Legesse Wetro Kebede

Show more
Department of Physics, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Show less

Abstract: Data from a recently discovered long Gamma Ray Burst (GRB 090102) by NASA’s Swift satellite revealed that such GRBs may not be fireballs as usually presumed, but instead they are powered and collimated by organized strong magnetic fields (≧ 1015 G) generated by the compact object, a neutron star (NS) created at the core of the associated supernova explosion (SNeII). A mechanism for the generation of such strong surface magnetic fields where power NSs result from the deaths of massive progenitor stars is described based on a non-conventional model for pulsar magnetic fields, namely, spinning polarization charge that I recently developed in [1]. I show that this could give rise to scenarios involving long GRB events as the one captured by the Swift satellite during GRB 090102 in January 2, 2009. The model predicts that the magnetic moment of a NS has a dynamical feature which makes it different from that of a simple pulsar. I show this could have serious consequences on the statistics of observing long GRBs and also help explain such scenarios as the steep decline in the photon count-rate and the subsequent shutoff in the Swift/XRT X-ray data from GRB 070110.

Keywords: Pulsars; Pulsar Dynamics; Pulsar Magnetic Fields; Type II Supernova Explosions; GRBs from SNe II

Cite this paper: L. Kebede, "The Role of Magnetic Fields in Gamma-Ray Bursts from SNeII," International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 3 No. 4, 2013, pp. 500-507. doi: 10.4236/ijaa.2013.34058.

References

[1]   L. W. Kebede, “Relativistic Plasma Diffusion: A Possible Source for Neutron Star Magnetic Field,” Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol. 282, No. 1, 2002, pp. 131-140.

[2]   J. E. Rhoads, “The Dynamics and Light Curves of Beamed Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows,” The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 525, No. 2, 1999, pp. 737-749. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/307907

[3]   D. A. Frail, et al., “Beaming in Gamma-Ray Bursts: Evidence fir a Standard Energy Reservoir,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 562, No. 1, 2001, pp. L55-L58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/338119

[4]   E. Berger, et al., “A Standard Kinetic Energy Reservoir in Gamma Ray Burst Afterglows,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 590, No. 1, 2003, pp. 379-385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/374892

[5]   D. Bhattacharya, “The Evolution of the Magnetic Fields of Neutron Stars,” JApAs, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1995, pp. 217-232.

[6]   E. Phinney and S. Kulkarni, “Binary and Millisecond Pulsars,” ARA. & A., Vol. 32, 1994, pp. 591-639.

[7]   G. Baym, C. Pethick and D. Pines, “Spin Up in Neutron Stars: The Future of the Vela Pulsar,” Nature, Vol. 224, No. 5222, 1969, pp. 872-874. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/224872a0

[8]   V. Uprin and D. Yakovlev, “Thermogalvanomagnetic Effects in White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars,” Soviet Astronomy, Vol. 24, 1980, pp. 425-435.

[9]   S. Yamada, K. Kotake and T. Yamasaki, “The Role of Neutrinos, Rotations and Magnetic Fields in Collapse-Driven Supernovae,” New Journal of Physics, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2004, pp. 79-102.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/6/1/079

[10]   D. Lai and S. L. Shapiro, “Cold Equation of State in a Strong Magnetic Field—Effects of Inverse Beta-Decay,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 383, Pt. 1, 1991, pp. 745-751. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/170831

[11]   L. W. Kebede, “Neutron Star Magnetic Field Dynamics and Its Evolution,” MNRAS, Vol. 282, No. 3, 1996, pp. 845-852. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnras/282.3.845

[12]   D. Pines, “Pulsars and Compact X-Ray Sources—Cosmic Laboratories for the Study of Neutron Stars and Hadron Matter,” Journal de Physique, Vol. 41C2, No. 3, 1980, pp. C2-111-C2-124.

[13]   P. Haensel, “Equations of State of Dense Matter and Maximum Mass of Neutron Stars,” EAS, Vol. 7, 2003, pp. 249-282.

[14]   J. M. Lattimer and M. Parakash, “The Physics of Neutron Stars,” Science, Vol. 304, No. 5670, 2004, pp. 536-542. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1090720

[15]   P. Haensel, “Apparent Radii of Neutron Stars and Equation of State of Dense Matter,” Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 380, 2001, pp. 186-189

[16]   F. Pacini, “Energy Emission from a Neutron Star,” Nature, Vol. 216, No. 5115, 1967, pp. 567-568. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/216567a0

[17]   F. Pacini, “Rotating Neutron Stars,” Nature, Vol. 219, No. 5150, 1968, pp. 145-146.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/219145a0

[18]   J. E. Gunn and J. P. Ostriker, “Magnetic Dipole Radiation from Pulsars,” Nature, Vol. 221, No. 1, 1969, pp. 454-456. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/221454a0

[19]   D. Arnett and R. Bowers, “A Microscopic Interpretation of Neutron Star Structure,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 33, 1977, pp. 415-436.

