Relating the Solar Wind Turbulence Spectral Break at the Dissipation Range with an Upstream Spectral Bump at Planetary Bow Shocks

At scales much larger than the ion inertial scale and the gyroradius of thermal protons, the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory is well equipped to describe the nature of solar wind turbulence. The turbulent spectrum itself is defined by a power law manifesting the energy cascading process. A break in the turbulence spectrum develops near-ion scales, signaling the onset of energy dissipation. The exact mechanism for the spectral break is still a matter of debate. In this work, we use the 20 Hz Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) magnetic field data during four planetary flybys at different heliocentric distances to examine the nature of the spectral break in the solar wind. We relate the spectral break frequencies of the solar wind MHD turbulence, found in the range of 0.3–0.7 Hz, with the well-known characteristic spectral bump at frequencies ∼1 Hz upstream of planetary bow shocks. Spectral breaks and spectral bumps during three planetary flybys are identified from the MESSENGER observations, with heliocentric distances in the range of 0.3–0.7 au. The MESSENGER observations are complemented by one Magnetospheric Multiscale observation made at 1 au. We find that the ratio of the spectral bump frequency to the spectral break frequency appears to be r- and B-independent. From this, we postulate that the wavenumber of the spectral break and the frequency of the spectral bump have the same dependence on the magnetic field strength ∣B∣. The implication of our work on the nature of the break scale is discussed.

Stochastic Electron Acceleration by Temperature Anisotropy Instabilities under Solar Flare Plasma Conditions

Using 2D particle-in-cell plasma simulations, we study electron acceleration by temperature anisotropy instabilities, assuming conditions typical of above-the-loop-top sources in solar flares. We focus on the long-term effect of T e,⊥ > T e,∥ instabilities by driving the anisotropy growth during the entire simulation time through imposing a shearing or a compressing plasma velocity (T e,⊥ and T e,∥ are the temperatures perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field). This magnetic growth makes T e,⊥/T e,∥ grow due to electron magnetic moment conservation, and amplifies the ratio ω ce/ω pe from ∼0.53 to ∼2 (ω ce and ω pe are the electron cyclotron and plasma frequencies, respectively). In the regime ω ce/ω pe ≲ 1.2–1.7, the instability is dominated by oblique, quasi-electrostatic modes, and the acceleration is inefficient. When ω ce/ω pe has grown to ω ce/ω pe ≳ 1.2–1.7, electrons are efficiently accelerated by the inelastic scattering provided by unstable parallel, electromagnetic z modes. After ω ce/ω pe reaches ∼2, the electron energy spectra show nonthermal tails that differ between the shearing and compressing cases. In the shearing case, the tail resembles a power law of index α s ∼ 2.9 plus a high-energy bump reaching ∼300 keV. In the compressing runs, α s ∼ 3.7 with a spectral break above ∼500 keV. This difference can be explained by the different temperature evolutions in these two types of simulations, suggesting that a critical role is played by the type of anisotropy driving, ω ce/ω pe, and the electron temperature in the efficiency of the acceleration.

Fully kinetic simulations of electron-scale plasma turbulence in the inner heliosphere: a pathfinder for future spacecraft missions

<p>We present numerical results from high-resolution fully kinetic simulations of plasma turbulence under the near-Sun conditions encountered by Parker Solar Probe during its first perihelion, characterized by a low plasma beta and a large level of turbulent fluctuations. The recovered spectral properties are in agreement with those from PSP observations and recent high-resolution hybrid simulations just below the ion characteristic scales, i.e., the spectrum of the magnetic field exhibits a steep transition region with a spectral index compatible with -11/3. When the electron scales are reached a spectral break is observed and the spectrum steepens while still showing a clear power law. We discuss theoretical predictions for such a spectral behavior, based on a two-fluid model which assumes that a self-similar energy transfer across scales is occurring, without the need to include any kinetic process. We also analyse the role of magnetic reconnection and the statistics of reconnection events, as well as signatures in the proton and electron distribution functions hinting at mechanisms for energy dissipation. The results of this work represent a step forward in understanding the processes responsible for particle heating and acceleration and therefore on the origin of the solar wind and coronal heating. Furthermore, they allow for reliable predictions for future spacecraft missions investigating electron-scale physics in low-beta plasmas.</p>

