TY - JOUR A1 - Zhang, Haocheng A1 - Chen, Xuhui A1 - Boettcher, Markus T1 - Synchrotron polarization in blazars JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - We present a detailed analysis of time-and energy-dependent synchrotron polarization signatures in a shock-in-jet model for gamma-ray blazars. Our calculations employ a full three-dimensional radiation transfer code, assuming a helical magnetic field throughout the jet. The code considers synchrotron emission from an ordered magnetic field, and takes into account all light-travel-time and other relevant geometric effects, while the relevant synchrotron self-Compton and external Compton effects are handled with the two-dimensional Monte-Carlo/Fokker-Planck (MCFP) code. We consider several possible mechanisms through which a relativistic shock propagating through the jet may affect the jet plasma to produce a synchrotron and high-energy flare. Most plausibly, the shock is expected to lead to a compression of the magnetic field, increasing the toroidal field component and thereby changing the direction of the magnetic field in the region affected by the shock. We find that such a scenario leads to correlated synchrotron + synchrotron-self-Compton flaring, associated with substantial variability in the synchrotron polarization percentage and position angle. Most importantly, this scenario naturally explains large polarization angle rotations by greater than or similar to 180 degrees, as observed in connection with gamma-ray flares in several blazars, without the need for bent or helical jet trajectories or other nonaxisymmetric jet features. KW - galaxies: active KW - galaxies: jets KW - gamma rays: galaxies KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - relativistic processes Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/789/1/66 SN - 0004-637X SN - 1538-4357 VL - 789 IS - 1 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Collaboration, H. E. S. S. A1 - Abramowski, Attila A1 - Aharonian, Felix A. A1 - Benkhali, Faical Ait A1 - Akhperjanian, A. G. A1 - Angüner, Ekrem Oǧuzhan A1 - Anton, Gisela A1 - Balenderan, Shangkari A1 - Balzer, Arnim A1 - Barnacka, Anna A1 - Becherini, Yvonne A1 - Tjus, J. Becker A1 - Bernlöhr, K. A1 - Birsin, E. A1 - Bissaldi, E. A1 - Biteau, Jonathan A1 - Boettcher, Markus A1 - Boisson, Catherine A1 - Bolmont, J. A1 - Bordas, Pol A1 - Brucker, J. A1 - Brun, Francois A1 - Brun, Pierre A1 - Bulik, Tomasz A1 - Carrigan, Svenja A1 - Casanova, Sabrina A1 - Cerruti, M. A1 - Chadwick, Paula M. A1 - Chalme-Calvet, R. A1 - Chaves, Ryan C. G. A1 - Cheesebrough, A. A1 - Chretien, M. A1 - Colafrancesco, Sergio A1 - Cologna, Gabriele A1 - Conrad, Jan A1 - Couturier, C. A1 - Cui, Y. A1 - Dalton, M. A1 - Daniel, M. K. A1 - Davids, I. D. A1 - Degrange, B. A1 - Deil, C. A1 - de Wilt, P. A1 - Dickinson, H. J. A1 - Djannati-Ataï, A. A1 - Domainko, W. A1 - Dubus, G. A1 - Dutson, K. A1 - Dyks, J. A1 - Dyrda, M. A1 - Edwards, T. A1 - Egberts, Kathrin A1 - Eger, P. A1 - Espigat, P. A1 - Farnier, C. A1 - Fegan, S. A1 - Feinstein, F. A1 - Fernandes, M. V. A1 - Fernandez, D. A1 - Fiasson, A. A1 - Fontaine, G. A1 - Foerster, A. A1 - Fuessling, M. A1 - Gajdus, M. A1 - Gallant, Y. A. A1 - Garrigoux, T. A1 - Giavitto, G. A1 - Giebels, B. A1 - Glicenstein, J. F. A1 - Grondin, M. -H. A1 - Grudzinska, M. A1 - Haeffner, S. A1 - Hahn, J. A1 - Harris, J. A1 - Heinzelmann, G. A1 - Henri, G. A1 - Hermann, G. A1 - Hervet, O. A1 - Hillert, A. A1 - Hinton, James Anthony A1 - Hofmann, W. A1 - Hofverberg, P. A1 - Holler, M. A1 - Horns, Dieter A1 - Jacholkowska, A. A1 - Jahn, C. A1 - Jamrozy, M. A1 - Janiak, M. A1 - Jankowsky, F. A1 - Jung, I. A1 - Kastendieck, M. A. A1 - Katarzynski, K. A1 - Katz, U. A1 - Kaufmann, S. A1 - Khelifi, B. A1 - Kieffer, M. A1 - Klepser, S. A1 - Klochkov, D. A1 - Kluzniak, W. A1 - Kneiske, T. A1 - Kolitzus, D. A1 - Komin, Nu. A1 - Kosack, K. A1 - Krakau, S. A1 - Krayzel, F. A1 - Krueger, P. P. A1 - Laffon, H. A1 - Lamanna, G. A1 - Lefaucheur, J. A1 - Lemiere, A. A1 - Lemoine-Goumard, M. A1 - Lenain, J. -P. A1 - Lennarz, D. A1 - Lohse, T. A1 - Lopatin, A. A1 - Lu, C. -C. A1 - Marandon, V. A1 - Marcowith, Alexandre A1 - Marx, R. A1 - Maurin, G. A1 - Maxted, N. A1 - Mayer, M. A1 - McComb, T. J. L. A1 - Mehault, J. A1 - Meintjes, P. J. A1 - Menzler, U. A1 - Meyer, M. A1 - Moderski, R. A1 - Mohamed, M. A1 - Moulin, Emmanuel A1 - Murach, T. A1 - Naumann, C. L. A1 - de Naurois, M. A1 - Niemiec, J. A1 - Nolan, S. J. A1 - Oakes, L. A1 - Ohm, S. A1 - Wilhelmi, E. de Ona A1 - Opitz, B. A1 - Ostrowski, M. A1 - Oya, I. A1 - Panter, M. A1 - Parsons, R. D. A1 - Arribas, M. Paz A1 - Pekeur, N. W. A1 - Pelletier, G. A1 - Perez, J. A1 - Petrucci, P. -O. A1 - Peyaud, B. A1 - Pita, S. A1 - Poon, H. A1 - Puehlhofer, G. A1 - Punch, M. A1 - Quirrenbach, A. A1 - Raab, S. A1 - Raue, M. A1 - Reimer, A. A1 - Reimer, O. A1 - Renaud, M. A1 - de los Reyes, R. A1 - Rieger, F. A1 - Rob, L. A1 - Romoli, C. A1 - Rosier-Lees, S. A1 - Rowell, G. A1 - Rudak, B. A1 - Rulten, C. B. A1 - Sahakian, V. A1 - Sanchez, David M. A1 - Santangelo, A. A1 - Schlickeiser, R. A1 - Schuessler, F. A1 - Schulz, A. A1 - Schwanke, U. A1 - Schwarzburg, S. A1 - Schwemmer, S. A1 - Sol, H. A1 - Spengler, G. A1 - Spies, F. A1 - Stawarz, L. A1 - Steenkamp, R. A1 - Stegmann, Christian A1 - Stinzing, F. A1 - Stycz, Kornelia A1 - Sushch, Iurii A1 - Szostek, A. A1 - Tavernet, J. -P. A1 - Tavernier, T. A1 - Taylor, A. M. A1 - Terrier, R. A1 - Tluczykont, M. A1 - Trichard, C. A1 - Valerius, K. A1 - van Eldik, C. A1 - van Soelen, B. A1 - Vasileiadis, G. A1 - Venter, C. A1 - Viana, A. A1 - Vincent, P. A1 - Voelk, H. J. A1 - Volpe, F. A1 - Vorster, M. A1 - Vuillaume, T. A1 - Wagner, S. J. A1 - Wagner, P. A1 - Ward, M. A1 - Weidinger, M. A1 - Weitzel, Q. A1 - White, R. A1 - Wierzcholska, A. A1 - Willmann, P. A1 - Woernlein, A. A1 - Wouters, D. A1 - Zabalza, V. A1 - Zacharias, M. A1 - Zajczyk, A. A1 - Zdziarski, A. A. A1 - Zech, Alraune A1 - Zechlin, H. -S. T1 - HESS observations of the Crab during its March 2013 GeV gamma-ray flare JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context. On March 4, 2013 the Fermi-EAT and AGILE reported a flare from the direction of the Crab nebula in which the high-energy (HE; E > 100 MeV) flux was six times above its quiescent level. Simultaneous observations in other energy bands give us hints about the emission processes during the flare episode and the physics of pulsar wind nebulae in general. Aims. We search for variability in the emission of the Crab nebula at very-high energies (VHF,; E > 100 GeV), using contemporaneous data taken with the H.E.S.S. array of Cherenkov telescopes. Methods. Observational data taken with the H.E.S.S. instrument on five consecutive days during the flare were analysed for the flux and spectral shape of the emission from the Crab nebula. Night-wise light curves are presented with energy thresholds of 1 TeV and 5 TeV. Results. The observations conducted with H.E.S.S. on March 6 to March 10, 2013 show no significant changes in the flux. They limit the variation in the integral flux above 1 TeV to less than 63% and the integral flux above 5 TeV to less than 78% at a 95% confidence level. KW - gamma rays: ISM KW - ISM: individual objects: Crab nebula KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - relativistic processes Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201323013 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 562 