In recent years, increasing evidence for chemical complexity and multiple stellar populations in massive globular clusters (GCs) has emerged, including extreme horizontal branches (EHBs) and UV excess. Our goal is to improve our understanding of UV excess in the regime of both massive GCs and ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs). To this end, we use deep archival GALEX data of the central Fornax cluster to measure NUV and FUV magnitudes of UCDs and massive GCs. We obtain NUV photometry for a sample of 35 compact objects with -13.5<M_V<-10 mag. Of those, 21 objects also have FUV photometry. Roughly half of the sources fall into the UCD luminosity regime (M_V <=-11 mag). We find that seven out of 17 massive Fornax GCs exhibit a NUV excess with respect to expectations from stellar population models, even for models with enhanced Helium abundance. This suggests that not only He-enrichment has contributed to forming the EHB population of these GCs. The GCs extend to stronger UV excess than GCs in M31 and massive GCs in M87, at the 97% confidence level. Most of the UCDs with FUV photometry also show evidence for UV excess, but their UV colours can be matched by isochrones with enhanced Helium abundances and old ages 12-14 Gyrs. We find that Fornax compact objects with X-ray emission detected from Chandra images are almost disjunct in colour from compact objects with GALEX UV detection, with only one X-ray source among the 35 compact objects. However, since this source is one of the three most UV bright GCs, we cannot exclude that the physical processes causing X-ray emission also contribute to some of the observed UV excess.
Exploring the diversity of dark energy dynamics, we discover a calibration relation, a uniform stretching of the amplitude of the equation of state time variation with scale factor. This defines homogeneous families of dark energy physics. The calibration factor has a close relation to the standard time variation parameter w_a, and we show that the new, calibrated w_a describes observables, i.e. distance and Hubble parameter as a function of redshift, typically to an accuracy level of 10^{-3}. We discuss implications for figures of merit for dark energy science programs.
The Einstein radius plays a central role in lens studies as it characterises the strength of gravitational lensing. The distribution of Einstein radii near the upper cutoff should probe the largest mass concentrations in the universe. Adopting a triaxial halo model, we compute expected distributions of large Einstein radii. To assess the cosmic variance, we generate a number of all-sky Monte-Carlo realisations. We find that the expected largest Einstein radius in the universe is sensitive to the cosmological model: for a source redshift z=1, they are 42^{+9}_{-7}, 35^{+8}_{-6}, and 54^{+12}_{-7} arcseconds, assuming best-fit parameters of the WMAP5, WMAP3 and WMAP1 data, respectively. These values are broadly consistent with current observations given their incompleteness. For the same source redshift, we expect in all-sky 35 (WMAP5), 15 (WMAP3), and 150 (WMAP1) clusters that have Einstein radii larger than 20''. Whilst the values of the largest Einstein radii are almost unaffected by the primordial non-Gaussianity currently of interest, the abundance of large lens clusters should probe non-Gaussianity competitively with CMB, but only if other cosmological parameters are well-measured. We also find that these "superlens" clusters constitute a highly biased population. For instance, a substantial fraction of these superlens clusters have major axes preferentially aligned with the line-of-sight. As a consequence, the projected mass distributions of the clusters are rounder by an ellipticity of 0.2 and have 40%-60% larger concentrations compared with typical clusters with similar redshifts and masses. We argue that the large concentration measured in A1689 is consistent with our model prediction at the 1.2\sigma level. (Abridged)
We present deep imaging of the star-forming dwarf galaxy IC2574 in the M81 group taken with the Large Binocular Telescope in order to study in detail the recent star-formation history of this galaxy and to constrain the stellar feedback on its HI gas. We identify the star-forming areas in the galaxy by removing a smooth disk component from the optical images. We construct pixel-by-pixel maps of stellar age and stellar mass surface density in these regions by comparing their observed colors with simple stellar populations synthesized with STARBURST99. We find that an older burst occurred about 100 Myr ago within the inner 4 kpc and that a younger burst happened in the last 10 Myr mostly at galactocentric radii between 4 and 8 kpc. We analyze the stellar populations residing in the known HI holes of IC2574. Our results indicate that, even at the remarkable photometric depth of the LBT data, there is no clear one-to-one association between the observed HI holes and the most recent bursts of star formation in IC2574. The stellar populations formed during the younger burst are usually located at the periphery of the HI holes and are seen to be younger than the holes dynamical age. The kinetic energy of the holes expansion is found to be on average 10% of the total stellar energy released by the stellar winds and supernova explosions of the young stellar populations within the holes. With the help of control apertures distributed across the galaxy we estimate that the kinetic energy stored in the HI gas in the form of its local velocity dispersion is about 35% of the total stellar energy.
Recent observations of UV-/optically selected, massive star forming galaxies at z~2 indicate that the baryonic mass assembly and star formation history is dominated by continuous rapid accretion of gas and internal secular evolution, rather than by major mergers. We use the Millennium Simulation to build new halo merger trees, and extract halo merger fractions and mass accretion rates. We find that even for halos not undergoing major mergers the mass accretion rates are plausibly sufficient to account for the high star formation rates observed in z~2 disks. On the other hand, the fraction of major mergers in the Millennium Simulation is sufficient to account for the number counts of submillimeter galaxies (SMGs), in support of observational evidence that these are major mergers. When following the fate of these two populations in the Millennium Simulation to z=0, we find that subsequent mergers are not frequent enough to convert all z~2 turbulent disks into elliptical galaxies at z=0. Similarly, mergers cannot transform the compact SMGs/red sequence galaxies at z~2 into observed massive cluster ellipticals at z=0. We argue therefore, that secular and internal evolution must play an important role in the evolution of a significant fraction of z~2 UV-/optically and submillimeter selected galaxy populations.
We study the central dark matter (DM) cusp evolution in cosmological galactic halos. Models with and without baryons (baryons+DM, hereafter BDM model, and pure DM, PDM model, respectively) are advanced from identical initial conditions. The DM cusp properties are contrasted by a direct comparison of pure DM and baryonic models. We find a divergent evolution between the PDM and BDM models within the inner ~10 kpc region. The PDM model forms a R^{-1} cusp as expected, while the DM in the BDM model forms a larger isothermal cusp R^{-2} instead. The isothermal cusp is stable until z~1 when it gradually levels off. This leveling proceeds from inside out and the final density slope is shallower than -1 within the central 3 kpc (i.e., expected size of the R^{-1} cusp), tending to a flat core within ~2 kpc. This effect cannot be explained by a finite resolution of our code which produces only a 5% difference between the gravitationally softened force and the exact Newtonian force of point masses at 1 kpc from the center. Neither is it related to the energy feedback from stellar evolution or angular momentum transfer from the bar. Instead it can be associated with the action of DM+baryon subhalos heating up the cusp region via dynamical friction and forcing the DM in the cusp to flow out and to `cool' down. The process described here is not limited to low z and can be efficient at intermediate and even high z.
I review the theory of angular momentum acquisition of galaxies by tidal torquing, the resulting angular momentum distribution, the angular momentum correlation function and discuss the implications of angular momentum alignments on weak lensing measurements: Starting from linear models for tidal torquing I summarise perturbative approaches and the results from n-body simulations of cosmic structure formation. Then I continue to discuss the validity of decompositions of the tidal shear and inertia fields, the effects of angular momentum biasing, the applicability of parameterised angular momentum correlation models and the consequences of angular momentum correlations for shape alignments. I compile the result of observations of shape alignments in recent galaxy surveys as well as in n-body simulations. Finally, I review the contamination of weak lensing surveys by spin-induced shape alignments and methods for suppressing this contamination.
Stars in disks of spiral galaxies are usually assumed to remain roughly at their birth radii. This assumption is built into decades of modelling of the evolution of stellar populations in our own Galaxy and in external systems. We present results from self-consistent high-resolution $N$-body + Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics simulations of disk formation, in which stars migrate across significant galactocentric distances due to resonant scattering with transient spiral arms, while preserving their circular orbits. We investigate the implications of such migrations for observed stellar populations. Radial migration provides an explanation for the observed flatness and spread in the age-metallicity relation and the relative lack of metal poor stars in the solar neighborhood. The presence of radial migration also prompts rethinking of interpretations of extra-galactic stellar population data, especially for determinations of star formation histories.
We present first results from the Southern Cosmology Survey, a new multiwavelength survey of the southern sky coordinated with the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), a recently commissioned ground-based mm-band Cosmic Microwave Background experiment. This article presents a full analysis of archival optical multi-band imaging data covering an 8 square degree region near right ascension 23 hours and declination -55 degrees, obtained by the Blanco 4-m telescope and Mosaic-II camera in late 2005. We describe the pipeline we have developed to process this large data volume, obtain accurate photometric redshifts, and detect optical clusters. Our cluster finding process uses the combination of a matched spatial filter, photometric redshift probability distributions and richness estimation. We present photometric redshifts, richness estimates, luminosities, and masses for 8 new optically-selected clusters with mass greater than $3\times10^{14}M_{\sun}$ at redshifts out to 0.7. We also present estimates for the expected Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) signal from these clusters as specific predictions for upcoming observations by ACT, the South Pole Telescope and Atacama Pathfinder Experiment.
Magnetowave induced plasma wakefield acceleration (MPWA) in a relativistic astrophysical outflow has been proposed as a viable mechanism for the acceleration of cosmic particles to ultra high energies. Here we present simulation results that demonstrate the viability of this mechanism. We invoke the high frequency and high speed whistler mode for the driving pulse. The plasma wakefield so induced validates precisely the theoretical prediction. This mechanism is shown capable of accelerating charged particles to ZeV energies in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).
Standard cosmology has many successes on large scales, but faces some fundamental difficulties on small, galactic scales. One such difficulty is the cusp/core problem. High resolution observations of the rotation curves for dark matter dominated low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies imply that galactic dark matter halos have a density profile with a flat central core, whereas N-body structure formation simulations predict a divergent (cuspy) density profile at the center. It has been proposed that this problem can be resolved by stellar feedback driving turbulent gas motion that erases the initial cusp. However, strong gravitational lensing prefers a cuspy density profile for galactic halos. In this paper, we use the most recent high resolution observations of the rotation curves of LSB galaxies to fit the core size as a function of halo mass, and compare the resultant lensing probability to the observational results for the well defined combined sample of the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS) and Jodrell Bank/Very Large Array Astrometric Survey (JVAS). The lensing probabilities based on such density profiles are too low to match the observed lensing in CLASS/JVAS. High baryon densities in the galaxies that dominate the lensing statistics can reconcile this discrepancy, but only if they steepen the mass profile rather than making it more shallow. The result is contradictory demands upon the effects of baryons on the central mass profiles of galaxies.
As part of a European Pulsar Network (EPN) multi-telescope observing campaign, we performed simultaneous multi-frequency observations at 1.4, 4.9 and 8.4 GHz during July 2006 and quasi-simultaneous multi-frequency observations from Decem- ber 2006 until July 2007 at 2.7, 4.9, 8.4, 14.6 and 32 GHz, in order to obtain flux density measurements and spectral features of the 5.5-sec radio-emitting magnetar AXP J1810-197. We monitored the spectral evolution of its pulse shape which consists of a main pulse (MP) and an interpulse (IP). We present the flux density spectrum of the average profile and of the separate pulse components of this first-known radio-emitting transient anomalous X-ray pulsar. We observe a decrease of the flux density by a factor of 10 within 8 months and follow the disappearance of one of the two main components. Although the spectrum is generally flat, we observe large fluctuations of the spectral index with time. For that reason we have made some measurements of modulation indices for individual pulses in order to also investigate the origin of these fluctuations.