On the origin of GeV spectral break for Fermi blazars: 3C 454.3

ABSTRACT The GeV break in spectra of the blazar 3C 454.3 is a special observation feature that has been discovered by the Fermi-LAT. The origin of the GeV break in the spectra is still under debate. In order to explore the possible source of GeV spectral break in 3C 454.3, a one-zone homogeneous leptonic jet model and the McFit technique are utilized for fitting the quasi-simultaneous multiwaveband spectral energy distribution (SED) of 3C 454.3. The outside border of the broad-line region (BLR) and inner dust torus are chosen to contribute radiation in the model as external, seed photons to the external-Compton process, considering the observed γ-ray radiation. The combination of two components, namely the Compton-scattered BLR and dust torus radiation, assuming a broken power-law distribution of emitted particles, provides a proper fitting to the multiwaveband SED of 3C 454.3 detected 2008 August 3–September 2 and explains the GeV spectral break. We propose that the spectral break of 3C 454.3 may originate from an inherent break in the energy distribution of the emitted particles and the Klein–Nishina effect. A comparison is performed between the energy density of the ‘external’ photon field for the whole BLR UBLR achieved via model fitting and that constrained from the BLR data. The distance from the position of the γ-ray radiation area of 3C 454.3 to the central black hole could be constrained at ∼0.78 pc (∼4.00RBLR, the size of the BLR).

Rapid compact jet quenching in the Galactic black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1535−571

ABSTRACT We present results from six epochs of quasi-simultaneous radio, (sub-)millimetre, infrared, optical, and X-ray observations of the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1535−571. These observations show that as the source transitioned through the hard–intermediate X-ray state towards the soft–intermediate X-ray state, the jet underwent dramatic and rapid changes. We observed the frequency of the jet spectral break, which corresponds to the most compact region in the jet where particle acceleration begins (higher frequencies indicate closer to the black hole), evolves from the infrared band into the radio band (decreasing by ≈3 orders of magnitude) in less than a day. During one observational epoch, we found evidence of the jet spectral break evolving in frequency through the radio band. Estimating the magnetic field and size of the particle acceleration region shows that the rapid fading of the high-energy jet emission was not consistent with radiative cooling; instead, the particle acceleration region seems to be moving away from the black hole on approximately dynamical time-scales. This result suggests that the compact jet quenching is not caused by local changes to the particle acceleration, rather we are observing the acceleration region of the jet travelling away from the black hole with the jet flow. Spectral analysis of the X-ray emission shows a gradual softening in the few days before the dramatic jet changes, followed by a more rapid softening ∼1–2 d after the onset of the jet quenching.

A radio continuum and polarization study of the pulsar wind nebula CTB 87 (G74.9+1.2)

ABSTRACT We present radio continuum and linear polarization observations of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) CTB 87 (G74.9+1.2) with the Effelsberg 100-m Radio Telescope between 4.75 and 32 GHz. An analysis of these new data including archived low-frequency observations at 1420 and 408 MHz from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey shows that CTB 87 consists of two distinct emission components: a compact kidney-shaped component, 14 × 8.5 pc2 (7.8 × 4.8 arcmin2) in size and a larger diffuse, spherical, and centrally peaked component of about 30 pc (17 arcmin) in diameter. The kidney-shaped component with a much steeper radio continuum spectrum is highly linearly polarized and likely represents a relic PWN. The diffuse component represents the undisturbed part of the PWN expanding inside a cavity or stellar wind bubble. The previously reported spectral break above 10 GHz is likely the result of missing large-scale emission and insufficient sensitivity of the high-frequency radio continuum observations. The simulation of the system’s evolution yields an age of about 18 000 yr as the result of a Type II supernova explosion with ejecta mass of about 12 M⊙ and explosion energy of about 7 × 1050 erg. We also found evidence for a radio shell in our polarization data that represents the blast wave that entered the molecular cloud complex at a radius of about 13 pc.

Broad-band spectral energy distribution of the X-ray transient Swift J1745−26 from outburst to quiescence

