Hard X-ray Bursts Research Articles

Star Formation Rates in [Ne V] 3426 Å Selected Active Galactic Nuclei: Evidence for a Decrease along the Main Sequence?

Studying the behavior along the galaxy main sequence is key in furthering our understanding of the possible connection between active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity and star formation. We select a sample of 1215 AGN from the catalog of Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxy properties from the Portsmouth group by detection of the high-ionization [Ne v] 3426 Å emission line. Our sample extends from 1040 to 1042.5 erg s−1 in [Ne v] luminosity in a redshift range z = 0.17 to 0.57. We compare the specific star formation rates (sSFRs; SFR scaled by galaxy mass) obtained from the corrected [O ii] and Hα luminosities, and the spectral energy distribution (SED)–determined values from Portsmouth. We find that the emission-line-based sSFR values are unreliable for the [Ne v] sample due to the AGN contribution, and proceed with the SED sSFRs for our study of the main sequence. We find evidence for a decrease in sSFR along the main sequence in the [Ne v] sample, which is consistent with results from the hard X-ray Burst Alert Telescope AGN sample, which extends to lower redshifts than our [Ne v] sample. Although we do not find evidence that the concurrent AGN activity is suppressing star formation, our results are consistent with a lower gas fraction in the host galaxies of the AGN as compared to that of the star-forming galaxies. If the evacuation of gas, and therefore suppression of star formation, is due to AGN activity, it must have occurred in a previous epoch.

Coronal Propagation of Solar Protons during and after Their Stochastic Acceleration

Solar protons in eruptive flares are stochastically accelerated in a wide spatial angle, and then they are effectively kept behind the expanding coronal mass ejection (CME) front, which can either bring protons to the magnetic-field line going to a remote observer or carry them away. We consider 13 solar proton events of cycle 24 in which protons with energy E 100 MeV were recorded and were accompanied by the detection of solar hard X-ray (HXR) radiation with E 100 keV by an ACS SPI detector and γ-radiation with E 100 MeV by the FermiLAT telescope with a source in the western hemisphere of the Sun. The first arrival of solar protons into the Earth’s orbit was determined in each event by a significant “proton” excess over the ACS SPI background during or after the HXR burst. All events were considered relative to our chosen zero time (0 min) of parent flares. The “early” arrival of protons to the Earth’s orbit (+20 min), which was observed in four events, corresponds to the “fast” acceleration of electrons (10 MeV/s). The “late” arrival of protons (+20 min) corresponds to the “slow” acceleration of electrons (1 MeV/s) and was observed in six events. In three events, a “delayed” arrival of protons (+30 min) was observed, when the CME propagation hindered the magnetic connection of the source with the observer. The direction of CME propagation is characterized in the catalog (SOHO LASCO CME Catalog) by the position angle (PA). The observed PA systematizes the times of the first arrival of protons and the growth rate of their intensity. The PA parameter should be taken into account in the analysis of proton events.

Evolution of Solar Eruptive Events: Investigating the Relationships among Magnetic Reconnection, Flare Energy Release, and Coronal Mass Ejections

We study the evolution of solar eruptive events by investigating the temporal relationships among magnetic reconnection, flare energy release, and the acceleration of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Leveraging the optimal viewing geometry of the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) relative to the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Reuven Ramaty High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) during 2010–2013, we identify 12 events with sufficient spatial and temporal coverage for a detailed examination. STEREO and SDO data are used to measure the CME kinematics and the reconnection rate, respectively, and hard X-ray (HXR) measurements from RHESSI provide a signature of the flare energy release. This analysis expands upon previous solar eruptive event timing studies by examining the fast-varying features, or “bursts,” in the HXR and reconnection rate profiles, which represent episodes of energy release. Through a time lag correlation analysis, we find that HXR bursts occur throughout the main CME acceleration phase for most events, with the HXR bursts lagging the acceleration by 2 ± 9 minutes for fast CMEs. Additionally, we identify a nearly one-to-one correspondence between bursts in the HXR and reconnection rate profiles, with HXRs lagging the reconnection rate by 1.4 ± 2.8 minutes. The studied events fall into two categories: events with a single dominant HXR burst and events with a train of multiple HXR bursts. Events with multiple HXR bursts, indicative of intermittent reconnection and/or particle acceleration, are found to correspond with faster CMEs.

