Observed X-ray spectra of some isolated magnetized neutron stars display absorption features, sometimes interpreted as ion cyclotron lines. Modeling the observed spectra is necessary to check this hypothesis and to evaluate neutron star parameters.We develop a computer code for modeling magnetized neutron star atmospheres in a wide range of magnetic fields (10^{12} - 10^{15} G) and effective temperatures (3 \times 10^5 - 10^7 K). Using this code, we study the possibilities to explain the soft X-ray spectra of isolated neutron stars by different atmosphere models. The atmosphere is assumed to consist either of fully ionized electron-ion plasmas or of partially ionized hydrogen. Vacuum resonance and partial mode conversion are taken into account. Any inclination of the magnetic field relative to the stellar surface is allowed. We use modern opacities of fully or partially ionized plasmas in strong magnetic fields and solve the coupled radiative transfer equations for the normal electromagnetic modes in the plasma. Spectra of outgoing radiation are calculated for various atmosphere models: fully ionized semi-infinite atmosphere, thin atmosphere, partially ionized hydrogen atmosphere, or novel "sandwich" atmosphere (thin atmosphere with a hydrogen layer above a helium layer. Possibilities of applications of these results are discussed. In particular, the outgoing spectrum using the "sandwich" model is constructed. Thin partially ionized hydrogen atmospheres with vacuum polarization are shown to be able to improve the fit to the observed spectrum of the nearby isolated neutron star RBS 1223 (RX J1308.8+2127).
We find the forms of the transfer equations for polarized cyclotron radiation in the atmospheres of compact stars, which are simple enough to allow practical implementation and still preserve all important physical effects. We take into account a frequency redistribution of radiation within the cyclotron line as well as the relativistic and quantum-electrodynamic effects. Our analysis is valid for the magnetic fields up to $10^{13}$G and for temperatures well below 500keV.} We present and compare two forms of the radiation transfer equations. The first form, for the intensities of ordinary and…
MHD Simulations of Strongly Magnetized HII Region Evolution: Evidence for Ionized Gas Filamentation
Oxford Centre for the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, University of Oxford（牛津大学科学、医学与技术历史中心）；Dept. of Astronomy, University of Virginia（弗吉尼亚大学天文学系）；Virginia Institute of Theoretical Astronomy, University of Virginia（弗吉尼亚大学理论天文研究所）；Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan（密歇根大学天文学系）；Korea Institute of Advanced Study（韩国高等研究院）；Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences University of Colorado, Boulder（科罗拉多大学博尔德分校天体物理与行星科学系天体物理学与太空天文中心）
Formation of the H$β$ $λ$4861.34 Å line is an important topic related to the diagnosis of the basic configuration of magnetic fields in the solar and stellar chromospheres. Specifically, broadening of the H$β$ $λ$4861.34 Å line occurs due to the magnetic and micro-electric fields in the solar atmosphere. The formation of H$β$ in the model umbral atmosphere is presented based on the assumption of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium. It is found that the model umbral chromosphere is transparent to the Stokes parameters of the H$β$ line, which implies that the observed signals of magnetic fields …
Rayleigh scattering is a result of an interaction of photons with bound electrons. Rayleigh scattering is mostly neglected in calculations of hot star model atmospheres because most of the hydrogen atoms are ionized and the heavier elements have a lower abundance than hydrogen. In atmospheres of some chemically peculiar stars, helium overabundant regions containing singly ionized helium are present and Rayleigh scattering can be a significant opacity source. We evaluate the contribution of Rayleigh scattering by neutral hydrogen and singly ionized helium in the atmospheres of hot stars with so…
$F$-state interference significantly modifies the polarization produced by scattering processes in the solar atmosphere. Its signature in the emergent Stokes spectrum in the absence of magnetic fields is depolarization in the line core. In the present paper, we derive the partial frequency redistribution (PRD) matrix that includes interference between the upper hyperfine structure states of a two-level atom in the presence of magnetic fields of arbitrary strengths. The theory is applied to the Na I D$_2$ line that is produced by the transition between the lower $J=1/2$ and upper $J=3/2$ states…
Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the solar atmosphere are often performed under the assumption that the plasma is fully ionized. However, in the lower solar atmosphere a reduced temperature often results in only the partial ionization of the plasma. The interaction between the decoupled neutral and ionized components of such a partially ionized plasma produces ambipolar diffusion. To investigate the role of ambipolar diffusion in propagating wave characteristics in the photosphere and chromosphere, we employ the Mancha3D numerical code to model magnetoacoustic waves propagating through…
We consider the influence of Faraday rotation in chaotic magnetic field on the intensity and linear polarization of multiple scattered radiation. All fluctuations are assumed as Gaussian type and isotropic. The values of magnetic field are less than $10^5$Gauss. In this case the parameter $ ω_B/ω=(eB/m_ec)/ω\simeq 0.93\cdot 10^{-8}λ$($μ$m)$B($G$)$ is small and the radiation scatterings are the usual scatterings on free electrons. Only the Faraday rotation influences on the intensity and polarization of radiation. We consider the Milne problem in the electron magnetized atmosphere without the m…
