Plasmoid ejection by Alfv\'en waves and the fast radio bursts from SGR 1935+2154

TL;DR

This paper uses numerical simulations to propose that Alfvén wave-driven plasmoid ejections from a magnetar can produce the observed simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts in SGR 1935+2154, explaining their timing and energetics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism where Alfvén wave-induced plasmoid ejections generate observable fast radio bursts and X-ray spikes from magnetars.

Findings

Simulations show plasmoid ejections can produce strong, variable winds.

Ejected plasmoids generate near-simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts.

A modest energy input (~10^40 erg) suffices to explain observations.

Abstract

Using numerical simulations we show that low-amplitude Alfv\'en waves from a magnetar quake propagate to the outer magnetosphere and convert to "plasmoids" (closed magnetic loops) which accelerate from the star, driving blast waves into the magnetar wind. Quickly after its formation, the plasmoid becomes a thin relativistic pancake. It pushes out the magnetospheric field lines, and they gradually reconnect behind the pancake, generating a variable wind far stronger than the normal spindown wind of the magnetar. Repeating ejections drive blast waves in the amplified wind. We suggest that these ejections generate the simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts detected from SGR 1935+2154. A modest energy budget of the magnetospheric perturbation $\sim 10^{40}$ erg is sufficient to produce the observed bursts. Our simulation predicts a narrow (a few ms) X-ray spike from the magnetosphere, arriving almost simultaneously with the radio burst emitted far outside the magnetosphere. This timing is caused by the extreme relativistic motion of the ejecta.