Multi-point study of the energy release and impulsive CME dynamics in an eruptive C7 flare

Context. The energy release in eruptive flares and the kinematics of the associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are interlinked and require favorable observing positions as both on-disk and off–limb signatures are necessary to characterize these events. Aims. We combine observations from different vantage points to perform a detailed study of a long duration eruptive C7 class flare that occurred on 17 April 2021 and was partially occulted from Earth view. The dynamics and thermal properties of the flare-related plasma flows, the flaring arcade, and the energy releases and particle acceleration are studied together with the kinematic evolution of the associated CME in order to place this long duration event in context of previous eruptive flare studies. Methods. We use data from the Spectrometer-Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) onboard the Solar Orbiter to analyze the spectral characteristics, timing, and spatial distribution of the flare X-ray emission. Data from the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUVI) onboard the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory-Ahead (STEREO-A) spacecraft are used for context images as well as to track the ejected plasma close to the Sun. With Atmospheric Imaging Assembly extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the flare is observed off–limb and differential emission measure maps are reconstructed. The coronagraphs onboard STEREO-A are used to track the CME out to around 8 R⊙. Results. The flare showed hard X-ray (HXR) bursts over the duration of an hour in two phases lasting from 16:04 UT to 17:05 UT. During the first phase, a strong increase in emission from hot plasma and impulsive acceleration of the CME was observed. The CME acceleration profile shows a three-part evolution of slow rise, acceleration, and propagation in line with the first STIX HXR burst phase, which is triggered by a rising hot (14 MK) plasmoid. During the CME acceleration phase, we find signatures of ongoing magnetic reconnection behind the erupting structure, in agreement with the standard eruptive flare scenario. The subsequent HXR bursts that occur about 30 min after the primary CME acceleration show a spectral hardening (from δ ≈ 7 to δ ≈ 4) but do not correspond to further CME acceleration and chromospheric evaporation. Therefore, the CME-flare feedback relationship may only be of significance within the first 25 min. of the event under study, as thereafter the flare and the CME eruption evolve independently of each other.

K-shell radiation and bright spot characteristics of high-energy-density Fe-Cr-Ni plasmas influenced by X-pinch load geometry

K-shell radiation is diagnostically advantageous for the study of high-energy-density plasmas. The current work investigates the influence of load geometry on K-shell x-rays in Z-pinch plasmas produced on the 1-MA Zebra generator. Stainless steel (Fe: 69%, Cr: 20%, Ni: 9%) X-pinch wire loads are fielded with an interwire angle of 31° (small-angle) or 62.5° (large-angle), respectively and studied using various x-ray diode, imaging, and spectroscopic diagnostics. The large-angle geometry produced large, individual x-ray-emitting bright spots (> 3 keV) at the wire cross-point averaging areas ≥ 1 mm2, with noteworthy soft x-ray (> 0.75 keV) bursts and radiation yields ≤ 14.6 kJ. The small-angle geometry produced multiple x-ray-emitting bright spots extending the pinch axis with smaller average sizes (≤ 0.5 mm2), consistent with stronger current, increased radiation yield (≥ 15.5 kJ), and notable hard x-ray (> 9 keV) bursts, which peak with largest cumulative bright spot size. Spectroscopic analysis is performed with non-LTE collisional-radiative modeling, indicating a cold, nonthermal plasma region radiating from neutral to Ne-like ions, a hot, thermal region radiating from Fe and Cr He- and Li-like ions, and an intermediate region radiating Kα satellites from Li-like to O-like ions. Modeling of the nonthermal and satellite features imply a fractional hot electron abundance ∼0.1% and ∼0.5% for large- and small-angle geometries, respectively. Relative intensity analysis is performed on Heα and Kα lines, revealing intensity ratios that deviate from the original wire composition. Optical depth estimates allude to optically thick, thermal K-shell plasmas with densities consistent with non-LTE modeling.