We present self-similar solutions for advection -dominated accretion flows with thermal conduction in the presence of outflows. Possible effects of outflows on the accretion flow are parametrized and a saturated form of thermal conduction, as is appropriate for the weakly-collisional regime of interest, is included in our model. While the cooling effect of outflows is noticeable, thermal conduction provides an extra heating source. In comparison to accretion flows without winds, we show that the disc rotates faster and becomes cooler because of the angular momentum and energy flux which are taking away by the winds. But thermal conduction opposes the effects of winds and not only decreases the rotational velocity, but increases the temperature. However, reduction of the surface density and the enhanced accretion velocity are amplified by both of the winds and the thermal conduction. We find that for stronger outflows, a higher level of saturated thermal conduction is needed to significantly modify the physical profiles of the accretion flow.
The unexpected high bump in the UV part of the spectrum found in nearby giant elliptical galaxies, a.k.a. the UV upturn, has been a subject of debate. A remarkable progress has been made lately from the observational side, mainly involving space telescopes. The GALEX UV telescope has been obtaining thousands of giant ellipticals in the nearby universe, while HST is resolving local galaxies into stars and star clusters. An important clue has also been found regarding the origin of hot HB stars, and perhaps of sdB stars. That is, extreme amounts of helium are suspected to be the origin of the extended HB and even to the UV upturn phenomenon. A flurry of studies are pursuing the physics behind it. All this makes me optimistic that the origin of the UV upturn will be revealed in the next few years. I review some of the most notable progress and remaining issues.
Intrinsic absorption is a fundamental physical property to understand the evolution of active galactic nuclei (AGN). Here a sample of 1290 AGN, selected in the 2-10 keV band from different flux-limited surveys with very high optical identification completeness is studied. The AGN are grouped into two classes, unabsorbed (type-1) and absorbed (type-2), depending on their optical spectroscopic classification and X-ray absorption properties, using hardness ratios. Utilizing the optical to X-ray flux ratios, a rough correction for the ~8% redshift incompleteness still present in the sample is applied. A strong decrease of the absorbed fraction with X-ray luminosity is found. This can be represented by an almost linear decrease from ~80% to ~20% in the luminosity range log L_X=42-46 and is consistent with similar derivations in the optical and MIR bands. A significant increase of the absorbed fraction with redshift is found, which can be described by a power law with a slope ~(1+z)^{0.62+/-0.11}, saturating at a redshift of z~2. A simple power law fit ~(1+z)^{0.48+/-0.08} over the whole redshift is also marginally consistent with the data. The variation of the AGN absorption with luminosity and redshift is described with higher statistical accuracy and smaller systematic errors than previous results. The findings have important consequences for the broader context of AGN and galaxy co-evolution. Here it is proposed that the cosmic downsizing in the AGN population is due to two different feeding mechanisms: a fast process of merger driven accretion at high luminosities and high redshifts versus a slow process of gas accretion from gravitational instabilities in galactic disks rebuilding around pre-formed bulges and black holes.
Conditions are obtained for the existence of a warm inflationary attractor in the system of equations describing an inflaton coupled to radiation. These conditions restrict the temperature dependence of the dissipative terms and the size of thermal corrections to the inflaton potential, as well as the gradient of the inflaton potential. When these conditions are met, the evolution approaches a slow-roll limit and only curvature fluctuations survive on super-horizon scales. Formulae are given for the spectral indices of the density perturbations and the tensor/scalar density perturbation amplitude ratio in warm inflation.
The primary scientific goal of the GRIPS mission is to revolutionize our understanding of the early universe using gamma-ray bursts. We propose a new generation gamma-ray observatory capable of unprecedented spectroscopy over a wide range of gamma-ray energies (200 keV--50 MeV) and of polarimetry (200--1000 keV). Secondary goals achievable by this mission include direct measurements of supernova interiors through gamma-rays from radioactive decays, nuclear astrophysics with massive stars and novae, and studies of particle acceleration near compact stars, interstellar shocks, and clusters of galaxies.
Quasar feedback has most likely a substantial but only partially understood impact on the formation of structure in the universe. A potential direct probe of this feedback mechanism is the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect: energy emitted from quasar heats the surrounding intergalactic medium and induce a distortion in the microwave background radiation passing through the region. Here we examine the formation of such hot quasar bubbles using a cosmological hydrodynamic simulation which includes a self-consistent treatment of black hole growth and associated feedback, along with radiative gas cooling and star formation. From this simulation, we construct microwave maps of the resulting Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect around black holes with a range of masses and redshifts. The size of the temperature distortion scales approximately with black hole mass and accretion rate, with a typical amplitude up to a few micro-Kelvin on angular scales around 10 arcseconds. We discuss prospects for the direct detection of this signal with current and future single-dish and interferometric observations, including ALMA and CCAT. These measurements will be challenging, but will allow us to characterize the evolution and growth of supermassive black holes and the role of their energy feedback on galaxy formation.
The physical properties of almost any kind of astronomical object can be
derived by fitting synthetic spectra or photometry extracted from theoretical
models to observational data.
We want to develop an automatic procedure to perform this kind of fittings to
a relatively large sample of members of a stellar association and apply this
methodology to the case of Collinder 69.
We combine the multiwavelength data of our sources and follow a work-flow to
derive the physical parameters of the sources. The key step of the work-flow is
performed by a new VO-tool, VOSA. All the steps in this process are done in a
VO environment.
We present this new tool, and provide physical parameters such as T$_{\rm
eff}$, gravity, luminosity, etc. for $\sim$170 candidate members to Collinder
69, and an upper-limit for the age of this stellar association.
This kind of studies of star forming regions, clusters, etc. produces a huge
amount of data, very tedious to analyse using the traditional methodology.
Thus, they are excellent examples where to apply the VO capabilities.
Using the atmosphere as a detector volume, Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) depend highly on the properties and the condition of the air mass above the telescope. On the Canary Island of La Palma, where the Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov telescope (MAGIC) is situated, the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) can cause strong atmospheric absorption affecting the data quality and resulting in a reduced gamma flux. To correlate IACT data with other measurements, e.g. long-term monitoring or Multi-Wavelength (MWL) studies, an accurate flux determination is mandatory. Therefore, a method to correct the data for the effect of the SAL is needed. Three different measurements of the atmospheric absorption are performed on La Palma. From the determined transmission, a correction factor is calculated and applied to the MAGIC data. The different transmission measurements from optical and IACT data provide comparable results. MAGIC data of PG 1553+113, taken during a MWL campaign in July 2006, have been analyzed using the presented method, providing a corrected flux measurement for the study of the spectral energy distribution of the source.
In this paper we introduce a new linear filtering technique, the so-called matrix filters, that maximizes the signal-to-interference ratio of compact sources of unknown intensity embedded in a set of images by taking into account the cross-correlations between the different channels. By construction, the new filtering technique outperforms (or at least equals) the standard matched filter applied on individual images. An immediate application is the detection of extragalactic point sources in Cosmic Microwave Background images obtained at different wavelengths. We test the new technique in two simulated cases: a simple two-channel case with ideal correlated color noise and more realistic simulations of the sky as it will be observed by the LFI instrument of the upcoming ESA's Planck mission. In both cases we observe an improvement with respect to the standard matched filter in terms of signal-to-noise interference, number of detections and number of false alarms.
Rapid variability of the TeV emission in several blazars implies a central black hole mass $M_{BH}<10^8M_\odot$, appreciably smaller than the values estimated from the $M_{BH}-L_{bulg}$ relation, and Doppler factors for the $\gamma$-ray emitting fluid much larger than those associated with radio patterns. We discuss the conditions in the central engine required to account for the short timescales and large luminosities observed, and propose some explanations for the inferred kinematics of the source on various scales.
We analyse intermediate-resolution VLT FLAMES/Giraffe spectra of six ultra-compact dwarf (UCD) galaxies in the Fornax cluster. We obtained velocity dispersions and stellar population properties by full spectral fitting against PEGASE.HR models. Objects span a large range of metallicities (-0.95 to -0.23 dex), 4 of them are older than 8 Gyr. Comparison of the stellar and dynamical masses suggests that UCDs have little dark matter at best. For one object, UCD3, the Salpeter initial mass function (IMF) results in the stellar mass significantly exceeding the dynamical one, whereas for the Kroupa IMF the values coincide. Although, this object may have peculiar dynamics or/and stellar populations, the Kroupa IMF seems more realistic. We find that UCDs lie well above the metallicity-luminosity relation of early-type galaxies. The same behaviour is demonstrated by some of the massive Milky Way globular clusters, known to contain composite stellar populations. Our results support two following UCD formation scenarii: (1) tidal stripping of nucleated dwarf elliptical galaxies; (2) formation of tidal superclusters in galaxy mergers. We also discuss some of the alternative channels of the UCD formation binding them to globular clusters.
[Abridged]. We take advantage of the galaxy-like 3D dark matter map extracted from the HORIZON Project results to calculate the positron and antiproton fluxes from dark matter annihilation, in a model-independent approach as well as for dark matter particle benchmarks relevant at the LHC scale (from supersymmetric and extra-dimensional theories). Such a study is dedicated to a better estimate of the theoretical uncertainties affecting predictions, while the PAMELA and GLAST satellites are currently taking data which will soon provide better observational constraints.
Several anomalies appear to be present in the large-angle cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy maps of WMAP. One of these is a lack of large-scale power. Because the data otherwise match standard models extremely well, it is natural to consider perturbations of the standard model as possible explanations. We show that, as long as the source of the perturbation is statistically independent of the source of the primary CMB anisotropy, no such model can explain this large-scale power deficit. On the contrary, any such perturbation always reduces the probability of obtaining any given low value of large-scale power. We rigorously prove this result when the lack of large-scale power is quantified with a quadratic statistic, such as the quadrupole moment. When a statistic based on the integrated square of the correlation function is used instead, we present strong numerical evidence in support of the result. The result applies to models in which the geometry of spacetime is perturbed (e.g., an ellipsoidal Universe) as well as explanations involving local contaminants, undiagnosed foregrounds, or systematic errors. Because the large-scale power deficit is arguably the most significant of the observed anomalies, explanations that worsen this discrepancy should be regarded with great skepticism, even if they help in explaining other anomalies such as multipole alignments.
The study of extragalactic sources of high energy radiation via the direct measurement of the proton and neutrino fluxes that they are likely to emit is one of the main goals for the future observations of the recently developed air showers detectors and neutrino telescopes. In this work we discuss the relation between the inclusive proton and neutrino signals from the ensemble of all sources in the universe, and the resolved signals from the closest and brightest objects. We also compare the sensitivities of proton and neutrino telescopes and comment on the relation between these two new astronomies.
A striking concentration of ultra-high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) events observed by the Pierre Auger Observatory around the direction of the nearby radio galaxy Centaurus A revives the idea that radio galaxies may be dominant sources of UHECR. In this paper, we give a brief overview about processes which may accelerate protons and nuclei in radio galaxies, and their relation to jet power, radio morphology and cosmic source density. We argue that, except for the most powerful FR-II radio galaxies, processes in radio lobes are unlikely to explain the origin of UHECR. However, Fermi acceleration of protons at internal shocks in the "blazarzone" of all radio galaxies, and their photohadronic conversion into neutrons, may lead to the ejection of "UHECR-beams", which remain collimated over several Mpc. Consequences of this hypothesis for the interpretation of the UHECR event distribution, in particular for the special case of Centaurus A, are discussed.
New CCD photometry of NGC 6366 has lead to the discovery of some variable stars. Two possible Anomalous Cepheids (or Pop II Cepheids), three long period variables, one SX Phe and one eclipsing binary have been found. Also a list of 10 candidate variables is reported. The light curve of the RRab star, V1, has been decomposed into its Fourier harmonics, and the Fourier parameters were used to estimate the star's metallicity and distance; [Fe/H] = -0.87 +- 0.14 and d = 3.2 +- 0.1 kpc. It is argued that V1 may not be a member of the cluster but rather a more distant object. If this is so, an upper limit for the distance to the cluster of 2.8 +- 0.1 kpc can be estimated. The P-L relationship for SX Phe stars and the identified modes in the newly discovered SX Phe variable, V6, allow yet another independent determination of the distance to the cluster of d = 2.7 \+- 0.1 kpc. The M_V - {\rm [Fe/H]} relationship for RR Lyrae stars is addressed and the case of V1 is discussed.
We report on the results of systematic infrared 2.5-5 micron spectroscopy of 45 nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at z < 0.3 using IRC onboard the AKARI satellite. This paper investigates whether the luminosities of these ULIRGs are dominated by starburst activity, or optically elusive buried AGNs are energetically important. Our criteria include the strengths of the 3.3 micron polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission features and the optical depths of absorption features at 3.1 micron due to ice-covered dust grains and at 3.4 micron from bare carbonaceous dust grains. Because of the AKARI IRC's spectroscopic capability in the full 2.5-5 micron wavelength range, unaffected by Earth's atmosphere, we can apply this energy diagnostic method to ULIRGs at z > 0.15. We estimate the intrinsic luminosities of extended (several kpc), modestly obscured (Av < 15 mag) starburst activity based on the 3.3 micron PAH emission luminosities measured in AKARI IRC slitless spectra, and confirm that such starbursts are energetically unimportant in nearby ULIRGs. In roughly half of the observed ULIRGs classified optically as non-Seyferts, we find signatures of luminous energy sources that produce no PAH emission and/or are more centrally concentrated than the surrounding dust. We interpret these energy sources as buried AGNs. The fraction of ULIRGs with detectable buried AGN signatures increases with increasing infrared luminosity. Our overall results support the scenario that luminous buried AGNs are important in many ULIRGs at z < 0.3 classified optically as non-Seyferts, and that the optical undetectability of such buried AGNs occurs merely because of a large amount of nuclear dust, which can make the sightline of even the lowest dust column density opaque to the ionizing radiation of the AGNs.
We review basic constraints on the acceleration of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in astrophysical sources, namely the geometrical (Hillas) criterion and restrictions from radiation losses in different acceleration regimes. Using the latest available astrophysical data, we redraw the Hillas plot and figure out potential UHECR accelerators. For the acceleration in central engines of active galactic nuclei, we constrain the maximal UHECR energy for a given black-hole mass. Among active galaxies, only the most powerful ones, radio galaxies and blazars, are able to accelerate protons to UHE, though acceleration of heavier nuclei is possible in much more abundant lower-power Seyfert galaxies.
We report high angular resolution observations of the HCN (3-2) line emission in the circumstellar envelope of the O-rich star W Hya with the Submillimeter Array. The proximity of this star allows us to image its molecular envelope with a spatial resolution of just ~40 AU, corresponding to about 10 times the stellar diameter. We resolve the HCN (3-2) emission and find that it is centrally peaked and has a roughly spherically symmetrical distribution. This shows that HCN is formed in the innermost region of the envelope (within ~10 stellar radii), which is consistent with predictions from pulsation-driven shock chemistry models, and rules out the scenario in which HCN forms through photochemical reactions in the outer envelope. Our model suggests that the envelope decreases steeply in temperature and increases smoothly in velocity with radius, inconsistent with the standard model for mass-loss driven by radiative pressure on dust grains. We detect a velocity gradient of ~5 km/s in the NW--SE direction over the central 40 AU. This velocity gradient is reminescent of that seen in OH maser lines, and could be caused by the rotation of the envelope or by a weak bipolar outflow.
This paper considers the volume averaging in the quasispherical Szekeres model. The volume averaging became of considerable interest after it was shown that the volume acceleration calculated within the averaging framework can be positive even though the local expansion rate is always decelerating. This issue was intensively studied within spherically symmetric models. However, since our Universe is not spherically symmetric similar analysis is needed in non symmetrical models. This papers presents the averaging analysis within the quasispherical Szekeres model which is a non-symmetrical generalisation of the spherically symmetric Lema\^itre--Tolman family of models. Density distribution in the quasispherical Szekeres has a structure of a time-dependent mass dipole superposed on a monopole. This paper shows that when calculating the volume acceleration, $\ddot{a}$, within the Szekeres model, the dipole does not contribute to the final result, hence $\ddot{a}$ only depends on a monopole configuration. Thus, the volume averaging within the Szekeres model leads to literally the same solutions as obtained within the Lema\^itre--Tolman model.
We study the progenitor dependence of the black hole formation and its associated neutrino signals from the gravitational collapse of non-rotating massive stars, following the preceding study on the single progenitor model in Sumiyoshi et al. (2007). We aim to clarify whether the dynamical evolution toward the black hole formation occurs in the same manner for different progenitors and to examine whether the characteristic of neutrino bursts is general having the short duration and the rapidly increasing average energies. We perform the numerical simulations by general relativistic neutrino-radiation hydrodynamics to follow the dynamical evolution from the collapse of pre-supernova models of 40Msun and 50Msun toward the black hole formation via contracting proto-neutron stars. For the three progenitor models studied in this paper, we found that the black hole formation occurs in ~0.4-1.5 s after core bounce through the increase of proto-neutron star mass together with the short and energetic neutrino burst. We found that density profile of progenitor is important to determine the accretion rate onto the proto-neutron star and, therefore, the duration of neutrino burst. We compare the neutrino bursts of black hole forming events from different progenitors and discuss whether we can probe clearly the progenitor and/or the dense matter.
Clusters are potentially powerful tools for cosmology provided their observed properties such as the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) or X-ray signals can be translated into physical quantities like mass and temperature. Scaling relations are the appropriate mean to perform this translation. It is therefore, important to understand their evolution and their modifications with respect to the physics and to the underlying cosmology. In this spirit, we investigate the effect of dark energy on the X-ray and SZ scaling relations. The study is based on the first hydro-simulations of cluster formation for diferent models of dark energy. We present results for four dark energy models which differ from each other by their equations of state parameter, $w$. Namely, we use a cosmological constant model $w=-1$ (as a reference), a perfect fluid with constant equation of state parameter $w=-0.8$ and one with $w = -1.2$ and a scalar field model (or quintessence) with varying $w$. We generate N-body/hydrodynamic simulations that include radiative cooling with the public version of the Hydra code, modified to consider an arbitrary dark energy component. We produce cluster catalogues for the four models and derive the associated X-ray and SZ scaling relations. We find that dark energy has little effect on scaling laws making it safe to use the $\Lambda$CDM scalings for conversion of observed quantities into temperature and masses.
Gravitational Wave Astronomy is becoming a reality as Earth-based interferometric gravitational-wave detectors reach the design sensitivities and move towards advanced configurations that may lead to gravitational-wave detections in the immediate future. In this contribution, I briefly summarize the basic characteristics of this new area, the discovery prospects and the potential for fundamental physics. Then, I present results of some investigations of two different sources of gravitational waves that are potential targets for present and future planned observatories. First, I will discuss the generation of gravitational radiation by non-linear effects arising from the coupling between radial and non-radial oscillations of neutron stars, which may produce distinctive gravitational-wave signatures. The gravitational radiation emitted by these sources is in the frequency band of Earth-based detectors. And second, I will discuss the gravitational-wave emission during the inspiral of extreme-mass-ratio compact binaries. In this case, the gravitational waves have low frequencies, inside the frequency band of space observatories like LISA.
The main purpose of this work is to improve the existing knowledge about the
most powerful engines in the Universe - quasars. Although a lot is already
known, we still have only a vague idea how these engines work exactly, why they
behave as they do, and what the relation is between their evolution and the
evolution of their harboring galaxy.
Methods we used are based on optical spectroscopy of visually bright quasars,
many of which have recently been discovered as X-ray sources, but eventually
missed in color-selected surveys. The spectra typically cover the 4200-7000 AA
region, allowing measurements of the characteristics of the hydrogen lines, the
FeII contribution, and other lines of interest.
We present accurate redshift estimates and Seyfert type classification of the
objects. We also show that the contribution of the host galaxy to the optical
continuum is non-negligible in many cases, as is the intrinsic AGN absorption.
Consequences of not correcting for those factors when estimating different
quasar parameters are discussed. We also find some evidence of a non-unity
slope in the relation between the internal extinction based on the Balmer
decrement and the one on the optical continuum slope, implying, if further
confirmed, the intriguing possibility that some absorbing material might
actually be located between the continuum source and the broad-line region.
The magnetorotational instability (MRI) of differential rotation under the simultaneous presence of axial and azimuthal components of the (current-free) magnetic field is considered. For rotation with uniform specific angular momentum the MHD equations for axisymmetric perturbations are solved in a local short-wave approximation. All the solutions are overstable for B_z \cdot B_\phi \neq 0 with eigenfrequencies approaching the viscous frequency. For more flat rotation laws the results of the local approximation do not comply with the results of a global calculation of the MHD instability of Taylor-Couette flows between rotating cylinders. -- With B_phi and B_z of the same order the traveling-mode solutions are also prefered for flat rotation laws such as the quasi-Kepler rotation. For magnetic Prandtl number Pm\to 0 they scale with the Reynolds number of rotation rather than with the magnetic Reynolds number (as for standard MRI) so that they can easily be realized in MHD laboratory experiments. -- Regarding the nonaxisymmetric modes one finds a remarkable influence of the ratio B_\phi /B_z only for the extrema. For B_\phi >> B_z and for not too small Pm the nonaxisymmetric modes dominate the traveling axisymmetric modes. For standard MRI with B_z >> B_\phi, however, the critical Reynolds numbers of the nonaxisymmetric modes exceed the values for the axisymmetric modes by many orders so that they are never prefered.
This contribution discusses some of the main problems in high energy astrophysics, and the perspectives to solve them using different types of "messengers": cosmic rays, photons and neutrinos
Below 1 mHz, the power spectrum of helioseismic velocity measurements is dominated by the spectrum of convective motions (granulation and supergranulation) making it difficult to detect the low-order acoustic modes and the gravity modes. We want to better understand the behavior of solar granulation as a function of the observing height in the solar atmosphere and with magnetic activity during solar cycle 23. We analyze the Power Spectral Density (PSD) of eleven years of GOLF/SOHO velocity-time series using a Harvey-type model to characterize the properties of the convective motions in the solar oscillation power spectrum. We study then the evolution of the granulation with the altitude in the solar atmosphere and with the solar activity. First, we show that the traditional use of a lorentzian profile to fit the envelope of the p modes is not well suitable for GOLF data. Indeed, to properly model the solar spectrum, we need a second lorentzian profile. Second, we show that the granulation clearly evolves with the height in the photosphere but does not present any significant variation with the activity cycle.
Since the inhomogeneous instrument noise can produce extra non-Gaussianity in the CMB anisotropy, its effect should be carefully subtracted in the primordial non-Gaussianity estimation. We calculate the probability distribution function of the CMB anisotropy for local type of non-Gaussianity, from which the optimal estimator in the general case (inhomogeneous noise and cut sky) is obtained. The new estimator obtained here is different from the popular one, since the inhomogeneous noise and cut sky effects are completely accounted. The CMB anisotropy in the new estimator is noise weighted. The noise weight is different from that used by WMAP Group in their 5-year data analysis. Although it is still difficult to calculate the new estimator rigorously, for the case of the slightly inhomogeneous noise, there exists a series expansion method to compute the new estimator. Each order in the series is suppressed by two factors, $(\frac{\sigma^2}{\sigma^2_{i}}-1)$ and $\frac{C_l}{C^{tot}_{l}}$, which make the method feasible. Through the Edgeworth expansion we can generalize our discussion to other types of non-Gaussianity.
