 25-m Radio Telescope at Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory. For our purpose, three representative pulsars J0157+6212, J1743-3150 and J1857+0526 are chosen and their rotation and inclination angle evolutions are further investigated. In the future, radio and X-ray polarimetric observations will provide more information about the inclination angles of pulsars, which could help us understand the origin of the variations in $χ$ of pulsars and shed light on the range of possibilities of pulsar magnetic field configuration. A continuous study of the pulsar inclination angle will provide an important window into additional physical processes at work in the young and highly magnetized pulsars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

A short review of the pulsar magnetic inclination angles (II)

The pulsar magnetic inclination angle is a key parameter for pulsar physics. It influences the observable properties of pulsars, such as the pulse beam width, braking index, polarisation, and emission geometry. In this study, we give a brief overview of the current state of knowledge and research on this parameter and its implications for the internal physics of pulsars. We use the observed pulsar data of magnetic inclination angle and braking index to constrain the star's number of precession cycles, $ξ$, which reflects the interaction between superfluid neutrons and other particles inside a neutron star\,(NS). We apply the method proposed by Cheng et al. (2019) to analyse the data of PSR J2013+3845 and obtain the constraints for $ξ$ ranging from $2.393\times 10^{5}$ to $1.268\times10^{6}$. And further analysis suggests that the internal magnetic field structure of PSR J2013+3845 is likely dominated by toroidal component. This study may help us understand the process of internal viscous dissipation and the related evolution of the inclination angles of pulsars, and may have important implications for the study of continuous gravitational wave emissions from NS.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Time-resolved Spectral Properties of Fermi-GBM Bright Long Gamma-Ray Bursts

The prompt emission mechanism of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is still unclear, and the time-resolved spectral analysis of GRBs is a powerful tool for studying their underlying physical processes. We performed a detailed time-resolved spectral analysis of 78 bright long GRB samples detected by Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). A total of 1490 spectra were obtained and their properties were studied using a typical Band-shape model. Firstly, the parameter distribution of the time-resolved spectrum given as follows: the low-energy spectral index $α\sim -0.72$, high-energy spectral index $β\sim -2.42$, the peak energy $E_{\rm p} \sim 221.69 \,\rm{keV}$, and the energy flux $F \sim 7.49\times 10^{-6} \rm{\, erg\,cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}}$. More than 80\% of the bursts exhibit the hardest low-energy spectral index $α_{\rm max}$ exceeding the synchrotron limit (-2/3). Secondly, the evolution patterns of $α$ and $E_{\rm p}$ were statistically analyzed. The results show that for multi-pulse GRBs the intensity-tracking pattern is more common than the hard-to-soft pattern in the evolution of both $E_{\rm p}$ and $α$. The hard-to-soft pattern is generally shown in single-pulse GRBs or in the initial pulse of multi-pulse GRBs. Finally, we found a significant positive correlation between $F$ and $E_{\rm p}$, with half of the samples exhibiting a positive correlation between $F$ and $α$. We discussed the spectral evolution of different radiation models. The diversity of spectral evolution patterns indicates that there may be more than one radiation mechanism occurring in the gamma-ray burst radiation process, including photospheric radiation and synchrotron radiation. However, it may also involve only one radiation mechanism, but more complicated physical details need to be considered.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Formation of PSR J1012+5307 with an extremely low-mass white dwarf: testing magnetic braking models

PSR J1012+5307 is a millisecond pulsar with an extremely low-mass (ELM) white dwarf (WD) companion in an orbit of 14.5 hours. Magnetic braking (MB) plays an important role in influencing the orbital evolution of binary systems with a low-mass ($\lt 1-2~M_{\odot}$) donor star. At present, there exist several different MB descriptions. In this paper, we investigate the formation of PSR J1012+5307 as a probe to test the plausible MB model. Employing a detailed stellar evolution model by the MESA code, we find that the Convection And Rotation Boosted MB and the 'Intermediate' MB models can reproduce the WD mass, WD radius, WD surface gravity, neutron-star mass, and orbital period observed in PSR J1012+5307. However, our simulated WD has higher effective temperature than the observation. Other three MB mechanisms including the standard MB model are too weak to account for the observed orbital period in a Hubble time. A long cooling timescale caused by H-shell flashes of the WD may alleviate the discrepancy between the simulated effective temperature and the observed value.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

Evolution of LMXBs under Different Magnetic Braking Prescriptions

Magnetic braking (MB) likely plays a vital role in the evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). However, it is still uncertain about the physics of MB, and there are various proposed scenarios for MB in the literature. To examine and discriminate the efficiency of MB, we investigate the LMXB evolution with five proposed MB laws. Combining detailed binary evolution calculation with binary population synthesis, we obtain the expected properties of LMXBs and their descendants binary millisecond pulsars. We then discuss the strength and weakness of each MB law by comparing the calculated results with observations. We conclude that the $τ$-boosted MB law seems to best match the observational characteristics.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

The dissipation of toroidal magnetic fields and spin-down evolution of young and strongly magnetized pulsars

Magnetars are a kind of pulsars powered mainly by superhigh magnetic fields. They are popular sources with many unsolved issues in themselves, but also linked to various high energy phenomena, such as QPOs, giant flares, fast radio bursts and super-luminous supernovae. In this work, we first review our recent works on the dissipation of toroidal magnetic fields in magnetars and rotationally powered pulsars, then review the spin-down evolution of young and strongly magnetized pulsars, especially of magnetars. We present an interesting and important relation between the magnetization parameter, and magnetic field in the magnetar crust. Finally, we introduce our two works in progress: to explain the magnetar "anti-gltich" events in the thermal plastic flow model and to revisit the expression of braking index $n$, which is independent of the second derivative of spin frequency of a pulsar and give some proposals for our future work.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

On the formation of PSR J1640+2224: a neutron star born massive?