High-energy Photon Opacity in the Twisted Magnetospheres of Magnetars

Magnetars are neutron stars characterized by strong surface magnetic fields generally exceeding the quantum critical value of 44.1 TG. High-energy photons propagating in their magnetospheres can be attenuated by QED processes like photon splitting and magnetic pair creation. In this paper, we compute the opacities due to photon splitting and pair creation by photons emitted anywhere in the magnetosphere of a magnetar. Axisymmetric, twisted dipole field configurations embedded in the Schwarzschild metric are treated. The paper computes the maximum energies for photon transparency that permit propagation to infinity in curved spacetime. Special emphasis is given to cases where photons are generated along magnetic field loops and/or in polar regions; these cases directly relate to resonant inverse Compton scattering models for the hard X-ray emission from magnetars and Comptonized soft gamma-ray emission from giant flares. We find that increases in magnetospheric twists raise or lower photon opacities, depending on both the emission locale and the competition between field-line straightening and field strength enhancement. Consequently, given the implicit spectral transparency of hard X-ray bursts and persistent “tail” emission of magnetars, photon splitting considerations constrain their emission region locales and the twist angle of the magnetosphere; these constraints can be probed by future soft gamma-ray telescopes such as COSI and AMEGO. The inclusion of twists generally increases the opaque volume of pair creation by photons above its threshold, except when photons are emitted in polar regions and approximately parallel to the field.

Multi-wavelength constraints on the outflow properties of the extremely bright millisecond radio bursts from the galactic magnetar SGR 1935 + 2154

ABSTRACT Extremely bright coherent radio bursts with millisecond duration, reminiscent of cosmological fast radio bursts, were codetected with anomalously-hard X-ray bursts from a Galactic magnetar SGR 1935 + 2154. We investigate the possibility that the event was triggered by the magnetic energy injection inside the magnetosphere, thereby producing magnetically-trapped fireball (FB) and relativistic outflows simultaneously. The thermal component of the X-ray burst is consistent with a trapped FB with an average temperature of ∼200–300 keV and size of ∼105 cm. Meanwhile, the non-thermal component of the X-ray burst and the coherent radio burst may arise from relativistic outflows. We calculate the dynamical evolution of the outflow, launched with an energy budget of 1039–1040 erg comparable to that for the trapped FB, for different initial baryon load η and magnetization σ0. If hard X-ray and radio bursts are both produced by the energy dissipation of the outflow, the outflow properties are constrained by combining the conditions for photon escape and the intrinsic timing offset ≲ 10 ms among radio and X-ray burst spikes. We show that the hard X-ray burst must be generated at rX ≳ 108 cm from the magnetar, irrespective of the emission mechanism. Moreover, we find that the outflow quickly accelerates up to a Lorentz factor of 102 ≲ Γ ≲ 103 by the time it reaches the edge of the magnetosphere and the dissipation occurs at 1012 cm ≲ rradio, X ≲ 1014 cm. Our results imply either extremely-clean (η ≳ 104) or highly-magnetized (σ0 ≳ 103) outflows, which might be consistent with the rarity of the phenomenon.

Correlated Spatio-temporal Evolution of Extreme-Ultraviolet Ribbons and Hard X-Rays in a Solar Flare

Abstract We analyze the structure and evolution of ribbons from the M7.3 SOL2014-04-18T13 flare using ultraviolet images from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), magnetic data from the SDO/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, hard X-ray (HXR) images from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, and light curves from the Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor, in order to infer properties of coronal magnetic reconnection. As the event progresses, two flare ribbons spread away from the magnetic polarity inversion line. The width of the newly brightened front along the extension of the ribbon is highly intermittent in both space and time, presumably reflecting nonuniformities in the structure and/or dynamics of the flare current sheet. Furthermore, the ribbon width grows most rapidly in regions exhibiting concentrated nonthermal HXR emission, with sharp increases slightly preceding the HXR bursts. The light curve of the ultraviolet emission matches the HXR light curve at photon energies above 25 keV. In other regions the ribbon-width evolution and light curves do not temporally correlate with the HXR emission. This indicates that the production of nonthermal electrons is highly nonuniform within the flare current sheet. Our results suggest a strong connection between the production of nonthermal electrons and the locally enhanced perpendicular extent of flare ribbon fronts, which in turn reflects the inhomogeneous structure and/or reconnection dynamics of the current sheet. Despite this variability, the ribbon fronts remain nearly continuous, quasi-one-dimensional features. Thus, although the reconnecting coronal current sheets are highly structured, they remain quasi-two-dimensional and the magnetic energy release occurs systematically, rather than stochastically, through the volume of the reconnecting magnetic flux.