The different methods of determination of black holes (BHs) masses are presented for three classes of BHs observed in the Universe: stellar mass BHs, intermediate mass BHs (IMBHs) and supermassive BHs (SBHs). The results of these determinations are briefly reviewed: stellar mass BHs are found in the range of about 3 to about 20 solar masses, IMBHs in the range of a few hundreds to a few tens of thousands solar masses (the determinations are much less precise for these objects) and SBHs in the range of about 3x10^5 to about 6x10^10 solar masses.
We present new XMM-Newton EPIC observations of the nuclei of the nearby radio galaxies 3C 305, DA 240, and 4C 73.08, and investigate the origin of their nuclear X-ray emission. The nuclei of the three sources appear to have different relative contributions of accretion- and jet-related X-ray emission, as expected based on earlier work. The X-ray spectrum of the FRII narrow-line radio galaxy (NLRG) 4C 73.08 is modeled with the sum of a heavily absorbed power law that we interpret to be associated with a luminous accretion disk and circumnuclear obscuring structure, and an unabsorbed power law that originates in an unresolved jet. This behavior is consistent with other narrow-line radio galaxies. The X-ray emission of the low-excitation FRII radio galaxy DA 240 is best modeled as an unabsorbed power law that we associate with a parsec-scale jet, similar to other low-excitation sources that we have studied previously. However, the X-ray nucleus of the narrow-line radio galaxy 3C 305 shows no evidence for the heavily absorbed X-ray emission that has been found in other NLRGs. It is possible that the nuclear optical spectrum in 3C 305 is intrinsically weak-lined, with the strong emission arising from extended regions that indicate the presence of jet--environment interactions. Our observations of 3C 305 suggest that this source is more closely related to other weak-lined radio galaxies. This ambiguity could extend to other sources currently classified as NLRGs. We also present XMM-Newton and VLA observations of the hotspot of DA 240, arguing that this is another detection of X-ray synchrotron emission from a low-luminosity hotspot.
The 9-month Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) catalog provides the first unbiased (log N_H < 24) look at local (<z> = 0.03) AGN. In this paper, we present the collected X-ray properties (0.3 - 12keV) for the 153 AGN detected. In addition, we examine the X-ray properties for a complete sample of non-beamed sources, above the Galactic plane. Of these, 45% are best fit by simple power law models while 55% require the more complex partial covering model. One of our goals was to determine the fraction of "hidden" AGN, which we define as sources with scattering fractions < 0.03 and ratios of soft to hard X-ray flux < 0.04. We found that "hidden" AGN constitute a high percentage of the sample (24%), proving that they are a very significant portion of local AGN. Further, we find that the fraction of absorbed sources does increase at lower unabsorbed 2-10 keV luminosities, as well as accretion rates. Some of the most interesting results for the BAT AGN sample involve the host galaxy properties. We found that 33% are hosted in peculiar/irregular galaxies and only 5/74 hosted in ellipticals. Further, 54% are hosted in interacting/merger galaxies. Finally, we present both the average X-ray spectrum (0.1-10 keV) and log N-log S in the 2-10 keV band. With our average spectrum, we have the remarkable result of reproducing the measured CXB X-ray power law slope of ~ 1.4 (Marshall et al. 1980). From the log N-log S relationship, we show that we are complete to log S < -11 in the 2-10 keV band. Both the collected X-ray properties of our uniform sample and the log N-log S relationship will now provide valuable input to X-ray background models for z ~ 0. (abridged)
We consider accretion onto newborn black holes following the collapse of rotating massive stellar cores, at the threshold where a centrifugally supported disk gives way to nearly radial inflow for low angular momentum. For realistic initial conditions taken from pre-supernova evolution calculations, the densities and temperatures involved require the use of a detailed equation of state and neutrino cooling processes, as well as a qualitative consideration of the effects of General Relativity. Through two-dimensional dynamical calculations we show how the energy release is affected by the rotation rate and the strength of angular momentum transport, giving rise to qualitatively different solutions in limits of high and low angular momentum, each being capable of powering a GRB. We explore the likelihood of producing Fe-group elements in the two regimes and suggest that while large and massive centrifugally supported disks are capable of driving strong outflows with a possible SN-like signature, quasi-radial flows lack such a feature and may produce a GRB without such an accompanying feature, as seen in GRB060505.
We have performed a census of disks around brown dwarfs in the Sigma Ori cluster using all available images from IRAC onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope. To search for new low-mass cluster members with disks, we have measured photometry for all sources in the Spitzer images and have identified the ones that have red colors that are indicative of disks. We present 5 promising candidates, which may consist of 2 brown dwarfs, 2 stars with edge-on disks, and a low-mass protostar if they are bona fide members. Spectroscopy is needed to verify the nature of these sources. We have also used the Spitzer data to determine which of the previously known probable members of Sigma Ori are likely to have disks. By doing so, we measure disk fractions of ~40% and ~60% for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs, respectively. These results are similar to previous estimates of disk fractions in IC 348 and Cha I, which have roughly the same median ages as Sigma Ori (3 Myr). Finally, we note that our photometric measurements and the sources that we identify as having disks differ significantly from those of other recent studies that analyzed the same Spitzer images. For instance, previous work has suggested that the T dwarf S Ori 70 is redder than typical field dwarfs, which has been cited as possible evidence of youth and cluster membership. However, we find that this object is only slightly redder than the reddest field dwarfs in [3.6]-[4.5] (1.56+/-0.07 vs. 0.93-1.46). We measure a larger excess in [3.6]-[5.8] (1.75+/-0.21 vs. 0.87-1.19), but the flux at 5.8um may be overestimated because of the low signal-to-noise ratio of the detection. Thus, the Spitzer data do not offer strong evidence of youth and membership for this object, which is the faintest and coolest candidate member of Sigma Ori that has been identified to date.
The first phase of stellar evolution in the history of the universe may be Dark Stars, powered by dark matter heating rather than by fusion. Weakly interacting massive particles, which are their own antiparticles, can annihilate and provide an important heat source for the first stars in the the universe. This talk presents the story of these Dark Stars. We make predictions that the first stars are very massive ($\sim 800 M_\odot$), cool (6000 K), bright ($\sim 10^6 L_\odot$), long-lived ($\sim 10^6$ years), and probable precursors to (otherwise unexplained) supermassive black holes. Later, once the initial DM fuel runs out and fusion sets in, DM annihilation can predominate again if the scattering cross section is strong enough, so that a Dark Star is born again.
Spinning dust appears to be the best explanation for the anomalous emission that has been observed at $\sim 10-60$ GHz. One of the best examples of spinning dust comes from a HII region in the Perseus molecular cloud. Observations of other HII regions also show tentative evidence for excess emission at frequencies $\sim 30$ GHz, although at lower emissivity levels. A new detection of excess emission at 31 GHz in the HII region RCW175 has been made. The most plausible explanation again comes from spinning dust. HII regions are a good place to look for spinning dust as long as accurate radio data spanning the $\sim 5-100$ GHz range is available.
We analyze the active-galaxy correlation reported in 2007 by the Pierre Auger Collaboration. The signal diminishes if the correlation-function approach (counting all "source-event" pairs and not only "nearest neighbours") is used, suggesting that the correlation may reveal individual sources and not their population. We analyze available data on physical conditions in these individual correlated sources and conclude that acceleration of protons to the observed energies is hardly possible in any of these galaxies, while heavier nuclei would be deflected by the Galactic magnetic field thus spoiling the correlation. Our results question the Auger interpretation of the reported anisotropy signal but do not contradict to its explanation with intermediate-mass nuclei accelerated in Cen A.
We report on a problem found in MERCURY, a hybrid symplectic integrator used for dynamical problems in Astronomy. The variable that keeps track of bodies' statuses is uninitialised, which can result in bodies disappearing from simulations in a non-physical manner. Some FORTRAN compilers implicitly initialise variables, preventing simulations from having this problem. With other compilers, simulations with a suitably large maximum number of bodies parameter value are also unaffected. Otherwise, the problem manifests at the first event after the integrator is started, whether from scratch or continuing a previously stopped simulation. Although the problem does not manifest in some conditions, explicitly initialising the variable solves the problem in a permanent and unconditional manner.
Using a cosmological model based on Lorentz symmetry breaking in a space-time in five dimensions we propose a new mechanism for the origin and scale of the cosmological constant and the present acceleration of the expansion of the universe.
Inflationary quantum gravity simplifies drastically in the leading logarithm approximation. We show that the only counterterm which contributes in this limit is the 1-loop renormalization of the cosmological constant. We go further to make a simplifying assumption about the operator dynamics at leading logarithm order. This assumption is explicitly implemented at 1- and 2-loop orders, and we describe how it can be implemented nonperturbatively. We also compute the expectation value of an invariant observable designed to quantify the quantum gravitational back-reaction on inflation. Although our dynamical assumption may not prove to be completely correct, it does have the right time dependence, it can naturally produce primordial perturbations of the right strength, and it illustrates how a rigorous application of the leading logarithm approximation might work in quantum gravity. It also serves as a partial test of the ``null hypothesis'' that there are no significant effects from infrared gravitons.
This paper is concerned with density estimation of directional data on the sphere. We introduce a procedure based on thresholding on a new type of spherical wavelets called {\it needlets}. We establish a minimax result and prove its optimality. We are motivated by astrophysical applications, in particular in connection with the analysis of ultra high energy cosmic rays.
In this paper we present a number of metrics for usage of the SAO/NASA
Astrophysics Data System (ADS). Since the ADS is used by the entire
astronomical community, these are indicative of how the astronomical literature
is used. We will show how the use of the ADS has changed both quantitatively
and qualitatively. We will also show that different types of users access the
system in different ways. Finally, we show how use of the ADS has evolved over
the years in various regions of the world.
The ADS is funded by NASA Grant NNG06GG68G.
Links to: arXiv, form interface, find, astro-ph, recent, 0808, contact, help (Access key information)
We derive the cosmic star formation history (CSFH) out to z=1.3 using a sample of ~350 radio-selected star-forming galaxies, a far larger sample than in previous, similar studies. We attempt to differentiate between radio emission from AGN and star-forming galaxies, and determine an evolving 1.4 GHz luminosity function based on these VLA-COSMOS star forming galaxies. We precisely measure the high-luminosity end of the star forming galaxy luminosity function (SFR>100 M_Sol/yr; equivalent to ULIRGs) out to z=1.3, finding a somewhat slower evolution than previously derived from mid-infrared data. We find that more stars are forming in luminous starbursts at high redshift. We use extrapolations based on the local radio galaxy luminosity function; assuming pure luminosity evolution, we derive $L_* \propto (1+z)^{2.1 \pm 0.2}$ or $L_* \propto (1+z)^{2.5 \pm 0.1}$, depending on the choice of the local radio galaxy luminosity function. Thus, our radio-derived results independently confirm the ~1 order of magnitude decline in the CSFH since z~1.
Recently, rapid observational and theoretical progress has established that black holes (BHs) play a decisive role in the formation and evolution of individual galaxies as well as galaxy groups and clusters. In particular, there is compelling evidence that BHs vigorously interact with their surroundings in the central regions of galaxy clusters, indicating that any realistic model of galaxy cluster formation needs to account for these astrophysical processes. This is also suggested by the failure of previous generations of hydrodynamical simulations without BH physics to simultaneously account for the paucity of strong cooling flows in clusters, the slope and amplitude of the observed cluster scaling relations, and the high-luminosity cut-off of central cluster galaxies. Here we use high-resolution cosmological simulations of a large sample of galaxy clusters and groups to study how BHs affect their host systems. We focus on two specific properties, the halo gas fraction and the X-ray luminosity temperature scaling relation, both of which are notoriously difficult to reproduce in self-consistent hydrodynamical simulations. We show that BH feedback can provide a solution to both of these issues, bringing them in excellent agreement with observations, without alluding to the `cooling only' solution that produces unphysically bright central galaxies. By comparing a large sample of simulated AGN-heated clusters with observations, our new simulation technique should make it possible to reliably calibrate observational biases in cluster surveys, thereby enabling various high-precision cosmological studies of the dark matter and dark energy content of the universe.
