The inner jet of an active galactic nucleus as revealed by a radio-to-gamma-ray outburst

Blazars are the most extreme active galactic nuclei. They possess oppositely directed plasma jets emanating at near light speeds from accreting supermassive black holes. According to theoretical models, such jets are propelled by magnetic fields twisted by differential rotation of the black hole's accretion disk or inertial-frame-dragging ergosphere. The flow velocity increases outward along the jet in an acceleration and collimation zone containing a coiled magnetic field. Detailed observations of outbursts of electromagnetic radiation, for which blazars are famous, can potentially probe the zone. It has hitherto not been possible to either specify the location of the outbursts or verify the general picture of jet formation. Here we report sequences of high-resolution radio images and optical polarization measurements of the blazar BL Lacertae. The data reveal a bright feature in the jet that causes a double flare of radiation from optical frequencies to TeV gamma-ray energies, as well as a delayed outburst at radio wavelengths. We conclude that the event starts in a region with a helical magnetic field that we identify with the acceleration and collimation zone predicted by the theories. The feature brightens again when it crosses a standing shock wave corresponding to the bright 'core' seen on the images.     

The magnetic nature of disk accretion onto black holes

Although disk accretion onto compact objects-white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes-is central to much of high-energy astrophysics, the mechanisms that enable this process have remained observationally difficult to determine. Accretion disks must transfer angular momentum in order for matter to travel radially inward onto the compact object. Internal viscosity from magnetic processes and disk winds can both in principle transfer angular momentum, but hitherto we lacked evidence that either occurs. Here we report that an X-ray-absorbing wind discovered in an observation of the stellar-mass black hole binary GRO J1655 - 40 (ref. 6) must be powered by a magnetic process that can also drive accretion through the disk. Detailed spectral analysis and modelling of the wind shows that it can only be powered by pressure generated by magnetic viscosity internal to the disk or magnetocentrifugal forces. This result demonstrates that disk accretion onto black holes is a fundamentally magnetic process.     

活动星系核吸积盘辐射的研究

在标准吸积盘辐射模型的基础上,考虑了不同的质量吸积率、不同的无量纲旋转参数a(中心黑洞为克尔黑洞)、最小稳定轨道半径处存在的约束(产生一个矩)和吸积盘表面磁场的存在(喷流辐射与吸积盘辐射之间存在一定的耦合)对吸积盘辐射的影响。结果表明,中心黑洞为正旋转的克尔黑洞比史瓦西黑洞辐射的峰值及峰值频率大,负旋转的克尔黑洞比史瓦西黑洞辐射的峰值及峰值频率小,质量吸积率越大峰值和峰值频率变大,无量纲黑洞旋转参数a越大峰值与峰值频率越大,喷流辐射能量和吸积盘辐射能量之比越大峰值和峰值频率越小,辐射效率越大峰值和峰值频率越大。     

相对论电子在螺旋磁场中的辐射

从运动荷电粒子产生的流出发 ,导出相对论电子和相对论电子集在等离子体及真空情况下曲率辐射的能量谱及辐射总能量 ,分析了等离子体对辐射的影响 .并着重用曲率辐射公式讨论了在磁流体吸积盘的特殊螺旋强磁场中的辐射特点 .     

太阳风起源区等离子体动力学机制

 根据太阳风的起源,对太阳风的等离子体动力学理论进行研究。对磁流体力学（MHD）做了详细概述,在此基础上讨论稳定态下的震波结构,并进行详细的公式推导,特别是对它的不连续结构与旋转不连续的性质进行说明。通过对卫星观测结果的分析,得到两种磁场方向不连续面：切向不连续（TD）和旋转不连续（RD）。研究表明,TD的特性为垂直不连续面的磁场分量为零,电离子不通过该面;RD两侧的磁场方向不同但是大小相同,且有电离子通过该不连续面。太阳风中旋转不连续面主要与高速太阳风有关。通过分析6种不连续结构得到：在通过界面的磁通量保持不变的情况下,切向磁场会任意改变方向,出现旋转不连续现象,且此现象能够通过一维空间结构图方法加以验证。通过对比推导结果与数据验证图,发现数据图的分析支持公式的推导,证实太阳风起源区等离子存在旋转不连续机制。     

黑洞磁化薄吸积盘的热稳定性

首先回顾了吸积盘理论产生的背景和研究概况.自从1991年Balbus和Hawley揭示了磁转动不稳定性(MRI)在较差转动流体系统中的重要性之后,磁场逐渐成为吸积盘理论研究所不可回避的成分.因此在标准薄盘模型的框架下,引入了环向磁场.假设在热扰动发生的时标内局部环向磁通量守恒,具体分析了当环向磁场参与到吸积盘垂向流体静力学平衡以及粘滞产热等过程之后,对盘的热稳定性所产生的影响.结果显示:当磁压在总压强中所占比例高于24%时,对任意的吸积率吸积盘都将呈现出热稳定性.这一结果有别于传统薄盘在辐射压主导情况下是热不稳定的结论,可以用于解释部分高光度X射线双星系统中缺少相应光变的观测事实,以及有助于理解近年来磁化吸积盘数值模拟中的一些结果.     

磁场对中微子主导吸积盘粒子丰度的影响

中微子主导吸积盘被认为可能是伽玛射线暴中心能源机制的一种模型.为了详细地考虑微观粒子分布,计算了伪牛顿势框架下磁场对中微子主导吸积盘微观粒子丰度的影响.结果表明,在吸积盘的外区,磁场对粒子丰度和电子简并度几乎没有影响；而在吸积盘的内区,考虑和没考虑磁场时,电子简并度,电子、中子等粒子丰度具有比较大的差异.     

自引力均分吸积盘的不稳定性

采用微扰方法导了磁粘滞情况下自引力均分薄吸积盘的色散方程研究了吸积秀斩不稳定性，并分析了自引力，磁场，粘滞对吸积盘不稳定性的影响，数值计算表明，在同时考虑自引力和磁场时，吸积盘存在着３种振荡模式（总是稳定的粘滞横模式和通常不稳定的磁声模式及中性模式）这些结果为解释ＢＬ．Ｌａｃ天体，Ｓｅｙｆｅｒｔ星系，类星体等活动星系核的光变现象提供了理论依据。     

An optical counterpart to the anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U0142+61

The energy source of the anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) is not understood, hence their designation as anomalous. Unlike binary X-ray pulsars, no companions are seen, so the energy cannot be supplied by accretion of matter from a companion star. The loss of rotational energy, which powers radio pulsars, is insufficient to power AXPs. Two models are generally considered: accretion from a large disk left over from the birth process, or decay of a very strong magnetic field (10(15) G) associated with a 'magnetar'. The lack of counterparts at other wavelengths has hampered progress in our understanding of these objects. Here we report deep optical observations of the field around 4U0142+61, which is the brightest AXP in X-rays. The source has no associated supernova remnant, which, together with its spin-down timescale of approximately 10(5) yr (ref. 5), suggests that it may be relatively old. We find an object with peculiar optical colours at the position of the X-ray source, and argue that it is the optical counterpart. The optical emission is too faint to admit the presence of a large accretion disk, but may be consistent with magnetospheric emission from a magnetar.     

Circular polarimetry reveals helical magnetic fields in the young stellar object HH 135-136

Magnetic fields are believed to have a vital role in regulating and shaping the flow of material onto and away from protostars during their initial mass accretion phase. It is becoming increasingly accepted that bipolar outflows are generated and collimated as material is driven along magnetic field lines and centrifugally accelerated off a rotating accretion disk. However, the precise role of the magnetic field is poorly understood and evidence for its shape and structure has not been forthcoming. Here we report imaging circular polarimetry in the near-infrared and Monte Carlo modelling showing that the magnetic field along the bipolar outflow of the HH 135-136 young stellar object is helical. The field retains this shape for large distances along the outflow, so the field structure can also provide the necessary magnetic pressure for collimation of the outflow. This result lends further weight to the hypothesis--central to any theory of star formation--that the outflow is an important instrument for the removal of high-angular-momentum material from the accretion disk, thereby allowing the central protostar to increase its mass.     