[20]   C. D. Ott, A. Burrows, T. A. Thompson, E. Livine and R. Walder, “The Spin Period and Positional Profiles of Neutron Stars at Birth,” The Astrophysical Journal Supplement, Vol. 164, No. 1, 2006, pp. 130-155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/500832

[21]   S. Weinberg, “Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity,” Wiley, New York, 1972.

[22]   D. Lai, D. F. Chernoff and J. M. Cordes, “Pulsar Jets: Implications for Neutron Star Kicks and Initial Spins,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 549, 2001, pp. 1111-1118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/319455

[23]   B. Paczynski, “Gamma-Ray Bursters at Cosmological Distances,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 308, Pt. 2, 1986, pp. L43-L46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/184740

[24]   J. Goodman, “Are Gamma-Ray Bursts Optically Thick?” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 308, Pt. 2, 1986, pp. L47-L50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/184741

[25]   T. Piran, “Gamma-Ray Bursts and the Fire-Ball Model,” Physics Reports, Vol. 314, No. 6, 1999, pp. 575-667. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0370-1573(98)00127-6

[26]   G. Ghishellini, A. Celotti and D. Lazzati, “Constraints on the Emission Mechanisms of Gamma-Ray Bursts,” MNRAS, Vol. 313, No. 1, 2000, pp. L1-L5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000. 03354.x

[27]   V. V. Usov, “Millisecond Pulsars with Extremely Strong Magnetic Fields as a Cosmological Source of Gamma-Ray Bursts,” Nature, Vol. 357, No. 6378, 1992, pp. 472-474. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ 357472a0

[28]   M. Lyutikov and R. Blandford, “Gamma-Ray Bursts as Electromagnetic Outflows,” arXiv:astro-ph/0312347v1, 2003, 78p.

[29]   J. C. Wheeler, I. Yi, P. Hoflich and L. Wang, “Asymmetric Supernova, Pulsars, Magnetars, and Gamma-Ray Bursts,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 537, No. 2, 2000, pp. 810-823. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1086/309055

[30]   T. A. Thompson, P. Chang and E. Quataert, “Magnetar Spin Down, Hyperenergetic Supernovae, and Gamma Ray Bursts,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 611, No. 1, 2004, pp. 380-393. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1086/421969

[31]   B. D. Metzger, T. A. Thompson and E. Quataert, “Proto-Neutron Star Winds with Magnetic Fields and Rotation,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 659, 2007, pp. 561-579. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/512059

[32]   N. Lyons, P. O’Brien, B. Zhang, R. Willingale, E. Troja and R. Starling, “Can X-Ray Emission Powered by a Spinning-Down Magnetar Explain Some Gamma-Ray Burst Light-Curve Features?” MNRAS, Vol. 402, No. 2, 2010, pp. 705-712. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15538.x

[33]   E. Troja, G. Cusumano, P. O’Brien, B. Zhang, B. Sbarufatti, V. Mangano, R. Willingale, G. Chincarini, J. Osborne, F. Marshall, et al., “Swift Observations of GRB070110: An Extra X-Ray Afterglow powered by the Central Engine,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 665, No. 1, 2007, pp. 599-607. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1086/519450

[34]   D. Bhattacharya, R. Wijers, J. Hartman and F. Verbent, “On the Decay of the Magnetic Field of Single Radio Pulsars,” Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 254, 1992, pp. 198-212.

[35]   S. Konar and D. Bhattacharya, “Magnetic Field Evolution of Accreting Neutron Stars-II,” MNRAS, Vol. 303, No. 3, 1999, pp. 588-594. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02287.x

[36]   V. M. Kaspi and M. A. McLaughlin, “Chandra X-Ray Detection of the High Magnetic Field Radio Pulsar, PSR J1718-3718,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 618, No. 1, 2005, pp. L41-L44. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1086/427628

[37]   M. Gonzalez, V. Kaspi, A. Lyne and M. Pivovaroff, “An XMM-Newton Observation of the High Magnetic Field Radio Pulsar, PSR B0154+61,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 610, No. 1, 2004, pp. L37-L40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/423033

[38]   J. R. Lin and S. N. Zhang, “Radio Pulsars are Progenitors of Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars and Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters: Magnetic Field Evolution through Pulsar Glitches,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 615, No. 2, 2004, pp. L133-L136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/426316

[39]   M. Lyutikov, “Explosive Reconnection in Magnetars,” MNRAS, Vol. 346, No. 2, 2003, pp. 540-554. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2966.2003.07110.x

[40]   M. J. Aschwanden, A. I. Poland and D. M. Rabin, “The New Solar Corona,” Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 39, 2001, pp. 175-210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.astro.39.1.175