Magnetic field structure and torque in accretion discs around millisecond pulsars

ABSTRACT Significant positional offsets of the value from 1 mas to more than 10 mas were found previously between radio (VLBI) and optical (Gaia) positions of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). They happen preferentially parallel to the parsec-scale jet direction. AGNs with VLBI-to-Gaia offsets pointed downstream the jet are found to have favourably higher optical polarization, as expected if extended optical jets dominate in the emission and shift the Gaia centroid away from the physical nucleus of the source. Upstream offsets with the suggested domination of accretion discs manifest themselves through the observed low optical polarization. Direction of linear optical polarization is confirmed to preferentially align with parsec-scale jets in AGNs with dominant jets consistent with a toroidal magnetic field structure. Our findings support the disc–jet interpretation of the observed positional offsets. These results call on an intensification of AGN optical polarization monitoring programs in order to collect precious observational data. Taken together with the continued VLBI and Gaia observations, they will allow researchers to reconstruct detailed models of the disc–jet system in AGNs on parsec scales.

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The Magnetic Be Star Sigma Orionis E

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100116057 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 92 ◽

pp. 82-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C. T. Bolton ◽

A. W. Fullerton ◽

D. Bohlender ◽

J. D. Landstreet ◽

D. R. Gies

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Field Structure ◽

High Signal ◽

Rotational Period ◽

Magnetic Field Structure ◽

The Past ◽

Distribution Of Elements ◽

Be Star ◽

Hα Emission ◽

The Magnetic Field

Over the past two years, we have obtained high resolution high signal/noise (S/N) spectra of the magnetic Be star σ Ori E at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and McDonald Observatory. These spectra, which cover the spectral regions 399-417.5 and 440-458.5 nm and the Hα line and have typical S/N>200 and spectral resolution ≃0.02 nm, were obtained at a variety of rotational phases in order to study the magnetic field structure, the distribution of elements in the photosphere, and the effects of the magnetic field on the emission envelope. Our analysis of these spectra confirms, refines and extends the results obtained by Landstreet & Borra (1978), Groote & Hunger (1982 and references therein), and Nakajima (1985).The Hα emission is usually double-peaked, but it undergoes remarkable variations with the 1.19081 d rotational period of the star, which show that the emitting gas is localized into two regions which co-rotate with the star.

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Propagation of an MHD Shock in the Vicinity of a Magnetic Neutral Sheet

Symposium - International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s0074180900067802 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 91 ◽

pp. 323-326

Author(s):

D. J. Mullan ◽

R. S. Steinolfson

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Cosmic Rays ◽

Solar Corona ◽

Large Scale ◽

Field Structure ◽

Neutral Sheet ◽

Solar Cosmic Rays ◽

Magnetic Field Structure ◽

Large Scale Magnetic Field ◽

Highly Correlated

The acceleration of solar cosmic rays in association with certain solar flares is known to be highly correlated with the propagation of an MHD shock through the solar corona (Svestka, 1976). The spatial structure of the sources of solar cosmic rays will be determined by those regions of the corona which are accessible to the flare-induced shock. The regions to which the flare shock is permitted to propagate are determined by the large scale magnetic field structure in the corona. McIntosh (1972, 1979) has demonstrated that quiescent filaments form a single continuous feature (a “baseball stitch”) around the surface of the sun. It is known that helmet streamers overlie quiescent filaments (Pneuman, 1975), and these helmet streamers contain large magnetic neutral sheets which are oriented essentially radially. Hence the magnetic field structure in the low solar corona is characterized by a large-scale radial neutral sheet which weaves around the entire sun following the “baseball stitch”. There is therefore a high probability that as a shock propagates away from a flare, it will eventually encounter this large neutral sheet.

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