Unravelling the complex magnetosphere of the B star HD 133880 via wideband observation of coherent radio emission

ABSTRACT HD 133880 is one of the six hot magnetic stars known to produce coherent pulsed radio emission by the process of electron cyclotron maser emission (ECME). In this paper, we present observations of ECME from this star over a wide frequency range, covering nearly 300–4000 MHz with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). This study, which is the first of its kind, has led to the discovery of several interesting characteristics of the phenomenon and also of the host star. We find that the observable properties of ECME pulses, e.g. the time lag between right and left circularly polarized pulses, the amplitudes of the pulses, and their upper cut-off frequencies, appear to be dependent on the stellar orientation with respect to the line of sight. We suggest that all these phenomena, which are beyond the ideal picture, can be attributed to a highly azimuthally asymmetric matter distribution in the magnetosphere about the magnetic field axis, which is a consequence of both the high obliquity (the angle between rotation axis and the magnetic field axis) of the star and the deviation of the stellar magnetic field from a dipolar topology.

Metrology techniques for the verification of the alignment of the EU gyrotron prototype for ITER

The EU gyrotron for the ITER Electron Cyclotron (EC) heating system has been developed in coordinated efforts of the EGYC Consortium, Thales ED (TED) and Fusion for Energy (F4E) and under the supervision of ITER Organization Central Team. After the successful verification of the design of the 1MW, 170 GHz hollow cylindrical cavity gyrotron operating at the nominal TE32,9 mode with a short pulse gyrotron prototype at KIT, an industrial CW gyrotron prototype was manufactured by TED and tested at ~0.8 MW output power and 180 s pulse duration, which is the limit of the HV power supply currently available at KIT. The experiments are being continued at SPC in 2018 to extend further the pulse duration, taking advantage of the existing CW full-power capabilities of the gyrotron test facility recently upgraded for the FALCON project. The gyrotron cavity interaction is very sensitive to the alignment of the internal mechanical parts of the gyrotron tube with the magnetic field generated by the superconducting magnet within a typical range of 0.2 – 0.5 mm. The control of the tolerances and deformations becomes therefore critical to achieving the target performances. With the EU gyrotron prototype it was possible to adjust the alignment of the gyrotron tube with respect to the magnetic field axis during the installation and commissioning phase. The actual shift and tilt movements were verified using advanced metrology methods such as photogrammetry. In this paper, the alignment control techniques and procedures will be discussed also in view of enhancing the reproducibility of gyrotron performance during series production.

Optimal orientation for ionization chambers in MRgRT reference dosimetry

The interest in hybrid systems combining magnetic resonance imaging and medical linear accelerator (MR-Linac) is rapidly increasing due to the clinical availability of different systems. Reference dosimetry is a critical issue for integrating these devices into clinical practice. However, the response of ionization chambers changes according to the distinct orientation of the chamber with respect to the magnetic field. In this study, we have carried out Monte Carlo simulations to identify an optimal orientation for thimble type chambers in MRgRT reference dosimetry. Our findings suggest that an orientation where the chamber axis is parallel to the magnetic field axis should be preferred.

Quantum Relativistic Electron Gas Expanding in One Dimension

Under the action of field intensities around the Schwinger critical field, a dense electron gas behaves as unidimensional, exerting strong pressure along the applied field. We suggest a model for maintaining the magnetic field self-consistently, by assuming spin parallel pairing leading to a partial bosonization of the electron gas, which is described by a charged vector boson field, able to experience condensation, leading to a ferromagnetic behavior. Our aim is to suggest a possible quantum relativistic self-magnetized jet model. High frequency photons will be deviated also along paths parallel to the external field, leading to a model for a jet. Any addition of matter and/or energy to the electron system, would contribute to increase the kinetic energy along the magnetic field axis, an the jet may extend for long distances.

Effect of Magnetic Field and Temperature on the Exchange Bias in Phase-Separated Nd1-xSrxCoO3(x=0.10, 0.15)

The exchange bias phenomena of phase-separated Nd1-xSrxCoO3(x=0.10, 0.15) samples were systematically investigated in this paper. The samples were prepared using conventional solid state reaction method. When the NdSrCoO samples cooled down in magnetic field below freezing temperature, the hysteresis loops shifted along the magnetic field axis. Moreover, exchange bias of Nd1-xSrxCoO3 is strongly dependent on the field and the temperature. The influence of magnetic field on the relative ratio of the coexisting phases may be responsible for these behaviors. Therefore, our study confirmed that in phase-separated system, the exchange coupling at the interface between the ferromagnetism clusters and the spin glass regions may induce interfacial exchange anisotropy.

The H2O maser proper motions of RT Vir and VX Sgr

We have measured significant proper motions using the water maser clouds in the outflows from RT Vir (6 epochs) and VX Sgr (2 epochs). In both cases proper motions are measured in the bright emission found perpendicular to the OH emission. This strongly suggests latitude dependent mass-loss with the water masers tracing a dense equatorial outflow and the OH emission tracing a less dense polar outflow. In both cases the rotational velocities are < 1 km s−1 thus ruling out a strongly rotating circumstellar envelope. This suggests the outflow is not shaped by an orbiting companion. In the case of VX Sgr the proper motions are contained in a wedge perpendicular to the measured magnetic field axis, thus strongly suggesting that the magnetic field is helping to shape the mass outflow.The proper motion results have thrown up a puzzle. For VX Sgr the material is being radially accelerated and material enters the water maser zone at 4 km s−1. This is consistent with the mass loss model of Bowen (1988). However the RT Vir proper motion results show no such radial acceleration. The masers have already received their acceleration before they reach the water maser zone at 3-AU (our numerical models seem to support the small radius). This was probably done in the pulsation zone. The acceleration mechanism is unclear for this source.