Aims. We aim to analyse our study of the X-ray transient Swift J1745−26, using observations obtained from its outburst in September 2012, up to its decay towards quiescence in March 2013. Methods. We obtained optical and infrared observations, through override programme at ESO/VLT with FORS2 and ISAAC instruments, and added archival optical (VLT/VIRCAM), radio and X-ray (Swift) observations, to build the light curve and the broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) of Swift J1745−26. Results. We show that, during its outburst and also during its decay towards quiescence, Swift J1745−26 SED can be adjusted, from infrared up to X-rays, by the sum of both a viscous irradiated multi-colour black body emitted by an accretion disc, and a synchrotron power law at high energy. In the radio domain, the SED arises from synchrotron emission from the jet. While our SED fitting confirms that the source remained in the low/hard state during its outburst, we determine an X-ray spectral break at frequency 3.1 ≤ νbreak ≤ 3.4 × 1014 Hz, and a radio spectral break at 1012 Hz ≤ νbreak ≤ 1013 Hz. We also show that the system is compatible with an absorption AV of ∼7.69 mag, lies within a distance interval of D ∼ [2.6 − 4.8] kpc with an upper limit of orbital period Porb = 11.3 h, and that the companion star is a late spectral type in the range K0–M0 V, confirming that the system is a low-mass X-ray binary. We finally plot the position of Swift J1745−26 on an optical-infrared – X-ray luminosity diagram: its localisation on this diagram is consistent with the source staying in the low-hard state during outburst and decay phases. Conclusions. By using new observations obtained at ESO/VLT with FORS2 and ISAAC, and adding archival optical (VLT/VIRCAM), radio and X-ray (Swift) observations, we built the light curve and the broad-band SED of Swift J1745−26, and we plotted its position on an optical-infrared – X-ray luminosity diagram. By fitting the SED, we characterized the emission of the source from infrared, via optical, up to X-ray domain, we determined the position of both the radio and X-ray spectral breaks, we confirmed that it remained in the low-hard state during outburst and decay phases, and we derived its absorption, distance interval, orbital period upper limit, and the late-type nature of companion star, confirming Swift J1745−26 is a low-mass X-ray binary.

The Energy Spectrum of Solar Energetic Electron Events

<p><span lang="EN-US">Solar energetic electron events (SEEs) are one of the most common particle acceleration phenomena occurring at the Sun, and their energy spectrum likely reflects the crucial information on the acceleration. Here we present a statistical survey of the energy spectrum of 160 SEEs measured by Wind/3DP with a clear velocity dispersion at energies of ~1-200 keV from January 1995 through December 2016, utilizing a general spectrum formula proposed by Liu et al. (2000). We find that among these 160 SEEs, 144 (90%) have a power-law (or power-law-like) spectrum bending down at high energies, including 108 (67.5%) double-power-law events, 24 (15%) Ellison-Ramaty-like events and 12 (7.5%) log-parabola events, while 16 (10%) have a power-law spectrum extending to high energies. The average power-law spectral index β<sub>1 </sub>is 2.1±0.4 for double-power-law events, 1.7±0.8 for Ellison-Ramaty-like events, and 2.8±0.11 for single-power-law events. For the 108 double-power-law events, the spectral break energy E<sub>0 </sub>ranges from 2 keV to 165 keV, with an average of 71±79 keV, while the average spectral index β<sub>2 </sub>at energies above E<sub>0</sub>is 4.4±2.3. E<sub>0 </sub>shows a positive correlation with the electron peak flux at energies above ~40 keV, while </span><span lang="EL">β</span><sub><span lang="EN-US">1 </span></sub><span lang="EN-US">has a negative correlation with the electron peak flux at energies above ~15 keV.  </span></p>

General Spectrum Fitting for Energetic Particles

<p>We propose a general fitting formula of energy spectrum of suprathermal particles, J=AE<sup>-β1</sup>[1+(E/E<sub>0</sub>)<sup>α</sup>]<sup>(β1-β2)/α</sup>, where J is the particle flux (or intensity), E is the particle energy, A is the amplitude coefficient, E<sub>0</sub> represents the spectral break energy, α (>0) describes the sharpness of energy spectral break around E<sub>0</sub>, and the power-law index β<sub>1</sub> (β<sub>2</sub>) gives the spectral shape before (after) the break.  When α tends to infinity (zero), this spectral formula becomes a classical double-power-law (logarithmic-parabola) spectrum. When both β<sub>2</sub> and E<sub>0</sub> tend to infinity, this formula can be simplified to an Ellison-Ramaty-like equation. Under some other specific parameter conditions, this formula can be transformed to a Kappa or Maxwellian function. Considering  the uncertainties both in particle intensity and energy, we fit this general formula well to the representative energy spectra of various suprathermal particle phenomena including solar energetic particles (electrons, protons,  <sup>3</sup>He and heavier ions), shocked particles, anomalous cosmic rays, hard X-rays, solar wind suprathermal particles, etc. Therefore, this general spectrum fitting formula would help us to comparatively examine the energy spectrum of different suprathermal particle phenomena and understand their origin, acceleration and transportation.</p>