Magnetic reconnection in strongly magnetized regions around the temperature minimum region of the low solar atmosphere is studied by employing MHD-based simulations of a partially ionized plasma within a reactive 2.5D multi-fluid model. It is shown that in the absence of magnetic nulls in a low $β$ plasma the ionized and neutral fluid flows are well-coupled throughout the reconnection region. However, non-equilibrium ionization-recombination dynamics play a critical role in determining the structure of the reconnection region, lead to much lower temperature increases and a faster magnetic reco…
Observations of the solar atmosphere show that internal gravity waves are generated by overshooting convection, but are suppressed at locations of magnetic flux, which is thought to be the result of mode conversion into magneto-acoustic waves. Here, we present a study of the acoustic-gravity wave spectrum emerging from a realistic, self-consistent simulation of solar (magneto-)convection. A magnetic field free, hydrodynamic simulation and a magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulation with an initial, vertical, homogeneous field of 50 G flux density were carried out and compared with each other to hi…
The solar atmosphere is composed of many species which are populated at different ionization and excitation levels. The upper chromosphere, transition region, and corona are nearly collisionless. Consequently, slippage between, for instance, ions and neutral particles, or interactions between separate species, may play important roles. We have developed a 3D multi-fluid and multi-species numerical code (Ebysus) to investigate such effects. Ebysus is capable of treating species (e.g., hydrogen, helium, etc) and fluids (neutrals, excited and ionized elements) separately, including non-equilibriu…
In this second paper of the series on internal gravity waves (IGWs), we present a study of the generation and propagation of IGWs in a model solar atmosphere with diverse magnetic conditions. A magnetic field free, and three magnetic models that start with an initial, vertical, homogeneous field of 10 G, 50 G, and 100 G magnetic flux density, are simulated using the CO$^{\rm 5}$BOLD code. We find that the IGWs are generated in similar manner in all four models in spite of the differences in the magnetic environment. The mechanical energy carried by IGWs is significantly larger than that of the…
The effects of charge exchange on waves propagating in weakly ionized plasmas are discussed. It is shown that for low-frequency processes, ions and neutrals should be treated as a single fluid with some effective charge on all of them. We have derived a new momentum equation which should be used in such an environment. As a result, the low-frequency magnetic waves can propagate even if particles are not magnetized, which is entirely due to the charge exchange and the fact that it is not possible to separate particles into two different populations as charged and neutral species. So there can b…
Observations show various jets in the solar atmosphere with significant rotational motions, which may undergo instabilities leading to heat ambient plasma. We study the Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability of twisted and rotating jets caused by the velocity jumps near the jet surface. We derive a dispersion equation with appropriate boundary condition for total pressure (including centrifugal force of tube rotation), which governs the dynamics of incompressible jets. Then, we obtain analytical instability criteria of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in various cases, which were verified by numerical …
With a day-side temperature in excess of 4500K, comparable to a mid-K-type star, KELT-9b is the hottest planet known. Its extreme temperature makes KELT-9b a particularly interesting test bed for investigating the nature and diversity of gas giant planets. We observed the transit of KELT-9b at high spectral resolution (R$\sim$94,600) with the CARMENES instrument on the Calar Alto 3.5-m telescope. Using these data, we detect for the first time ionized calcium (CaII triplet) absorption in the atmosphere of KELT-9b; this is the second time that CaII has been observed in a hot Jupiter. Our observa…
The inflated transiting hot Jupiter HD 209458b is one of the best studied objects since the beginning of exoplanet characterization. Transmission observations of this system between the mid infrared and the far ultraviolet have revealed the signature of atomic, molecular, and possibly aerosol species in the lower atmosphere of the planet, as well as escaping hydrogen and metals in the upper atmosphere. From a re-analysis of near-ultraviolet (NUV) transmission observations of HD 209458b, we detect ionized iron (Fe II) absorption in a 100 A-wide range around 2370 A, lying beyond the planetary Ro…
We numerically study magnetic reconnection on different spatial scales and at different heights in the weakly ionized plasma of the low solar atmosphere (around $300-800$~km above the solar surface) within a reactive 2.5 D multi-fluid plasma-neutral model. We consider a strongly magnetized plasma ($β\sim 6\% $) evolving from a force-free magnetic configuration and perturbed to initialize formation of a reconnection current sheet. On large scales, the resulting current sheets are observed to undergo a secondary 'plasmoid' instability. A series of simulations at different scales demonstrate a ca…
For the calculation of complex neutral/ionized gas phase chemical equilibria, we present a semi-analytical versatile and efficient computer program, called FastChem. The applied method is based on the solution of a system of coupled nonlinear (and linear) algebraic equations, namely the law of mass action and the element conservation equations including charge balance, in many variables. Specifically, the system of equations is decomposed into a set of coupled nonlinear equations in one variable each, which are solved analytically whenever feasible to reduce computation time. Notably, the elec…
