Possible γ-ray emission of radio intermediate AGN Ⅲ Zw 2 and its implication on the evolution of jets in AGNs

AGNs with hard γ-ray emission identified so far are radio-loud. Ⅲ Zw 2 is a radio intermediate AGN with a relativistic jet. We study its spectral energy distribution （SED） and find that the broad band emissions are dominated by the nonthermal emissions from the jet. We model its SED through a synchrotron ＋ inverse Compton （IC） model. The results show that the IC component of Ⅲ Zw 2 peaks at a few MeV, and the flux density drops rapidly at higher energy with photon index F 3.3 above 0.1 GeV. The predicted flux is slightly over the sensitivity of Fermi/LAT, but it was not included in the first Fermi/LAT AGN catalog. The reason for this may be： 1） that the IC peak is low and the spectrum is very steep above 0.1 GeV, 2） that Ⅲ Zw 2 is in the low state during the period of the Fermi/LAT operation. We also find that Ⅲ Zw 2 follows similar jet processes as those in γ-ray AGNs, e.g., the relation between jet power and radiation power, which is called the blazar sequence. We suggest that Ⅲ Zw 2 may be a young source at an earlier stage of jet activity.

Cylindrical Jet - Wind Interaction Model of Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows

Observations on relativistic jets in radio galaxies, active galactic nuclei, and 'microquasars' revealed that many of these outflows are cylindrical, not conical. So it is worthwhile to investigate the evolution of cylindrical jets in gamma-ray bursts. We discuss afterglows from cylindrical jets in a wind environment. Numerical results as well as analytic solutions in some special cases are presented. Our light curves are steeper compared to those in the homogeneous interstellar medium case, carefully considered by Cheng, Huang & Lu. We conclude that some afterglows, used to be interpreted as isotropic fireballs in a wind environment, can be fitted as well by cylindrical jets interacting with a wind.

A modified stratified model for the 3C 273 jet

We present a modified stratified jet model to interpret the observed spectral energy distributions of knots in the 3C 273 jet. Based on the hypothesis of the single index of the particle energy spectrum at injection and identical emission processes among all the knots, the observed difference of spectral shape among different 3C 273 knots can be understood as a manifestation of the deviation of the equivalent Doppler factor of stratified emission regions in an individual knot from a characteristic one. The summed spectral energy distributions of all ten knots in the 3C 273 jet can be well fitted by two components; a low-energy component （radio to optical） dominated by synchrotron radiation and a high- energy component （UV, X-ray and γ-ray） dominated by inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background. This gives a consistent spectral index of α = 0.88 （Sv ∝ v^-α） and a characteristic Doppler factor of 7.4. Assuming the average of the summed spectrum as the characteristic spectrum of each knot in the 3C 273 jet, we further get a distribution of Doppler factors. We discuss the possible implications of these results for the physical properties in the 3C 273 jet. Future GeV observations with GLAST could separate the 7-ray emission of 3C 273 from the large scale jet and the small scale jet （i.e. the core） through measuring the GeV spectrum.

Spectral Reversal and Stratification of the Jet in 3C 273

Quasi-simultaneous VLBI observations at 15-86 GHz have shown that in the classical superluminal radio source 3C273, the spectral index a (Sv ∝ vα) has a systematic variation along the jet. For epoch 1995.15, a spectral reversal was observed at core distance - 1.5 mas, where the superluminal knot C12 located. Similarly, for epoch 1997.18, two spectral reversals were observed at core distances of -1.8 mas and -4.2 mas, where superluminal knots C11 and C14 werel respectively. These spectral reversals are associated with local maxim of the jet width. We suggest that this phenomenon may be related to a stratification of the jet structure, i.e., its physical parameters (flow velocity, Doppler factor, electron density and energy, magnetic field strength, etc.) are substantially dependent on the distance from the jet axis. These properties may be naturally formed through gasdynamic processes when the jet expands into a lower pressure ambient medium.

A new method of combined rock drilling

Based on the technologies of traditionally mechanical drilling and water jet,we propose a new method of abrasive water jet in combination with rock drilling,and establish a combined rock drilling system for the gas pre-drainage.This study chose the common sandstone and silicon limestone as the rock sample.A series of experiments were completed in the case of dry drilling,existing technology drilling,combined drilling with high pressure water jet and combined drilling with abrasive water jet,respectively.The drilling efficiency and performance were contrasted and analyzed in detail.The results indicate that it is better to choose the method of combined drilling with the high-pressure water jet for soft rocks.The method of combined drilling with abrasive water jet is feasible for the hard rock drilling and has higher drilling efficiency and performance.In this paper,compared with the existing technology,the drilling depth has increased by about 65%,the axial force and torque have reduced by about 14%and 17%,respectively,and the drill wear reduces obviously in the same conditions.

Gamma-Ray Bursts: Afterglows and Central Engines

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most intense transient gamma-ray events in the sky; this, together with the strong evidence (the isotropic and inhomogeneous distribution of GRBs detected by BASTE) that they are located at cosmological distances, makes them the most energetic events ever known. For example, the observed radiation energies of some GRBs are equivalent to the total convertion into radiation of the mass energy of more than one solar mass. This is thousand times stronger than the energy of a supernova explosion. Some unconventional energy mechanism and extremely high conversion efficiency for these mysterious events are required. The discovery of host galaxies and association with supernovae at cosmological distances by the recently launched satellite of BeppoSAX and ground based radio and optical telescopes in GRB afterglow provides further support to the cosmological origin of GRBs and put strong constraints on their central engine. It is the aim of this article to review the possible central engines, energy mechanisms, dynamical and spectral evolution of GRBs, especially focusing on the afterglows in multi-wavebands.

The Synchrotron-self-Compton Radiation Accompanying Shallow Decaying X-Ray Afterglow:the Case of GRB 940217

High energy emission （〉 tens MeV） of Gamma-Ray Bursts （GRBs） provides an important clue on the physical processes occurring in GRBs that may be correlated with the GRB early afterglow. A shallow decline phase has been well identified in about half of Swift Gamma-ray Burst x-ray afterglows. The widely considered interpretation inv.olves a significant energy injection and possibly time-evolving shock parameter（s）. We calculate the synchrotron-self-Compton （SSC） radiation of such an external forward shock and show that it could explain the well-known long term high energy （i.e., tens MeV to GeV） afterglow of GRB 940217. We propose that cooperation of Swift and GLAST will help to reveal the nature of GRBs.

The physical origin of optical flares following GRB 110205A and the nature of the outflow

The optical emission of GRB 110205A is distinguished by two flares. We examine two possible scenarios for the optical afterglow emission. In the first scenario, the first optical flare is the reverse shock emission of the main outflow and the second one is powered by the prolonged activity of the central engine. However, we find that it is rather hard to reasonably interpret the late （t〉0.1 d） afterglow data unless the GRB efficiency is very high （~0.95）. In the second scenario, the first optical flare is the low energy prompt emission and the second one is the reverse shock of the initial outflow. Within this scenario we can interpret the late afterglow emission self-consistently. The reverse shock region may be weakly magnetized and the decline of the second optical flare may be dominated by the high latitude emission, for which strong polarization evolution accompanying the quick decline is possible, as suggested by Fan et al. in 2008. Time-resolved polarimetry by RINGO2-like polarimeters will directly test our prediction.

X-ray plateaus followed by sharp drops in GRBs 060413, 060522, 060607A and 080330: Further evidences for central engine afterglow from gamma-ray bursts

The X-ray afterglows of GRBs 060413, 060522, 060607A and 080330 are characterized by a plateau followed by a very sharp drop. The plateau could be explained within the framework of the external forward shock model but the sharp drop can not. We interpret the plateau as the afterglows of magnetized central engines, plausibly magnetars. In this model, the X-ray afterglows are powered by the internal magnetic energy dissipation and the sudden drop is caused by the collapse of the magnetar. Accordingly, the X-ray plateau photons should have a high linear polarization, which can be tested by future X-ray polarimetry.