Deep Upper Limit on the Optical Emission during a Hard X-Ray Burst from the Magnetar SGR J1935+2154

Abstract In 2021 September the magnetar SGR J1935+2154 entered a stage of burst/flaring activity in the hard X-ray band. On 2021 September 10, we observed SGR J1935+2154 with the fiber-fed fast optical photon counter IFI+Iqueye, mounted at the 1.22 m Galileo telescope in Asiago. During one of the IFI+Iqueye observing windows, a hard X-ray burst was detected with the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. We performed a search for any significant increase in the count rate on the 1 s, 10 ms, and 1 ms binned IFI+Iqueye light curves around the time of the Fermi burst. No significant peak was detected with a significance above 3σ in an interval of ±90 s around the burst. Correcting for interstellar extinction (A V ≃ 5.8 mag), the IFI+Iqueye upper limits to any possible optical burst from SGR J1935+2154 are V = 10.1 mag, V = 7.2 mag, and V = 5.8 mag for the 1 s, 10 ms, and 1 ms binned light curves, respectively. The corresponding extinction-corrected upper limits to the fluence (specific fluence) are 3.1 × 10−10 erg cm−2 (0.35 Jy s), 4.2 × 10−11 erg cm−2 (4.8 Jy ·10 ms), and 1.6 × 10−11 erg cm−2 (17.9 Jy ms), orders of magnitude deeper than any previous simultaneous optical limit on a magnetar burst. The IFI+Iqueye measurement can also place a more stringent constraint on the spectral index of the optical to hard X-ray fluence of SGR J1935+2154, implying a spectrum steeper than ν 0.64. Fast optical timing observations of bursts associated with radio emission then have the potential to yield a detection.

Neutrino emission from fast radio burst-emitting magnetars

ABSTRACT The detection of a bright radio burst (hereafter FRB 200428) in association with a hard X-ray burst from the Galactic magnetar SGR 1935+2154 suggests that magnetars can make fast radio bursts (FRBs). We study possible neutrino emission from FRB-emitting magnetars by developing a general theoretical framework. We consider three different sites for proton acceleration and neutrino emission i.e. within the magnetosphere, in the current sheet region beyond the light cylinder, and in relativistic shocks far away from the magnetosphere. Different cooling processes for protons and pions are considered to calculate the neutrino-emission suppression factor within each scenario. We find that the flux of the neutrino emission decreases with increasing radius from the magnetar due to the decrease of the target photon number density. We calculate the neutrino flux from FRB 200428 and its associated X-ray burst. The flux of the most optimistic case invoking magnetospheric proton acceleration is still ∼4 orders of magnitude below the IceCube sensitivity. We also estimate the diffuse neutrino background from all FRB-emitting magnetars in the universe. The total neutrino flux of magnetars during their FRB-emission phases is a negligible fraction of observed diffuse emission even under the most optimistic magnetospheric scenario for neutrino emission. However, if one assumes that many more X-ray bursts without FRB associations can also produce neutrinos with similar mechanisms, magnetars can contribute up to 10−8 GeV s−1 sr−1 cm−2 diffuse neutrino-background flux in the GeV to multi-TeV range.

INTEGRAL Limits on Past High-energy Activity from FRB 20200120E in M81

Abstract The repeating fast radio burst FRB 20200120E is located in a globular cluster belonging to the nearby M81 galaxy. Its small distance (3.6 Mpc) and accurate localization make it an interesting target to search for bursting activity at high energies. From 2003 November to 2021 September, the INTEGRAL satellite has obtained an exposure time of 18 Ms on the M81 sky region. We used these data to search for hard X-ray bursts from FRB 20200120E using the IBIS/ISGRI instrument, without finding any significant candidate, down to an average fluence limit of ∼10−8 erg cm−2 (20–200 keV). The corresponding limit on the isotropic luminosity for a burst of duration Δt is ∼ 10 45 10 ms Δ t erg s−1, the deepest limit obtained for an extragalactic FRB in the hard X-ray range. This rules out the emission of powerful flares at a rate higher than 0.1 yr−1 that could be expected in models invoking young hyperactive magnetars.