Partially ionized plasmas are found across the Universe in many different astrophysical environments. They constitute an essential ingredient of the solar atmosphere, molecular clouds, planetary ionospheres and protoplanetary disks, among other environments, and display a richness of physical effects which are not present in fully ionized plasmas. This review provides an overview of the physics of partially ionized plasmas, including recent advances in different astrophysical areas in which partial ionization plays a fundamental role. We outline outstanding observational and theoretical questi…
The temperature and density conditions in the magnetized photosphere and chromosphere of the Sun lead to a very small degree of atomic ionization. In addition, at particular height, the magnetic field may be strong enough to give rise to a cyclotron frequency larger than the collisional frequency for some species, while for others the opposite may happen. These circumstances influence the collective behavior of the particles and some of the hypotheses of magnetohydrodynamics may be relaxed, giving rise to non-ideal MHD effects. In this paper we discuss our recent developments in modeling non-i…
Many stars, active galactic nuclei, accretion discs etc. are affected by the stochastic variations of temperature, turbulent gas motions, magnetic fields, number densities of atoms and dust grains. These stochastic variations influence on the extinction factors, Doppler widths of lines and so on. The presence of many reasons for fluctuations gives rise to Gaussian distribution of fluctuations. The usual models leave out of account the fluctuations. In many cases the consideration of fluctuations improves the coincidence of theoretical values with the observed data. The objective of this paper …
Three-dimensional hydrodynamical CO5BOLD model atmospheres of red giant stars II. Spectral line formation in the atmosphere of a giant located near the RGB tip
In this paper, we show a "proof of concept" of the heating mechanism of the solar chromosphere due to wave dissipation caused by the effects of partial ionization. Numerical modeling of non-linear wave propagation in a magnetic flux tube, embedded in the solar atmosphere, is performed by solving a system of single-fluid quasi-MHD equations, which take into account the ambipolar term from the generalized Ohm's law. It is shown that perturbations caused by magnetic waves can be effectively dissipated due to ambipolar diffusion. The energy input by this mechanism is continuous and shown to be mor…
The magnetosphere of an exoplanet has yet to be unambiguously detected. Investigations of star-planet interaction and neutral atomic hydrogen absorption during transit to detect magnetic fields in hot Jupiters have been inconclusive, and interpretations of the transit absorption non-unique. In contrast, ionized species escaping a magnetized exoplanet, particularly from the polar caps, should populate the magnetosphere, allowing detection of different regions from the plasmasphere to the extended magnetotail, and characterization of the magnetic field producing them. Here, we report ultraviolet…
Surges often appear as a result of the emergence of magnetized plasma from the solar interior. Traditionally, they are observed in chromospheric lines such as H$α$ 6563 Åand Ca II 8542 Å. However, whether there is a response to the surge appearance and evolution in the Si IV lines or, in fact, in many other transition region lines has not been studied. In this paper we analyze a simultaneous episode of an H$α$ surge and a Si IV burst that occurred on 2016 September 03 in active region AR12585. To that end, we use coordinated observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) an…
We assess the partition function and ionization degree of magnetized hydrogen atoms at thermodynamic equilibrium for a wide range of field intensities, $B\approx 10^5$-$10^{12}$~G. Evaluations include fitting formulae for an arbitrary number of binding energies, the coupling between the internal atomic structure and the center-of-mass motion across the magnetic field, and the formation of the so-called decentered states (bound states with the electron shifted from the Coulomb well). Non-ideal gas effects are treated within the occupational probability method. We also present general mathematic…
Viscosity is discussed in multicomponent partially and fully ionized plasma, and its effects on two very different waves (Alfven and Langmuir) in solar atmosphere. A full set of viscosity coefficients is presented which includes coefficients for electrons, protons and hydrogen atoms. These are applied to layers with mostly magnetized protons in solar chromosphere where the Alfven wave could in principle be expected. The viscosity coefficients are calculated and presented graphically for the altitudes between 700 and 2200 km, and required corresponding cross sections for various types of collis…
We model the vertical structure of magnetized accretion disks subject to viscous and resistive heating, and irradiation by the central star. We apply our formalism to the radial structure of magnetized accretion disks threaded by a poloidal magnetic field dragged during the process of star formation developed by Shu and coworkers. We consider disks around low mass protostars, T Tauri, and FU Orionis stars. We consider two levels of disk magnetization, $λ_{sys} = 4$ (strongly magnetized disks), and $λ_{sys} = 12$ (weakly magnetized disks). The rotation rates of strongly magnetized disks have la…