We examine the dynamical effects on disk stars of a "long bar" in the Milky Way by inserting a triaxial rotating bar into an axisymmetric disk+bulge+dark halo potential and integrating 3-D orbits of 10^4 tracer stars over a period of 5 Gyr. The long bar has been detected via ``clump giants'' in the IR by Lopez-Corredoira et al. (2007), and is estimated to have semi-major axes of (3.9:0.6:0.1) kpc and a mass of 6 10^9 Msun. We find such a structure has striking effects on disk orbits. The long bar is able to move considerable inner disk material into prominent stellar streams in the solar neighborhood, apparently inconsistently with observations; furthermore it can eject inner disk material to considerable heights (several kpc) above the Galactic plane in a manner which may be inconsistent with observations. The effects of the long bar can be greatly ameliorated by reducing its density and/or making it considerably thicker vertically. These effects are under continuing study.
We present the results of a recent reverberation-mapping campaign undertaken to improve measurements of the radius of the broad line region and the central black hole mass of the quasar PG 2130+099. Cross correlation of the 5100 angstrom continuum and H-beta emission-line light curves yields a time lag of 22.9 (+4.4 - 4.3) days, corresponding to a central black hole mass MBH= 3.8 (+/- 1.5) x 10^7 Msun. This value supports the notion that previous measurements yielded an incorrect lag. We re-analyzed previous datasets to investigate the possible sources of the discrepancy and conclude that previous measurement errors were apparently caused by a combination of undersampling of the light curves and long-term secular changes in the H-beta emission-line equivalent width. With our new measurements, PG 2130+099 is no longer an outlier in either the R-L or the MBH-Sigma relationships.
We show that the absence of the bright optical flashes in most {\it Swift} Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) afterglows can be explained, if the reverse shock region is magnetized with a $\sigma \sim 1$, or the emission spectrum of the electrons accelerated in the mildly magnetized ($0.1<\sigma<1$) reverse shock front is very soft, or the reverse shock of a non-magnetized outflow is sub-relativistic, where $\sigma$ is the ratio of the magnetic energy flux to the particle energy flux. We also find that for $\sigma\gg 1$, the energy transfer between the magnetized ejecta and the forward shock may be too quick to account for the shallow decline phase that is well detected in many {\it Swift} GRB X-ray afterglows.
Using observed GALEX far-ultraviolet (FUV) fluxes and VLA images of the 21-cm HI column densities, along with estimates of the local dust abundances, we measure the volume densities of a sample of actively star-forming giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in the nearby spiral galaxy M83 on a typical resolution scale of 170 pc. Our approach is based on an equilibrium model for the cycle of molecular hydrogen formation on dust grains and photodissociation under the influence of the FUV radiation on the cloud surfaces of GMCs. We find a range of total volume densities on the surface of GMCs in M83, namely 0.1 - 400 cm-3 inside R25, 0.5 - 50 cm-3 outside R25 . Our data include a number of GMCs in the HI ring surrounding this galaxy. Finally, we discuss the effects of observational selection, which may bias our results.
We present SAURON integral-field stellar velocity and velocity dispersion maps for four double-barred early-type galaxies: NGC2859, NGC3941, NGC4725 and NGC5850. The presence of the inner bar does not produce major changes in the line-of-sight velocity, but it appears to have an important effect in the stellar velocity dispersion maps: we find two sigma-hollows of amplitudes between 10 and 40 km/s on either side of the center, at the ends of the inner bars. We have performed numerical simulations to explain these features. Ruling out other possibilities, we conclude that the sigma-hollows are an effect of the contrast between two kinematically different components: the high velocity dispersion of the bulge and the more ordered motion (low velocity dispersion) of the inner bar.
I describe the IR and X-ray observational campaign we have undertaken for the purpose of determining the nature of the faint discrete X-ray source population discovered by Chandra in the Galactic Center (GC). Data obtained for this project includes a deep Chandra survey of the Galactic Bulge; deep, high resolution IR imaging from VLT/ISAAC, CTIO/ISPI, and the UKIDSS Galactic Plane Survey (GPS); and IR spectroscopy from VLT/ISAAC and IRTF/SpeX. By cross-correlating the GC X-ray imaging from Chandra with our IR surveys, we identify candidate counterparts to the X-ray sources via astrometry. Using a detailed IR extinction map, we are deriving magnitudes and colors for all the candidates. Having thus established a target list, we will use the multi-object IR spectrograph FLAMINGOS-2 on Gemini-South to carry out a spectroscopic survey of the candidate counterparts, to search for emission line signatures which are a hallmark of accreting binaries. By determining the nature of these X-ray sources, this FLAMINGOS-2 Galactic Center Survey will have a dramatic impact on our knowledge of the Galactic accreting binary population.
Current numerical studies suggest that the first galaxies formed a few stars at a time and were enriched only gradually by the first heavy elements. However, the large box sizes in these models cannot resolve primordial supernova explosions or the mixing of their metals with ambient gas, which could result in intervening, prompt generations of low-mass stars. We present multiscale 1D models of Population III supernovae in cosmological halos that evolve the blast from its earliest stages as a free expansion. We find that if the star ionizes the halo, the ejecta strongly interacts with the dense shell swept up by the H II region, potentially cooling and fragmenting it into clumps that are unstable to gravitational collapse. If the star fails to ionize the halo, the explosion propagates metals out to 20 - 40 pc and then collapses, enriching tens of thousands of solar masses of primordial gas, in contrast to previous models that suggest such explosions 'fizzle'. Rapid formation of low-mass stars trapped in the gravitational potential well of the halo appears to be inevitable in such circumstances. Consequently, it is possible that far more stars were swept up into the first galaxies, at earlier times and with distinct chemical signatures, than in present models. Upcoming measurements by JWST and ALMA may discriminate between these two paradigms.
Progress in understanding the formation and evolution of planetary nebulae
(PN) has been restricted by a paucity of well-determined central star masses.
To address this deficiency we aim to (i) significantly increase the number of
known eclipsing binary central stars of PN (CSPN), and subsequently (ii)
directly obtain their masses and absolute dimensions by combining their
light-curve parameters with planned radial velocity data.
Using photometric data from the third phase of the Optical Gravitational
Lensing Experiment (OGLE) we have searched for periodic variability in a large
sample of PN towards the Galactic Bulge using Fourier and phase-dispersion
minimisation techniques.
Among some dozen periodically variable CSPN found, we report here on three
new eclipsing binaries: M 3-16, H 2-29 and M 2-19.
We present images, confirmatory spectroscopy and light-curves of the systems.
Using a large galaxy group catalogue constructed from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4 (SDSS DR4) with an adaptive halo-based group finder, we investigate the luminosity and stellar mass functions for different populations of galaxies (central versus satellite; red versus blue; and galaxies in groups of different masses) and for groups themselves. The conditional stellar mass function (CSMF), which describes the stellar distribution of galaxies in halos of a given mass for central and satellite galaxies can be well modeled with a log-normal distribution and a modified Schechter form, respectively. On average, there are about 3 times as many central galaxies as satellites. Among the satellite population, there are in general more red galaxies than blue ones. For the central population, the luminosity function is dominated by red galaxies at the massive end, and by blue galaxies at the low mass end. At the very low-mass end ($M_\ast \la 10^9 h^{-2}\Msun$), however, there is a marked increase in the number of red centrals. We speculate that these galaxies are located close to large halos so that their star formation is truncated by the large-scale environments. The stellar-mass function of galaxy groups is well described by a double power law, with a characteristic stellar mass at $\sim 4\times 10^{10}h^{-2}\Msun$. Finally, we use the observed stellar mass function of central galaxies to constrain the stellar mass - halo mass relation for low mass halos, and obtain $M_{\ast, c}\propto M_h^{4.9}$ for $M_h \ll 10^{11} \msunh$.
We use a recently released SDSS catalog of X-ray emitting AGNs in conjunction with the FIRST 20cm radio survey to investigate the black hole fundamental plane relationship between the 1.4GHz radio luminosity ($L_r$), 0.1-2.4 keV X-ray luminosity ($L_X$), and the black hole mass ($M$), namely, $log L_r=\xi_{RX}log L_X+\xi_{RM}log M +const$. For this purpose, we have compiled a large sample of 725 broad-line AGNs, which consists of 498 radio-loud sources and 227 radio-quiet sources. Our results are generally consistent with those in our previous work based on a smaller sample of 115 SDSS AGNs. We confirm that radio-loud objects have a steeper slope ($\xi_{RX}$) in the radio-X-ray relationship with respect to radio-quiet objects, and the dependence of the black hole fundamental plane on the black hole mass ($\xi_{RM}$) is weak. We also find a tight correlation with a similar slope between the soft X-ray luminosity and broad emission line luminosity for both radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs, which implies that their soft X-ray emission is unbeamed and probably related to the accretion process. With the current larger sample of AGNs, we are able to study the redshift evolution of the black hole fundamental plane relation for both radio-loud and radio-quiet subsamples. We find that there is no clear evidence of evolution for radio-quiet AGNs, while for radio-loud ones there is a weak trend where $\xi_{RM}$ decreases as the redshift increases. This may be understood in part as due to the observed evolution of the radio spectral index as a function of redshift. Finally, we discuss the relativistic beaming effect and some other uncertainties related to the black hole fundamental plane (Abridged).
The temperatures of electrons and ions in the post-shock accretion region of a magnetic cataclysmic variable (mCV) will be equal at sufficiently high mass flow rates or for sufficiently weak magnetic fields. At lower mass flow rates or in stronger magnetic fields, efficient cyclotron cooling will cool the electrons faster than the electrons can cool the ions and a two-temperature flow will result. Here we investigate the differences in polarized radiation expected from mCV post-shock accretion columns modeled with one- and two-temperature hydrodynamics. In an mCV model with one accretion region, a magnetic field >~30 MG and a specific mass flow rate of ~0.5 g/cm/cm/s, along with a relatively generic geometric orientation of the system, we find that in the ultraviolet either a single linear polarization pulse per binary orbit or two pulses per binary orbit can be expected, depending on the accretion column hydrodynamic structure (one- or two-temperature) modeled. Under conditions where the physical flow is two-temperature, one pulse per orbit is predicted from a single accretion region where a one-temperature model predicts two pulses. The intensity light curves show similar pulse behavior but there is very little difference between the circular polarization predictions of one- and two-temperature models. Such discrepancies indicate that it is important to model some aspect of two-temperature flow in indirect imaging procedures, like Stokes imaging, especially at the edges of extended accretion regions, were the specific mass flow is low, and especially for ultraviolet data.
We present results of multi-epoch VLBI observations with VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry) of the 22 GHz H$_{2}$O masers associated with a young stellar object (YSO) IRAS 22198+6336 in a dark cloud L1204G. Based on the phase-referencing VLBI astrometry, we derive an annual parallax of IRAS 22198+6336 to be 1.309$\pm$0.047 mas, corresponding to the distance of 764$\pm$27 pc from the Sun. Although the most principal error source of our astrometry is attributed to the internal structure of the maser spots, we successfully reduce the errors in the derived annual parallax by employing the position measurements for all of the 26 detected maser spots. Based on this result, we reanalyze the spectral energy distribution (SED) of IRAS 22198+6336 and find that the bolometric luminosity and total mass of IRAS 22198+6336 are 450$L_{\odot}$ and 7$M_{\odot}$, respectively. These values are consistent with an intermediate-mass YSO deeply embedded in the dense dust core, which has been proposed to be an intermediate-mass counterpart of a low-mass Class 0 source. In addition, we obtain absolute proper motions of the H$_{2}$O masers for the most blue-shifted components. We propose that the collimated jets aligned along the east-west direction are the most plausible explanation for the origin of the detected maser features.