PSR J1640+2224 is a binary millisecond pulsar (BMSP) with a white dwarf (WD) companion. Recent observations indicate that the WD is very likely to be a $\sim 0.7\,M_{\odot}$ CO WD. Thus the BMSP should have evolved from an intermediate-mass X-ray binary (IMXB). However, previous investigations on IMXB evolution predict that the orbital periods of the resultant BMSPs are generally $<40$ days, in contrast with the 175 day orbital period of PSR J1640+2224. In this paper, we explore the influence of the mass of the neutron star (NS) and the chemical compositions of the companion star on the formation of BMSPs. Our results show that, the final orbital period becomes longer with increasing NS mass, and the WD mass becomes larger with decreasing metallicity. In particular, to reproduce the properties of PSR J1640+2224, the NS was likely born massive ($>2.0\,M_{\odot}$).

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

A strange star scenario for the formation of isolated millisecond pulsars

According to the recycling model, neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries were spun up to millisecond pulsars (MSPs), which indicates that all MSPs in the Galactic plane ought to be harbored in binaries. However, about $20\%$ Galactic field MSPs are found to be solitary. To interpret this problem, we assume that the accreting neutron star in binaries may collapse and become a strange star when it reaches some critical mass limit. Mass loss and a weak kick induced by asymmetric collapse during the phase transition (PT) from neutron star to strange star can result in isolated MSPs. In this work, we use a population-synthesis code to examine the PT model. The simulated results show that a kick velocity of $\sim60~{\rm km~s}^{-1}$ can produce $\sim6\times10^3$ isolated MSPs and birth rate of $\sim6.6\times10^{-7} {\rm ~yr}^{-1}$ in the Galaxy, which is approximately in agreement with predictions from observations. For the purpose of comparisons with future observation, we also give the mass distributions of radio and X-ray binary MSPs, along with the delay time distribution.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Reinvestigation of the electron fraction and electron Fermi energy of neutron star

In this work, we reinvestigate the electron fraction $Y_{e}$ and electron Fermi energy $E_{F}(e)$ of neutron stars, based on our previous work of Li et al.(2016), in which we firstly deduced a special solution to $E_{F}(e)$, and then obtained several useful analytical formulae for $Y_{\rm e}$ and matter density $ρ$ within classical models and the relativistic mean field(RMF) theory using numerically fitting. The advantages of this work include the following aspects:(1) The linear functions are substituted for the nonlinear exponential functions used in the previous work. This method may be more simple, and closer to realistic equation of state\,(EoS) of a neutron star(NS), because there are linear or quasi-linear relationships between number fractions of leptons and matter density, which can be seen by solving NS EoS; (2)we introduce a dimensionless variable $\varrho$\,($\varrho=ρ/ρ_0$, $ρ_{0}$ is the standard saturated nuclear density), which greatly reduces the scope of the fitting coefficients;(3)we present numerical errors including absolute and relative deviations between the data and fit. By numerically simulating, we have obtained several analytical formulae for $Y_{e}$ and $ρ$ for both APR98 and RMF models. Combining these analytical formulae with the special solution, we can calculate the value of $E_{\rm F}(e)$ for any given matter density. Since $Y_e$ and $E_{ F}(e)$ are important in assessing cooling rate of a NS and the possibility of kaon/pion condensation in the NS interior, this study could be useful in the future study on the thermal evolution of a NS.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

The Dipole Magnetic Field and Spin-down Evolutions of The High Braking Index Pulsar PSR J1640-4631

In this work, we interpreted the high braking index of PSR J1640$-$4631 with a combination of the magneto-dipole radiation and dipole magnetic field decay models. By introducing a mean rotation energy conversion coefficient $\overlineζ$, the ratio of the total high-energy photon energy to the total rotation energy loss in the whole life of the pulsar, and combining the pulsar's high-energy and timing observations with reliable nuclear equation of state, we estimate the pulsar's initial spin period, $P_{0}\sim (17-44)$ ms, corresponding to the moment of inertia $I\sim (0.8-2.1)\times 10^{45}$ g cm$^{2}$. Assuming that PSR J1640$-$4631 has experienced a long-term exponential decay of the dipole magnetic field, we calculate the true age $t_{\rm age}$, the effective magnetic field decay timescale $τ_{D}$, and the initial surface dipole magnetic field at the pole $B_{p}(0)$ of the pulsar to be $(2900-3100)$ yrs, $1.07(2)\times10^{5}$ yrs, and $(1.84-4.20)\times10^{13}$ G, respectively. The measured braking index of $n=3.15(3)$ for PSR J1640$-$4631 is attributed to its long-term dipole magnetic field decay and a low magnetic field decay rate, $dB_{\rm p}/dt\sim -(1.66-3.85)\times10^{8}$ G yr$^{-1}$. Our model can be applied to both the high braking index ($n>3$) and low braking index ($n<3$) pulsars, tested by the future polarization, timing, and high-energy observations of PSR J1640$-$4631.

astro-ph.HE↗