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mizuno, Yosuke A1 - Pohl, Martin A1 - Niemiec, Jacek A1 - Zhang, Bing A1 - Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi A1 - Hardee, Philip E. T1 - Magnetic field amplification and saturation in turbulence behind a relativistic shock JF - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society N2 - We have investigated via 2D relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations the long-term evolution of turbulence created by a relativistic shock propagating through an inhomogeneous medium. In the post-shock region, magnetic field is strongly amplified by turbulent motions triggered by pre-shock density inhomogeneities. Using a long-simulation box we have followed the magnetic field amplification until it is fully developed and saturated. The turbulent velocity is subrelativistic even for a strong shock. Magnetic field amplification is controlled by the turbulent motion and saturation occurs when the magnetic energy is comparable to the turbulent kinetic energy. Magnetic field amplification and saturation depend on the initial strength and direction of the magnetic field in the pre-shock medium, and on the shock strength. If the initial magnetic field is perpendicular to the shock normal, the magnetic field is first compressed at the shock and then can be amplified by turbulent motion in the post-shock region. Saturation occurs when the magnetic energy becomes comparable to the turbulent kinetic energy in the post-shock region. If the initial magnetic field in the pre-shock medium is strong, the post-shock region becomes turbulent but significant field amplification does not occur. If the magnetic energy after shock compression is larger than the turbulent kinetic energy in the post-shock region, significant field amplification does not occur. We discuss possible applications of our results to gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei. KW - MHD KW - relativistic processes KW - shock waves KW - turbulence KW - methods: numerical KW - gamma-ray burst: general Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stu196 SN - 0035-8711 SN - 1365-2966 VL - 439 IS - 4 SP - 3490 EP - 3503 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi A1 - Hardee, P. E. A1 - Dutan, I. A1 - Niemiec, J. A1 - Medvedev, M. A1 - Mizuno, Y. A1 - Meli, A. A1 - Sol, H. A1 - Zhang, B. A1 - Pohl, Martin A1 - Hartmann, D. H. T1 - Magnetic agnetic field generation in core-sheath jets via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - We have investigated magnetic field generation in velocity shears via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) using a relativistic plasma jet core and stationary plasma sheath. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations consider plasma jet cores with Lorentz factors of 1.5, 5, and 15 for both electron-proton and electron-positron plasmas. For electron-proton plasmas, we find generation of strong large-scale DC currents and magnetic fields that extend over the entire shear surface and reach thicknesses of a few tens of electron skin depths. For electron-positron plasmas, we find generation of alternating currents and magnetic fields. Jet and sheath plasmas are accelerated across the shear surface in the strong magnetic fields generated by the kKHI. The mixing of jet and sheath plasmas generates a transverse structure similar to that produced by the Weibel instability. KW - acceleration of particles KW - magnetic fields KW - plasmas KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - relativistic processes KW - stars: jets Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/793/1/60 SN - 0004-637X SN - 1538-4357 VL - 793 IS - 1 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER -