Synchrotron X-ray diagnostics of cutoff shape of nonthermal electron spectrum at young supernova remnants

Synchrotron X-rays can be a useful tool to investigate electron accelera- tion at young supemova remnants （SNRs）. At present, since the magnetic field con- figuration around the shocks of SNRs is uncertain, it is not clear whether electron acceleration is limited by SNR age, synchrotron cooling, or even escape from the ac- celeration region. We study whether the acceleration mechanism can be constrained by the cutoff shape of the electron spectrum around the maximum energy. We derive analytical formulae of the cutoff shape in each case where the maximum electron en- ergy is determined by SNR age, synchrotron cooling and escape from the shock. They are related to the energy dependence of the electron diffusion coefficient. Next, we discuss whether information on the cutoff shape can be provided by observations in the near future which will simply give the photon indices and the flux ratios in the soft and hard X-ray bands. We find that if the power-law index of the electron spectrum is independently determined by other observations, then we can constrain the cutoff shape by comparing theoretical predictions of the photon indices and/or the flux ratios with observed data which will be measured by NuSTAR and/or ASTRO-H. Such study is helpful in understanding the acceleration mechanism. In particular, it will supply another independent constraint on the magnetic field strength around the shocks of SNRs.

Evidence for nematic superconductivity of topological surface states in PbTaSe2

Spontaneous symmetry breaking has been a paradigm to describe the phase transitions in condensed matter physics.In addition to the continuous electromagnetic gauge symmetry,an unconventional superconductor can break discrete symmetries simultaneously,such as time reversal and lattice rotational symmetry.In this work we report a characteristic in-plane 2-fold behaviour of the resistive upper critical field and point-contact spectra on the superconducting semimetal PbTaSe2 with topological nodal-rings,despite its hexagonal lattice symmetry(or D3 h in bulk while C3 v on surface,to be precise).The 2-fold behaviour persists up to its surface upper critical field Hc2R even though bulk superconductivity has been suppressed at its bulk upper critical field Hc2HC<<Hc2R,signaling its probable surface-only electronic nematicity.In addition,we do not observe any lattice rotational symmetry breaking signal from field-angle-dependent specific heat within the resolution.It is worth noting that such surface-only electronic nematicity is in sharp contrast to the observation in the topological superconductor candidate,CuxBi2Se3,where the nematicity occurs in various bulk measurements.In combination with theory,superconducting nematicity is likely to emerge from the topological surface states of PbTaSe2,rather than the proximity effect.The issue of time reversal symmetry breaking is also addressed.Thus,our results on PbTaSe2 shed new light on possible routes to realize nematic superconductivity with nontrivial topology.

Chaos control in a discrete-time predator-prey model with weak Allee effect

The stability of the predator-prey model subject to the Allee effect is an interesting topic in recent times.In this paper,we investigate the impact of weak Allee effect on the stability of a discrete-time predator-prey model with Holling type-IV functional response.The mathematical features of the proposed model are analyzed with the help of equilibrium analysis,stability analysis,and bifurcation theory.We provide sufficient conditions for the flip bifurcation by considering Allee parameter as the bifurcation parameter.We observe that the model becomes stable from chaotic dynamics as the Allee parameter increases.Further,we observe bi-stability behavior of the model between only prey existence equilibrium and the coexistence equilibrium.Our analytical findings are illustrated through numerical simulations.

Observatory science with eXTP

In this White Paper we present the potential of the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry(eXTP) mission for studies related to Observatory Science targets. These include flaring stars, supernova remnants, accreting white dwarfs, low and high mass X-ray binaries, radio quiet and radio loud active galactic nuclei, tidal disruption events, and gamma-ray bursts. eXTP will be excellently suited to study one common aspect of these objects: their often transient nature. Developed by an international Consortium led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science, the eXTP mission is expected to be launched in the mid 2020s.