Similar Scale-invariant Behaviors between Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters and an Extreme Epoch from FRB 121102

Abstract The recent discovery of a Galactic fast radio burst (FRB) associated with a hard X-ray burst from the soft gamma-ray repeater (SGR) J1935+2154 has established the magnetar origin of at least some FRBs. In this work, we study the statistical properties of soft gamma-ray/hard X-ray bursts from SGRs 1806–20 and J1935+2154 and of radio bursts from the repeating FRB 121102. For SGRs, we show that the probability density functions for the differences of fluences, fluxes, and durations at different times have fat tails with a q-Gaussian form. The q values in the q-Gaussian distributions are approximately steady and independent of the temporal interval scale adopted, implying a scale-invariant structure of SGRs. These features indicate that SGR bursts may be governed by a self-organizing criticality (SOC) process, confirming previous findings. Very recently, 1652 independent bursts from FRB 121102 have been detected by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). Here we also investigate the scale-invariant structure of FRB 121102 based on the latest observations of FAST, and show that FRB 121102 and SGRs share similar statistical properties. Given the bimodal energy distribution of FRB 121102 bursts, we separately explore the scale-invariant behaviors of low- and high-energy bursts of FRB 121102. We find that the q values of low- and high-energy bursts are different, which further strengthens the evidence of the bimodality of the energy distribution. Scale invariance in both the high-energy component of FRB 121102 and SGRs can be well explained within the same physical framework of fractal-diffusive SOC systems.

Statistical analysis of solar radio fiber bursts and relations with flares

Fiber bursts are a type of fine structure that frequently occurs in solar flares. Although observations and theory of fiber bursts have been studied for decades, their microphysical process, emission mechanism, and especially the physical links with the flaring process still remain unclear. We performed a detailed statistical study of fiber bursts observed by the Chinese Solar Broadband Radio Spectrometers in Huairou with high spectral-temporal resolutions in the frequency ranges of 1.10−2.06 GHz and 2.60−3.80 GHz during 2000−2006. We identify more than 900 individual fiber bursts in 82 fiber events associated with 48 solar flares. From the soft X-ray observations of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, we found that more than 40% of fiber events occurred in the preflare and rising phases of the associated solar flares. Most fiber events are temporally associated with hard X-ray bursts observed by RHESSI or microwave bursts observed by the Nobeyama Radio Polarimaters, which implies that they are closely related to the nonthermal energetic electrons. The results indicate that most fiber bursts have a close temporal relation with energetic electrons. Most fiber bursts are strongly polarized, and their average duration, relative bandwidth, and relative frequency-drift rate are about 1.22 s, 6.31%, and −0.069 s−1. The average duration and relative bandwidth of fiber bursts increase with solar flare class. The fiber bursts associated with X-class flares have a significantly lower mean relative frequency-drift rate. The average durations in the postflare phase are clearly longer than the duration in the preflare and rising phases. The relative drift rate in the rising phase is clearly higher than that in preflare and postflare phases. The hyperbola correlation of the average duration and the relative drift rate of the fiber bursts is very interesting. These characteristics are very important for understanding the formation of solar radio fiber bursts and for revealing the nonthermal processes of the related solar flares.

Experimental study on fast electron generation during internal crash

Hard x-ray (HXR) burst is found during internal crash in the flat top current stage of experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) discharges and it is caused by fast electrons. The generated electrons during internal crashes may be an operational safety issue in advanced tokamaks. During an internal crash, locations of fast electron generation from HXR evolution agree with areas of magnetic reconnection from soft x-ray (SXR) tomographic reconstruction. Further statistical analyses show a 27 μs time difference between SXR crashes and HXR bursts, and the agreement between time broadening of HXR bursts and estimated characteristic time of magnetic reconnection in EAST. The magnetic reconnections during internal crash are proved to generate fast electrons, by both spatial and temporal agreements.