A magnetic torsional wave near the Galactic Centre traced by a 'double helix' nebula

The magnetic field in the central few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way has a dipolar geometry and is substantially stronger than elsewhere in the Galaxy, with estimates ranging up to a milligauss (refs 1-6). Characterization of the magnetic field at the Galactic Centre is important because it can affect the orbits of molecular clouds by exerting a drag on them, inhibit star formation, and could guide a wind of hot gas or cosmic rays away from the central region. Here we report observations of an infrared nebula having the morphology of an intertwined double helix about 100 parsecs from the Galaxy's dynamical centre, with its axis oriented perpendicular to the Galactic plane. The observed segment is about 25 parsecs in length, and contains about 1.25 full turns of each of the two continuous, helically wound strands. We interpret this feature as a torsional Alfvén wave propagating vertically away from the Galactic disk, driven by rotation of the magnetized circumnuclear gas disk. The direct connection between the circumnuclear disk and the double helix is ambiguous, but the images show a possible meandering channel that warrants further investigation.     

Transport of solar wind into Earth's magnetosphere through rolled-up Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices

Establishing the mechanisms by which the solar wind enters Earth's magnetosphere is one of the biggest goals of magnetospheric physics, as it forms the basis of space weather phenomena such as magnetic storms and aurorae. It is generally believed that magnetic reconnection is the dominant process, especially during southward solar-wind magnetic field conditions when the solar-wind and geomagnetic fields are antiparallel at the low-latitude magnetopause. But the plasma content in the outer magnetosphere increases during northward solar-wind magnetic field conditions, contrary to expectation if reconnection is dominant. Here we show that during northward solar-wind magnetic field conditions-in the absence of active reconnection at low latitudes-there is a solar-wind transport mechanism associated with the nonlinear phase of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. This can supply plasma sources for various space weather phenomena.     

The rotating wind of the quasar PG 1700+518

It is now widely accepted that most galaxies undergo an active phase, during which a central super-massive black hole generates vast radiant luminosities through the gravitational accretion of gas. Winds launched from a rotating accretion disk surrounding the black hole are thought to play a critical role, allowing the disk to shed angular momentum that would otherwise inhibit accretion. Such winds are capable of depositing large amounts of mechanical energy in the host galaxy and its environs, profoundly affecting its formation and evolution, and perhaps regulating the formation of large-scale cosmological structures in the early Universe. Although there are good theoretical grounds for believing that outflows from active galactic nuclei originate as disk winds, observational verification has proven elusive. Here we show that structures observed in polarized light across the broad Halpha emission line in the quasar PG 1700+518 originate close to the accretion disk in an electron scattering wind. The wind has large rotational motions (approximately 4,000 km s(-1)), providing direct observational evidence that outflows from active galactic nuclei are launched from the disks. Moreover, the wind rises nearly vertically from the disk, favouring launch mechanisms that impart an initial acceleration perpendicular to the disk plane.     

两个星风吸积模型的比较

利用KOMIYA和LIU的2个星风吸积模型计算了富碳极贫金属星(CEMP星)和CH星表面C丰度与轨道周期P终值的关系、污染因子R同轨道周期P终值的关系,以及轨道半长轴A随伴星质量M2的变化。从而对2个星风吸积模型进行了比较。从计算结果可以看出,2个星风吸积模型是一致的。     

In situ detection of collisionless reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail

Magnetic reconnection is the process by which magnetic field lines of opposite polarity reconfigure to a lower-energy state, with the release of magnetic energy to the surroundings. Reconnection at the Earth's dayside magnetopause and in the magnetotail allows the solar wind into the magnetosphere. It begins in a small 'diffusion region', where a kink in the newly reconnected lines produces jets of plasma away from the region. Although plasma jets from reconnection have previously been reported, the physical processes that underlie jet formation have remained poorly understood because of the scarcity of in situ observations of the minuscule diffusion region. Theoretically, both resistive and collisionless processes can initiate reconnection, but which process dominates in the magnetosphere is still debated. Here we report the serendipitous encounter of the Wind spacecraft with an active reconnection diffusion region, in which are detected key processes predicted by models of collisionless reconnection. The data therefore demonstrate that collisionless reconnection occurs in the magnetotail.     

磁场从黑洞吸积盘提取能量的解析模型

提出了一种磁场提取黑洞吸积盘能量的解析模型,其中涉及到3种能量机制: (1) Blandford-Znajek (BZ)与连接黑洞与天体物理负载的开放磁力线有关, (2) 磁耦合(MC)过程与连接黑洞与盘负载的闭合磁力线有关, (3) DL过程与连接吸积盘与天体物理负载的开放磁力线有关.利用等效电路导出上述能量机制的电磁功率和力矩表达式.此外还讨论了这个模型潜在的天体物理应用.     