The massive galaxies in the young universe, ten billion years ago, formed stars at surprising intensities. While this was commonly attributed to violent mergers, many of these galaxies seem to be extended rotating discs incompatible with mergers (Genzel et al. 2006, 2008). In order to uncover the origin of this phenomenon, we use a state-of-the-art cosmological simulation and clustering theory to explore how these galaxies acquired their gas. We find that these are "Stream-Fed Galaxies", growing via steady, narrow, cold gas streams, which penetrate effectively through the shock-heated media of dark-matter haloes as massive as the Milky Way's. This confirms an earlier conjecture (Dekel & Birnboim 2006). Half the stream mass is in clumps leading to mergers of mass ratio 1:10 or higher, and half is in smoother flows. Since the merger duty cycle is 0.1, three-quarters of the galaxies forming stars at a given rate are fed by smooth streams. Unlike destructive major mergers, the smoother flows can keep the discs intact, though thick and perturbed. The observed abundance of star-forming galaxies implies that the inflowing gas turns into stars at maximum efficiency. In contrast, the sub-millimeter galaxies that form stars even more intensely are largely compact merger-induced starbursts in haloes twice as massive.
Using the ASTE 10 m submillimeter telescope and the 1.4 m Infrared Survey Facility (IRSF), we performed an extensive outflow survey in the Orion Molecular Cloud -2 and -3 region. Our survey, which includes 41 potential star-forming sites, has been newly compiled using multi-wavelength data based on millimeter- and submillimeter-continuum observations as well as radio continuum observations. From the CO (3-2) observations performed with the ASTE 10 m telescope, we detected 14 CO molecular outflows, seven of which were newly identified. This higher detection rate, as compared to previous CO (1-0) results in the same region, suggests that CO (3-2) may be a better outflow tracer. Physical properties of these outflows and their possible driving sources were derived. Derived parameters were compared with those of CO outflows in low- and high-mass starforming regions. We show that the CO outflow momentum correlates with the bolometric luminosity of the driving source and with the envelope mass, regardless of the mass of the driving sources. In addition to these CO outflows, seven sources having NIR features suggestive of outflows were also identified.
We examine the origin of photometrical properties of N-body merger remnants from the perpective of their orbital content. We show that disc mergers alone are unlikely to form a boxy-discy dichotomy in isophotal shape, because of the survival of disc-like orbits even in violent mergers. The shape of the different orbit families can vary strongly, depending on how violent the merger was. Minor axis tubes can become boxy and box orbits can be round. However, for edge-on projections isophotal shape, orbital content and line-of-sight velocity are well connected.
The excess of far-ultraviolet (far-UV) radiation in elliptical galaxies has remained one of their most enduring puzzles. In contrast, the origin of old blue stars in the Milky Way, hot subdwarfs, is now reasonably well understood: they are hot stars that have lost their hydrogen envelopes by various binary interactions. Here, we review the main evolutionary channels that produce hot subdwarfs in the Galaxy and present the results of binary population synthesis simulations that reproduce the main properties of the Galactic hot-subdwarf population. Applying the same model to elliptical galaxies, we show how this model can explain the main observational properties of the far-UV excess, including the far-UV spectrum, without the need to invoke ad hoc physical processes. The model implies that the UV excess is not a sign of age, as has been postulated previously, and predicts that it should not be strongly dependent on the metallicity of the population.
To date, fully cosmological hydrodynamic disk simulations to redshift zero have only been undertaken with particle-based codes, such as GADGET, Gasoline, or GCD+. In light of the (supposed) limitations of traditional implementations of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), or at the very least, their respective idiosyncrasies, it is important to explore complementary approaches to the SPH paradigm to galaxy formation. We present the first high-resolution cosmological disk simulations to redshift zero using an adaptive mesh refinement (AMR)-based hydrodynamical code, in this case, RAMSES. We analyse the temporal and spatial evolution of the simulated stellar disks' vertical heating, velocity ellipsoids, stellar populations, vertical and radial abundance gradients (gas and stars), assembly/infall histories, warps/lopsideness, disk edges/truncations (gas and stars), ISM physics implementations, and compare and contrast these properties with our sample of cosmological SPH disks, generated with GCD+. These preliminary results are the first in our long-term Galactic Archaeology Simulation program.
The stability of dissipative Taylor-Couette flows with an axial stable density stratification and a prescribed azimuthal magnetic field is considered. Global nonaxisymmetric solutions of the linearized MHD equations with toroidal magnetic field, axial density stratification and differential rotation are found for both insulating and conducting cylinder walls. Flat rotation laws such as the quasi-Kepler law are unstable against the nonaxisymmetric stratorotational instability (SRI). The influence of a current-free toroidal magnetic field depends on the magnetic Prandtl number Pm: SRI is supported by Pm > 1 and it is suppressed by Pm \lsim 1. For too flat rotation laws a smooth transition exists to the instability which the toroidal magnetic field produces in combination with the differential rotation. This nonaxisymmetric azimuthal magnetorotational instability (AMRI) has been computed under the presence of an axial density gradient. If the magnetic field between the cylinders is not current-free then also the Tayler instability occurs and the transition from the hydrodynamic SRI to the magnetic Tayler instability proves to be rather complex. Most spectacular is the `ballooning' of the stability domain by the density stratification: already a rather small rotation stabilizes magnetic fields against the Tayler instability. An azimuthal component of the resulting electromotive force only exists for density-stratified flows. The related alpha-effect for magnetic SRI of Kepler rotation appears to be positive for negative d\rho/dz <0.
A Chandra study of pulsar wind nebula around the young energetic pulsar PSR B1509-58 is presented. The high resolution X-ray image with total exposure time of 190 ks reveals a ring like feature 10'' apart from the pulsar. This feature is analogous to the inner ring seen in the Crab nebula and thus may correspond to a wind termination shock. The shock radius enables us to constrain the wind magnetization, sigma>= 0.01. The obtained sigma is one order of magnitude larger than that of the Crab nebula. In the pulsar vicinity, the southern jet appears to extend beyond the wind termination shock, in contrast to the narrow jet of the Crab. The revealed morphology of the broad jet is coincident with the recently proposed theoretical model in which a magnetic hoop stress diverts and squeezes the post-shock equatorial flow towards the poloidal direction generating a jet.
(Abridged) Radio-astronomical observations of molecular cores in lines of NH3 (J,K)=(1,1), CCS J_N=2_1-1_0, HC3N J=5-4, and N2H+ J=1-0 are used to measure the relative radial velocity offsets, Delta V, between the NH3 (1,1) and other molecular transitions. Robust statistical analysis is applied to the n=207 individual measurements in the Perseus molecular cloud (PC), the Pipe Nebula (PN), and the infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) to deduce the mean value of Delta V and its uncertainty. The measured values of Delta V from the PC, PN, and IRDCs show statistically significant positive velocity shifts between the line centers of NH3 and other molecules. The most accurate estimates are obtained from subsamples of the NH3/CCS pairs observed in the PC (n=21) and the PN (n=8), Delta V = 36+/-7_stat+/-13.5_sys} m/s and 53+/-11_stat+/-13.5_sys m/s, respectively, and from the n=36 NH3/N2H+ and n=27 NH3/HC3N pairs observed in the IRDCs, Delta V = 148+/-32_stat+/-13.6_sys m/s and 115+/-37_stat+/-31_sys m/s, respectively. Being interpreted in terms of the electron-to-proton mass ratio variation, this gives Delta mu/mu = (4-14)10^{-8}, which is an order of magnitude more sensitive than previous astronomical constraints on this quantity.
We compute the luminosity function (LF) and the formation rate of long gamma ray bursts (GRBs) in three different scenarios: i) GRBs follow the cosmic star formation and their LF is constant in time; ii) GRBs follow the cosmic star formation but the LF varies with redshift; iii) GRBs form preferentially in low-metallicity environments. We then test model predictions against the Swift 3-year data, showing that scenario i) is robustly ruled out. Moreover, we show that the number of bright GRBs detected by Swift suggests that GRBs should have experienced some sort of luminosity evolution with redshift, being more luminous in the past. Finally we propose to use the observations of the afterglow spectrum of GRBs at z>5.5 to constrain the reionization history and we applied our method to the case of GRB 050904.
We present a general method to solve radiative transfer problems including scattering in the continuum as well as in lines in 3D configurations with periodic boundary conditions. he scattering problem for line transfer is solved via means of an operator splitting (OS) technique. The formal solution is based on a full characteristics method. The approximate $\Lambda$ operator is constructed considering nearest neighbors exactly. The code is parallelized over both wavelength and solid angle using the MPI library. We present the results of several test cases with different values of the thermalization parameter and two choices for the temperature structure. The results are directly compared to 1D plane parallel tests. The 3D results agree very well with the well-tested 1D calculations.
The probability density function (PDF) of the gas density in turbulent supersonic flows is investigated with high-resolution numerical simulations. In a systematic study, we compare the density statistics of compressible turbulence driven by the usually adopted solenoidal forcing (divergence-free) and by compressive forcing (curl-free). Our results are in agreement with studies using solenoidal forcing. However, compressive forcing yields a significantly broader density distribution with standard deviation ~3 times larger at the same rms Mach number. The standard deviation-Mach number relation used in analytical models of star formation is reviewed and a modification of the existing expression is proposed, which takes into account the ratio of solenoidal and compressive modes of the turbulence forcing.
The first stars were key drivers of early cosmic evolution. We review the main physical elements of the current consensus view, positing that the first stars were predominantly very massive. We continue with a discussion of important open questions that confront the standard model. Among them are uncertainties in the atomic and molecular physics of the hydrogen and helium gas, the multiplicity of stars that form in minihalos, and the possible existence of two separate modes of metal-free star formation.
In this work we analyse the properties of Large Scale Shocks in with the public 1.0.1 release of the ENZO code. Different methods to identify and characterize shocks in post processing are discussed together with their uncertainties. Re-ionization affects the properties of shocks in simulations, and we propose a fitting procedure to model accurately the effect of re-ionization in non--radiative simulations, with a post--processing procedure. We investigate the properties of shocks in our simulations by means of a procedure which uses jumps in the velocity variables across the cells in the simulations and this allows us to have a viable description of shocks also in under-dense cosmic regions. We derive the distributions of the number of shocks and of the energy dissipation at these shocks as a function of their Mach number, and discuss the evolution of these distributions with cosmological time and across different cosmic environments (clusters, outskirts, filaments, voids). In line with previous numerical studies relatively weak shocks are found to dominate the energy dissipation process in the simulated cosmic volume, although we find a larger ratio between weak and strong shocks with respect to previous studies. The bulk of the energy dissipation happens in galaxy clusters and in filaments and the flux dissipated in the form of CR within the whole simulated volume is found to be $\approx 0.2$ of the thermal energy dissipated at shocks, with even smaller ($< 0.1$) efficiency within the virial region of galaxy clusters. Finally we discuss the properties of shocks in galaxy clusters in relation with their dynamical state; the bulk of the energy is dissipated at weak shocks, with Mach number $\approx 1.5$, although slightly stronger shocks are found in the external regions of merging clusters.
We present an analysis of the gas physics at the base of jets from five T Tauri stars based on high angular resolution optical spectra, using the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (HST/STIS). The spectra refer to a region within 100 AU of the star, i.e. where the collimation of the jet has just taken place. We form PV images of the line ratios to get a global picture of the flow excitation. We then apply a specialised diagnostic technique to find the electron density, ionisation fraction, electron temperature and total density. Our results are in the form of PV maps of the obtained quantities, in which the gas behaviour is resolved as a function of both radial velocity and distance from the jet axis. They highlight a number of interesting physical features of the jet collimation region, including regions of extremely high density, asymmetries with respect to the axis, and possible shock signatures. Finally, we estimate the jet mass and angular momentum outflow rates, both of which are fundamental parameters in constraining models of accretion/ejection structures, particularily if the parameters can be determined close to the jet footpoint. Comparing mass flow rates for cases where the latter is available in the literature (i.e. DG Tau, RW Aur and CW Tau) reveals a mass ejection-to-accretion ratio of 0.01 - 0.07. Finally, where possible (i.e. DG Tau and CW Tau), both mass and angular momentum outflow rates have been resolved into higher and lower velocity jet material. For the clearer case of DG Tau, this revealed that the more collimated higher velocity component plays a dominant role in mass and angular momentum transport.
We present a panchromatic study, involving a multiple technique approach, of the circumstellar disc surrounding the T Tauri star IM Lupi (Sz 82). We have undertaken a comprehensive observational study of IM Lupi using photometry, spectroscopy, millimetre interferometry and multi-wavelength imaging. For the first time, the disc is resolved from optical and near-infrared wavelengths in scattered light, to the millimetre regime in thermal emission. Our data-set, in conjunction with existing photometric data, provides an extensive coverage of the spectral energy distribution, including a detailed spectrum of the silicate emission bands. We have performed a simultaneous modelling of the various observations, using the radiative transfer code MCFOST, and analysed a grid of models over a large fraction of the parameter space via Bayesian inference. We have constructed a model that can reproduce all of the observations of the disc. Our analysis illustrates the importance of combining a wide range of observations in order to fully constrain the disc model, with each observation providing a strong constraint only on some aspects of the disc structure and dust content. Quantitative evidence of dust evolution in the disc is obtained: grain growth up to millimetre-sized particles, vertical stratification of dust grains with micrometric grains close to the disc surface and larger grains which have settled towards the disc midplane, and possibly the formation of fluffy aggregates and/or ice mantles around grains.
The radio emission in radio loud quasars originates in a jet carrying relativistic electrons. In radio quiet quasars (RQQs) the relative radio emission is ~10^3 times weaker, and its origin is not established yet. We show here that there is a strong correlation between the radio luminosity (L_R) and X-ray luminosity (L_X) with L_R~10^-5L_X, for the radio quiet Palomar-Green (PG) quasar sample. The sample is optically selected, with nearly complete radio and X-ray detections, and thus this correlation cannot be due to direct selection biases. The PG quasars lie on an extension of a similar correlation noted by Panessa et al., for a small sample of nearby low luminosity type 1 AGN. A remarkably similar correlation, known as the Guedel-Benz relation, where L_R/L_X~10^-5, holds for coronally active stars. The Guedel-Benz relation, together with correlated stellar X-ray and radio variability, implies that the coronae are magnetically heated. We therefore raise the possibility that AGN coronae are also magnetically heated, and that the radio emission in RQQ also originates in coronal activity. If correct, then RQQ should generally display compact flat cores at a few GHz due to synchrotron self-absorption, while at a few hundred GHz we should be able to see directly the X-ray emitting corona, and relatively rapid and large amplitude variability, correlated with the X-ray variability, is likely to be seen. We also discuss possible evidence that the radio and X-ray emission in ultra luminous X-ray sources and Galactic black holes may be of coronal origin as well.
We report astrometric observations of H2O masers around the red supergiant VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) carried out with VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA). Based on astrometric monitoring for 13 months, we successfully measured a trigonometric parallax of 0.88 +/- 0.08 mas, corresponding to a distance of 1.14 +0.11/-0.09 kpc. This is the most accurate distance to VY CMa and the first one based on an annual parallax measurement. The luminosity of VY CMa has been overestimated due to a previously accepted distance. With our result, we re-estimate the luminosity of VY CMa to be (3 +/- 0.5) x 10^5 L_sun using the bolometric flux integrated over optical and IR wavelengths. This improved luminosity value makes location of VY CMa on the Hertzsprung-Russel (HR) diagram much closer to the theoretically allowable zone (i.e. the left side of the Hayashi track) than previous ones, though uncertainty in the effective temperature of the stellar surface still does not permit us to make a final conclusion.
This paper presents the results of a Fresnel Interferometric Array testbed.
This new concept of imager involves diffraction focussing by a thin foil, in
which many thousands of punched subapertures form a pattern related to a
Fresnel zone plate. This kind of array is intended for use in space, as a way
to realizing lightweight large apertures for high angular resolution and high
dynamic range observations. The chromaticity due to diffraction focussing is
corrected by a small diffractive achromatizer placed close to the focal plane
of the array.
The laboratory test results presented here are obtained with an 8 centimeter
side orthogonal array, yielding a 23 meter focal length at 600 nm wavelength.
The primary array and the focal optics have been designed and assembled in our
lab. This system forms an achromatic image. Test targets of various shapes,
sizes, dynamic ranges and intensities have been imaged. We present the first
images, the achieved dynamic range, and the angular resolution.
Recently, the MID-infrared Interferometric instrument (MIDI) at the VLTI has shown that dust tori in the two nearby Seyfert galaxies NGC 1068 and the Circinus galaxy are geometrically thick and can be well described by a thin, warm central disk, surrounded by a colder and fluffy torus component. By carrying out hydrodynamical simulations with the help of the TRAMP code (Klahr et al. 1999), we follow the evolution of a young nuclear star cluster in terms of discrete mass-loss and energy injection from stellar processes. This naturally leads to a filamentary large scale torus component, where cold gas is able to flow radially inwards. The filaments open out into a dense and very turbulent disk structure. In a post-processing step, we calculate observable quantities like spectral energy distributions or images with the help of the 3D radiative transfer code MC3D (Wolf 2003). Good agreement is found in comparisons with data due to the existence of almost dust-free lines of sight through the large scale component and the large column densities caused by the dense disk.
We show that models of new particle physics containing massless pseudoscalar fields super-weakly coupled to photons can be very efficiently probed with CMB polarization anisotropies. The stochastic pseudoscalar fluctuations generated during inflation provide a mechanism for converting E-mode polarization to B-mode during photon propagation from the surface of last scattering. The efficiency of this conversion process is controlled by the dimensionless ratio H/(2\pi f_a), where H is the Hubble scale during inflation, and f_a^{-1} is the strength of the pseudoscalar coupling to photons. The current observational limits on the B-mode constrain this ratio to be less than 0.07, which in many models of inflation translates to a sensitivity to values of f_a in excess of 10^{14} GeV, surpassing the sensitivity of other tests.
We explore the possible observational signatures of different types of kink modes (horizontal and vertical oscillations in their fundamental mode and second harmonic) that may arise in coronal loops, with the aim of determining how well the individual modes can be uniquely identified from time series of images. A simple, purely geometrical model is constructed to describe the different types of kink-mode oscillations. These are then `observed' from a given direction. In particular, we employ the 3D geometrical parameters of 14 TRACE loops of transverse oscillations to try to identify the correct observed wave mode. We find that for many combinations of viewing and loop geometry it is not straightforward to distinguish between at least two types of kink modes just using time series of images. We also considered Doppler signatures and find that these can help obtain unique identifications of the oscillation modes when employed in combination with imaging. We then compare the modeled spatial signatures with the observations of 14 TRACE loops. We find that out of three oscillations previously identified as fundamental horizontal mode oscillations, two cases appear to be fundamental vertical mode oscillations (but possibly combined with the fundamental horizontal mode), and one case appears to be a combination of the fundamental vertical and horizontal modes, while in three cases it is not possible to clearly distinguish between the fundamental mode and the second-harmonic of the horizontal oscillation. In five other cases it is not possible to clearly distinguish between a fundamental horizontal mode and the second-harmonic of a vertical mode.
We present Chandra ACIS X-ray observations of the Galactic supernova remnant Cassiopeia A taken in December 2007. Combining these data with previous archival Chandra observations taken in 2000, 2002, and 2004, we estimate the remnant's forward shock velocity at various points around the outermost shell to range between 4200 and 5200 +/- 500 km/s. Using these results together with previous analyses of Cas A's X-ray emission, we present a model for the evolution of Cas A and find that it's expansion is well fit by a powerlaw (n=7) ejecta profile running into a circumstellar wind. We further find that the position of the reverse shock in this model is consistent with that measured in the X-rays but that in order to match the radius of the forward shock, we must assume that the forward shock is efficiently accelerating cosmic rays. These new X-ray images also show that brightness variations can occur for some forward shock filaments like that seen for several nonthermal filaments seen in the interior of the remnant. Spectral fits to both forward and interior projected shock filaments show that they exhibit similar spectra. This together with similar flux variations suggests that the interior projected filaments might be simply forward shock filaments seen in projection and not located at the reverse shock as has been recently proposed.
The current understanding of structure formation in the early universe is mainly built on a magnification of quantum fluctuations in an initial vacuum state during an early phase of accelerated universe expansion. One usually describes this process by solving equations for a quantum state of matter on a given expanding background space-time, followed by decoherence arguments for the emergence of classical inhomogeneities from the quantum fluctuations. Here, we formulate the coupling of quantum matter fields to a dynamical gravitational background in an effective framework which allows the inclusion of back-reaction effects. It is shown how quantum fluctuations couple to classical inhomogeneities and can thus manage to generate cosmic structure in an evolving background. Several specific effects follow from a qualitative analysis of the back-reaction, including a likely reduction of the overall amplitude of power in the cosmic microwave background, the occurrence of small non-Gaussianities, and a possible suppression of power for odd modes on large scales without parity violation.
We model the effect of photon and ultra-light pseudoscalar mixing on the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through the extragalactic medium. The medium is modelled as a large number of magnetic domains, uncorrelated with one another. We obtain an analytic expression for the different Stokes parameters in the limit of small mixing angle. The different Stokes parameters are found to increase linearly with the number of domains. We also verify this result by direct numerical simulations. We use this formalism to estimate the effect of pseudoscalar-photon mixing on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization. We impose limits on the model parameters by the CMB observations. We find that the currently allowed parameter range admits a CMB circular polarization up to order $10^{-7}$.
We show that simple scalar field models can give rise to curvature singularities in Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC). We find singular solutions for spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmologies with a canonical scalar field and a negative exponential potential, or with a phantom scalar field and a positive potential. While LQC avoids big bang or big rip type singularities, we find sudden singularities where the Hubble rate is bounded, but the Ricci curvature scalar diverges. We conclude that the effective equations of LQC are not in themselves sufficient to avoid the occurrence of singularities.
We present various properties of nuclear and compact-star matter, comparing the predictions from two kinds of phenomenological approaches: relativistic models (both with constant and density-dependent couplings) and non-relativistic Skyrme-type interactions. We mainly focus on the liquid-gas instabilities that occur at sub-saturation densities, leading to the decomposition of the homogeneous matter into a clusterized phase. Such study is related to the description of neutron-star crust (at zero temperature) and of supernova dynamics (at finite temperature).