Broadband X-ray burst spectroscopy of the fast-radio-burst-emitting Galactic magnetar

Magnetars are young, magnetically powered neutron stars that possess the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe. Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extremely intense millisecond-long radio pulses of primarily extragalactic origin, and a leading attribution for their genesis focuses on magnetars. A hallmark signature of magnetars is their emission of bright, hard X-ray bursts of sub-second duration. On 27 April 2020, the Galactic magnetar SGR J1935+2154 emitted hundreds of X-ray bursts within a few hours. One of these temporally coincided with an FRB, the first known detection of an FRB from the Milky Way. Here, we present spectral and temporal analyses of 24 X-ray bursts emitted 13 hours prior to the FRB and seen simultaneously with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and with the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) mission in their combined energy range of 0.2 keV to 30 MeV. These broadband spectra permit direct comparison with the spectrum of the FRB-associated X-ray burst (FRB-X). We demonstrate that all 24 NICER and GBM bursts are very similar temporally to the FRB-X, but strikingly different spectrally. The singularity of the FRB-X burst is perhaps indicative of an uncommon locale for its origin. We suggest that this event originated in quasi-polar open or closed magnetic field lines that extend to high altitudes.

The New Magnetar SGR J1830−0645 in Outburst

Abstract The detection of a short hard X-ray burst and an associated bright soft X-ray source by the Swift satellite in 2020 October heralded a new magnetar in outburst, SGR J1830−0645. Pulsations at a period of ∼10.4 s were detected in prompt follow-up X-ray observations. We present here the analysis of the Swift/Burst Alert Telescope burst, of XMM-Newton and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observations performed at the outburst peak, and of a Swift/X-ray Telescope monitoring campaign over the subsequent month. The burst was single-peaked, lasted ∼6 ms, and released a fluence of ≈5 × 10−9 erg cm−2 (15–50 keV). The spectrum of the X-ray source at the outburst peak was well described by an absorbed double-blackbody model plus a power-law component detectable up to ∼25 keV. The unabsorbed X-ray flux decreased from ∼5 × 10−11 to ∼2.5 × 10−11 erg cm−2 s−1 one month later (0.3–10 keV). Based on our timing analysis, we estimate a dipolar magnetic field ≈5.5 × 1014 G at pole, a spin-down luminosity ≈2.4 × 1032 erg s−1, and a characteristic age ≈24 kyr. The spin modulation pattern appears highly pulsed in the soft X-ray band, and becomes smoother at higher energies. Several short X-ray bursts were detected during our campaign. No evidence for periodic or single-pulse emission was found at radio frequencies in observations performed with the Sardinia Radio Telescope and Parkes. According to magneto-thermal evolutionary models, the real age of SGR J1830−0645 is close to the characteristic age, and the dipolar magnetic field at birth was slightly larger, ∼1015 G.

High-energy emission from a magnetar giant flare in the Sculptor galaxy

Magnetars are the most highly magnetized neutron stars in the cosmos (with magnetic field 1013–1015 G). Giant flares from magnetars are rare, short-duration (about 0.1 s) bursts of hard X-rays and soft γ rays1,2. Owing to the limited sensitivity and energy coverage of previous telescopes, no magnetar giant flare has been detected at gigaelectronvolt (GeV) energies. Here, we report the discovery of GeV emission from a magnetar giant flare on 15 April 2020 (refs. 3,4 and A. J. Castro-Tirado et al., manuscript in preparation). The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected GeV γ rays from 19 s until 284 s after the initial detection of a signal in the megaelectronvolt (MeV) band. Our analysis shows that these γ rays are spatially associated with the nearby (3.5 megaparsecs) Sculptor galaxy and are unlikely to originate from a cosmological γ-ray burst. Thus, we infer that the γ rays originated with the magnetar giant flare in Sculptor. We suggest that the GeV signal is generated by an ultra-relativistic outflow that first radiates the prompt MeV-band photons, and then deposits its energy far from the stellar magnetosphere. After a propagation delay, the outflow interacts with environmental gas and produces shock waves that accelerate electrons to very high energies; these electrons then emit GeV γ rays as optically thin synchrotron radiation. This observation implies that a relativistic outflow is associated with the magnetar giant flare, and suggests the possibility that magnetars can power some short γ-ray bursts.