磁弹磨粒双磁盘磁力钝化仿真与实验研究

磁弹磨粒具有磁性、低弹性模量以及优良的研磨性能，能够提高加工效率和加工质量。首先，基于磁场基本理论和磁弹磨粒特性，分析了磁弹磨粒双磁盘磁力刀具钝化机制；然后，基于磁场中磁弹磨粒的磁场力对离散元软件EDEM进行二次开发，建立了磁弹磨粒双磁盘磁力刀具钝化过程仿真模型，研究了磨粒粒度、磁化率和磁盘间距对刃口碰撞次数和磨粒旋转速度的影响规律；最后，采用Matlab软件对刀具刃口轮廓进行重建，提出了基于钝化面积的改进形状因子表征方法，通过正交实验研究了磨粒粒度、磁化率和磁盘间距对刃口钝化量的影响规律，并验证了所提改进形状因子表征方法的可行性。结果表明：随着磁弹磨粒粒度的增大、磁化率的增加和磁盘间距的减小，刃口碰撞次数和磨粒旋转速度增大；钝化参数对刃口钝化量的影响程度大小依次为磨粒粒度、磁盘间距、磁化率，最优钝化参数组合为磨粒粒度40目、磁化率0.1、磁盘间距15 mm；仿真与实验钝化面积的最大相对误差为16.33%，最小相对误差为0.42%，仿真能够较好地预测刃口钝化形貌，且改进的刃口形状因子能够较好地表征刀具刃口钝化形貌。     

Observational evidence for the accretion-disk origin for a radio jet in an active galaxy

Accretion of gas onto black holes is thought to power the relativistic jets of material ejected from active galactic nuclei (AGN) and the 'microquasars' located in our Galaxy. In microquasars, superluminal radio-emitting features appear and propagate along the jet shortly after sudden decreases in the X-ray fluxes. This establishes a direct observational link between the black hole and the jet: the X-ray dip is probably caused by the disappearance of a section of the inner accretion disk as it falls past the event horizon, while the remainder of the disk section is ejected into the jet, creating the appearance of a superluminal bright spot. No such connection has hitherto been established for AGN, because of insufficient multi-frequency data. Here we report the results of three years of monitoring the X-ray and radio emission of the galaxy 3C120. As has been observed for microquasars, we find that dips in the X-ray emission are followed by ejections of bright superluminal knots in the radio jet. The mean time between X-ray dips appears to scale roughly with the mass of the black hole, although there are at present only a few data points.     

星系中心大黑洞的宇宙学演化

在冷暗物质晕等级成团宇宙学模型中,伴随着暗物质晕并合,星系中心黑洞也断地并合和增长.于展Press-Schechter公式（EPS）我们编写了一自适应时间长Monte Carlo程序,重构了表征暗物质晕等级成团并合树.在成功地建立了黑洞和暗物质晕宇宙学演化模型后,我们通过引入直接吸积（包标准薄盘吸积和磁流体力学吸积）和随吸积两类黑洞吸积模式,论了黑洞自旋和质量宇宙学演化.通过与观测到AGN光度函数比较,我们发现黑洞通过磁流体力学吸积模式增长,与观测符合最好.于以上理论框架,我们还研究了双大质量黑洞演化,发现双黑洞通过共转气体吸积盘吸积对双黑洞质量比分存在显著影响.     

Extended magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause from detection of bi-directional jets

Magnetic reconnection is a process that converts magnetic energy into bi-directional plasma jets; it is believed to be the dominant process by which solar-wind energy enters the Earth's magnetosphere. This energy is subsequently dissipated by magnetic storms and aurorae. Previous single-spacecraft observations revealed only single jets at the magnetopause--while the existence of a counter-streaming jet was implicitly assumed, no experimental confirmation was available. Here we report in situ two-spacecraft observations of bi-directional jets at the magnetopause, finding evidence for a stable and extended reconnection line; the latter implies substantial entry of the solar wind into the magnetosphere. We conclude that reconnection is determined by large-scale interactions between the solar wind and the magnetosphere, rather than by local conditions at the magnetopause.