Compton sailing and strong polarization

David Eichler

doi:10.1086/421046

Compton sailing and strong polarization

David Eichler

Department of Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is noted that a surface layer of matter in contact with a sufficiently super-Eddington radially combed photon flux typically attains a relativistic coasting state whereby the radiation does not accelerate the matter. The final bulk Lorentz factor of this matter is therefore determined by geometry. Radiation that scatters off this layer is most likely to be observed along the velocity vector of the matter, where it would be most strongly polarized.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L81-L84
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	608
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/421046
State	Published - 20 Jun 2004

Keywords

Black hole physics
Gamma rays: bursts
Gamma rays: theory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/421046

Cite this

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title = "Compton sailing and strong polarization",

abstract = "It is noted that a surface layer of matter in contact with a sufficiently super-Eddington radially combed photon flux typically attains a relativistic coasting state whereby the radiation does not accelerate the matter. The final bulk Lorentz factor of this matter is therefore determined by geometry. Radiation that scatters off this layer is most likely to be observed along the velocity vector of the matter, where it would be most strongly polarized.",

keywords = "Black hole physics, Gamma rays: bursts, Gamma rays: theory",

author = "David Eichler",

note = "Funding Information: I thank A. Levinson, E. Derishev, and Y. Lyubarsky for useful discussions. This research was supported by the Arnow Chair of Astrophysics at Ben Gurion University, by an Adler Fellowship awarded by the Israel Science Foundation, by a grant from the Israel-US Binational Science Foundation, and by a Center of Excellence grant from the Israeli Science Foundation.",

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N1 - Funding Information: I thank A. Levinson, E. Derishev, and Y. Lyubarsky for useful discussions. This research was supported by the Arnow Chair of Astrophysics at Ben Gurion University, by an Adler Fellowship awarded by the Israel Science Foundation, by a grant from the Israel-US Binational Science Foundation, and by a Center of Excellence grant from the Israeli Science Foundation.

PY - 2004/6/20

Y1 - 2004/6/20

N2 - It is noted that a surface layer of matter in contact with a sufficiently super-Eddington radially combed photon flux typically attains a relativistic coasting state whereby the radiation does not accelerate the matter. The final bulk Lorentz factor of this matter is therefore determined by geometry. Radiation that scatters off this layer is most likely to be observed along the velocity vector of the matter, where it would be most strongly polarized.

AB - It is noted that a surface layer of matter in contact with a sufficiently super-Eddington radially combed photon flux typically attains a relativistic coasting state whereby the radiation does not accelerate the matter. The final bulk Lorentz factor of this matter is therefore determined by geometry. Radiation that scatters off this layer is most likely to be observed along the velocity vector of the matter, where it would be most strongly polarized.

KW - Black hole physics

KW - Gamma rays: bursts

KW - Gamma rays: theory

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3142661242&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/421046

DO - 10.1086/421046

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:3142661242

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 608

SP - L81-L84

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 II

ER -

Compton sailing and strong polarization

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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