A Search for Hard X-Ray Bursts Occurring Simultaneously with Fast Radio Bursts in the Repeating FRB 121102

Abstract The nature of fast radio bursts (FRBs) is currently unknown. Repeating FRBs offer better observation opportunities than nonrepeating FRBs because their simultaneous multiwavelength counterparts might be identified. The magnetar flare model of FRBs is one of the most promising models that predict high-energy emission in addition to radio burst emission. To investigate such a possibility, we have searched for simultaneous and quasi-simultaneous short-term hard X-ray bursts in all Swift/BAT event mode data, which covered the periods when FRB detections were reported in the repeating FRB 121102, by making use of BAT’s arcminute-level spatial resolution and wide field of view. We did not find any significant hard X-ray bursts that occurred simultaneously with those radio bursts. We also investigated potential short X-ray bursts that occurred quasi-simultaneously with those radio bursts (occurrence time differs in the range from hundreds of seconds to thousands of seconds) and concluded that even the best candidates are consistent with background fluctuations. Therefore, our investigation concluded that there were no hard X-ray bursts detectable with Swift/BAT that occurred simultaneously or quasi-simultaneously with those FRBs in the repeating FRB 121102.

Parametric Evolution of Power-law Energy Spectra of Flare Accelerated Electrons in the Solar Atmosphere

Abstract It is well known that solar hard X-ray bursts (HXRs) and solar radio bursts (SRBs) from solar flares both are produced directly by fast electron beams (FEBs) traveling through the solar atmosphere. The observed characteristics of HXRs and SRBs sensitively depend on the energy distribution of FEBs, which are believed commonly to have a power-law energy spectrum. When FEBs propagating in the solar atmosphere, however, their energy spectra can considerably vary due to the interaction with the atmospheric plasmas and this may significantly influence the observational characteristics of the producing HXRs and SRBs. In the present paper, based on flare atmospheric models, we investigate the parametric evolution of power-law spectra of FEBs due to their energy losses when propagating along flaring loops. The results show that an initially single power-law spectrum with a lower-energy cutoff can evolve into a more complex double power-law spectrum or a broken power-law spectrum with multi-breaking knees because of the dependence of the energy loss on the initial energies. The possible effects of the energy-spectral evolution of FEBs on observational characteristics of their HXR flares and SRBs are discussed. The present results are helpful to understand the physics of dynamical spectra of HXRs and SRBs from solar flares.

The Energetic Thermonuclear Bursts in SAX J1712.6–3739

Abstract The neutron star low-mass X-ray binary SAX J1712.6–3739 is known for its long and hard thermonuclear X-ray bursts from previous observations. Its thermonuclear bursts are so distinct as they can last for tens of minutes, as seen with Swift/BAT (E > 15 keV). To explore the origin of these extreme bursts and the nature of SAX J1712.6–3739, we analyzed the observations of all four bursts that were captured by Swift/BAT and derived the peak flux and the fluence of these bursts from joint studies with Swift/XRT and Swift/BAT. The derived bolometric peak fluxes observed by Swift set the distance of SAX J1712.6–3739 to be 4.6–5.6 kpc, while the derived absolute magnitude and average accretion rate agree with its ultracompact nature. Our measurements of the effective duration of these bursts conclude that the 2010 burst corresponds to a normal X-ray burst, the 2011 burst is consistent with an intermediate-duration burst, while the 2014 and the 2018 bursts are more energetic than common intermediate-duration bursts but less energetic than those known superbursts. We estimated that the average mass accretion rate of SAX J1712.6–3739 was about only 0.4%–0.7% . Current theory predicts no carbon production in the bursters under such low accretion rate. If true, the 2014 and 2018 bursts are then deep helium bursts instead of carbon bursts. The thermonuclear bursts of SAX J1712.6–3739 have shown a very wide range of durations. The ignition model predicts that the diverse burst durations are induced by variable accretion rates, but current results provide only weak support to this inference.