We consider the double pulsar binary system as a laboratory to locally test the orbital effects induced by an uniform cosmological constant $\Lambda$ in the framework of the known general relativistic laws of gravity, and the DGP braneworld model of gravity independently of the cosmological acceleration itself for which they were introduced. We, first, construct the ratio R=Delta\dot\omega/Delta P of the discrepancies between the phenomenologically determined periastron rate \dot\omega and orbital period and their predicted values from the 1PN approximation and the third Kepler law. Then, we compare its value R = (0.3 +/- 4) \times 10^-11 s^-2, compatible with zero within the errors, to the ratios R_Lambda and R_DGP of the effects induced on the apsidal rate and the orbital period by Lambda and the DGP gravity; we find them neatly incompatible with R being R_Lambda = (3.4 +/- 0.3) \times 10^-8 s^-2 and R_DGP = (1.4 +/- 0.1) \times 10^-7 s^-2, respectively. Such a result, which for the case of Lambda is valid also for any other Hooke-like exotic force proportional to r, is in agreement with other negative local tests recently performed in the Solar System with the ratios of the non-Newtonian/Einsteinian perihelion precessions for several pairs of planets.
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Modeling plasma physical processes in astrophysical context demands for both
detailed kinetics and large scale development of the electromagnetic field
densities.
We present a new framework for modeling plasma physics of hot tenuous plasmas
by a two-split scheme, in which the large scale fields are modeled by means of
a particle-in-cell (PIC) code, and in which binary collision processes and
single-particle processes are modeled through a Monte-Carlo approach. Our novel
simulation tool -- the PhotonPlasma code -- is a unique hybrid model; it
combines a highly parallelized (Vlasov) particle-in-cell approach with
continuous weighting of particles and a sub-Debye Monte-Carlo binary particle
interaction framework.
As an illustration of the capabilities we present results from a numerical
study of Gamma-Ray Burst - Circumburst Medium interaction and plasma
preconditioning via Compton scattering. We argue that important microphysical
processes can only viably be investigated by means of hybrid codes such as the
PhotonPlasma code.
Our first results from 3D simulations with this new simulation tool suggest
that magnetic fields and plasma filaments are created in the wakefield of
prompt gamma-ray bursts. Furthermore, the photon flux density gradient impacts
on particle acceleration in the burst head and wakefield. We discuss some
possible implications of the circumburst medium being preconditioned for a
trailing afterglow shock front. We also discuss important improvements for
future studies of GRB wakefields processes, using the PhotonPlasma code.
We present CCD imaging observations of early-type galaxies with dark lanes obtained with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) during its performance-verification phase. We derive the extinction law by the extragalactic dust in the dark lanes in the spectral range 1.11mu m^{-1} < lambda^{-1} < 2.94 mu m^{-1} by fitting model galaxies to the unextinguished parts of the image, and subtracting from these the actual images. We find that the extinction curves run parallel to the Galactic extinction curve, which implies that the properties of dust in the extragalactic enviroment are similar to those of the Milky Way. The ratio of the total V band extinction to the selective extinction between the V and B bands is derived for each galaxy with an average of 2.82+-0.38, compared to a canonical value of 3.1 for the Milky Way. The similar values imply that galaxies with well-defined dark lanes have characteristic dust grain sizes similar to those of Galactic dust.
Gas-rich disks in the early universe are highly turbulent and have giant star-forming clumps. Models suggest the clumps form by gravitational instabilities, and if they resist disruption by star formation, then they interact, lose angular momentum, and migrate to the center to form a bulge. Here we study the properties of the bulges formed by this mechanism. They are all thick, slowly rotating, and have a high Sersic index, like classical bulges. Their rapid formation should also give them relatively high alpha-element abundances. We consider fourteen low-resolution models and four high-resolution models, three of which have supernova feedback. All models have an active halo, stellar disk, and gaseous disk, three of the models have a pre-existing bulge and three others have a cuspy dark matter halo. All show the same basic result except the one with the highest feedback, in which the clumps are quickly destroyed and the disk thickens too much. The coalescence of massive disk clumps in the center of a galaxy is like a major merger in terms of orbital mixing. It differs by leaving a bulge with no specific dark matter component, unlike the merger of individual galaxies. Normal supernova feedback has little effect because the high turbulent speed in the gas produces tightly bound clumps. A variety of indirect observations support the model, including clumpy disks with young bulges at high redshift and bulges with relatively little dark matter.
Highly magnified lensed galaxies allow us to probe the morphological and spectroscopic properties of high-redshift stellar systems in great detail. However, such objects are rare, and there are only a handful of lensed galaxies which are bright enough for a high-resolution spectroscopic study with current instrumentation. We report the discovery of a new massive lensing cluster, SDSS J120923.7+264047, at z=0.558. Present around the cluster core, at angular distances of up to ~40'', are many arcs and arc candidates, presumably due to lensing of background galaxies by the cluster gravitational potential. One of the arcs, 21'' long, has an r-band magnitude of 20, making it one of the brightest known lensed galaxies. We obtained a low-resolution spectrum of this galaxy, using the Keck-I telescope, and found it is at redshift of z=1.018.
(abridged) We present a spectroscopic analysis of five stellar streams (`A', `B', `Cr', `Cp' and `D') as well as the extended star cluster, EC4, which lies within streamC, all discovered in the halo of M31 from our CFHT/MegaCam survey. These spectroscopic results were initially serendipitous, making use of our existing observations from the DEep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph mounted on the Keck II telescope, and thereby emphasizing the ubiquity of tidal streams that account for ~70% of the M31 halo stars in the targeted fields. Subsequent spectroscopy was then procured in streamCr/p and streamD to trace the velocity gradient along the streams. For the cluster EC4, candidate member stars with average [Fe/H]~-1.4 (Fe/H_spec=-1.6), are found at v_{hel}=-285 km/s suggesting it could be related to streamCp. No similarly obvious cold kinematic candidate is found for streamD, although candidates are proposed in both of two spectroscopic pointings along the stream (both at -400 km/s). Spectroscopy near the edge of streamB suggests a likely kinematic detection, while a candidate kinematic detection of streamA is found (plausibly associated to M33 rather than M31). The low dispersion of the streams in kinematics, physical thickness, and metallicity makes it hard to reconcile with a scenario whereby these stream structures as an ensemble are related to the giant southern stream. We conclude that the M31 stellar halo is largely made up of multiple kinematically cold streams.
We investigate the dependence of penumbral microjets inclination on the position within penumbra. The high cadence observations taken on 10 November 2006 with the Hinode satellite through the \ion{Ca}{ii} H and G--band filters were analysed to determine the inclination of penumbral microjets. The results were then compared with the inclination of the magnetic field determined through the inversion of the spectropolarimetric observations of the same region. The penumbral microjet inclination is increasing towards the outer edge of the penumbra. The results suggest that the penumbral microjet follows the opening magnetic field lines of a vertical flux tube that creates the sunspot.
The comparison of the black hole mass function (BHMF) of active galactic nuclei (AGN) relics with the measured mass function of the massive black holes in galaxies provides strong evidence for the growth of massive black holes being dominated by mass accretion. We derive the Eddington ratio distributions as functions of black hole mass and redshift from a large AGN sample with measured Eddington ratios given by Kollmeier et al. We find that, even at the low mass end, most black holes are accreting at Eddington ratio ~0.2, which implies that the objects accreting at extremely high rates should be rare or such phases are very short. Using the derived Eddington ratios, we explore the cosmological evolution of massive black holes with an AGN bolometric luminosity function (LF). It is found that the resulted BHMF of AGN relics is unable to match the measured local BHMF of galaxies for any value of (constant) radiative efficiency. Motivated by Volonteri, Sikora & Lasota's study on the spin evolution of massive black holes, we assume the radiative efficiency to be dependent of black hole mass, i.e., it is low for M<10^8 solar masses and it increases with black hole mass for black holes with >10^8 solar masses. We find that the BHMF of AGN relics can roughly reproduce the local BHMF of galaxies if the radiative efficiency ~0.08 for the black holes with <10^8 solar masses and it increases to ~0.18 for black holes with >10^9 solar masses, which implies that most massive black holes (>10^9 solar masses) are spinning very rapidly.
We investigate the correlation between the mass of the supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and metal abundance, using existing data sets. The SMBH mass $M_{bh}$ is well correlated with integrated stellar feature of Mgb. For 28 galaxies, the best-fit $M_{bh}$-Mgb relation has a small scatter, which is an equivalent level with other well-known relation, such as a correlation between the stellar velocity dispersion and the mass. An averaged iron index $<$Fe$>$ also positively correlates with $M_{bh}$, but the best-fit $M_{bh}$-$<$Fe$>$ relation has a larger scatter. The difference comes from the synthesis and evolution mechanisms, and may be important for the SMBH and star formation history in the host spheroid.
We show that smoothed particle hydrodynamics method, used with individual time-steps, cannot handle explosion problems. The solution for this problem is to introduce a time-step limiter which reduces the time-step of a particle if it is too long compared to the time-steps of its neighbor particles. This kind of time-step constraint is essential for the correct treatment of explosions in SPH simulations with individual time-steps.
The concept of a gamma-ray telescope based on a Laue lens offers the
possibility to increase the sensitivity by more than an order of magnitude with
respect to existing instruments. Laue lenses have been developed by our
collaboration for several years : the main achievement of this R&D program was
the CLAIRE lens prototype. Since then, the endeavour has been oriented towards
the development of efficient diffracting elements (crystal slabs), the aim
being to step from a technological Laue lens to a scientifically exploitable
lens. The latest mission concept featuring a gamma-ray lens is the European
Gamma-Ray Imager (GRI) which intends to make use of the Laue lens to cover
energies from 200 keV to 1300 keV.
Investigations of two promising materials, low mosaicity copper and gradient
concentration silicon-germanium are presented in this paper. The measurements
have been performed during three runs on beamline ID15A of the European
Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and on the GAMS 4 instrument of the Institute
Laue-Langevin (both in Grenoble, France) using highly monochromatic beam of
energy close to 500 keV. Despite it was not perfectly homogeneous, the
presented copper crystal exhibits peak reflectivity of 25% in accordance with
theoretical predictions, and a mosaicity around 26 arcsec, the ideal range for
the realization of a Laue lens such as GRI. Silicon-germanium featuring a
constant gradient have been measured for the very first time at 500 keV. Two
samples showed a quite homogeneous reflectivity reaching 26%, which is far from
the 48% already observed in experimental crystals but a very encouraging
beginning. This results have been used to estimate the performance of the GRI
Laue lens design.
Using new, high-resolution interferometric observations of the CO and HCN molecules, we directly compare the molecular and ionized components of the interstellar medium in the center of the nearby spiral galaxy IC342, on spatial scales of ~ 10pc. The morphology of the tracers suggests that the molecular gas flow caused by a large-scale stellar bar has been strongly affected by the mechanical feedback from recent star formation activity within the central 100pc in the nucleus of the galaxy. Possibly, stellar winds and/or supernova shocks originating in the nuclear star cluster have compressed, and likely pushed outward, the infalling molecular gas, thus significantly reducing the gas supply to the central 10pc. Although our analysis currently lacks kinematic confirmation due to the face-on orientation of IC342, the described scenario is supported by the generally observed repetitive nature of star formation in the nuclear star clusters of late-type spiral galaxies.
People usually smile when astrophysicists assert that we are sons of the stars, but human life confirms this sentence: about 65% of the mass of our body is made up of oxygen, carbon occurs in all organic life and is the basis of organic chemistry, nitrogen is an essential part of amino acids and nucleic acids, calcium is a major component of our bones. Moreover, phosphorus plays a major role in biological molecules such as DNA and RNA (where the chemical codes of life is written) and our blood carries oxygen to tissues by means of the hemoglobin (an iron pigment of red blood cells). All these elements have been created in stars. I just list some examples related to human body, but also common element such as aluminum, nickel, gold, silver and lead come from a pristine generation of stars. The abundances in the Solar System are in fact due to the mixing of material ejected from stars that polluted the Universe in different epochs before the Sun formation, occurred about 5 billion years ago, after the gravitational contraction of the proto-solar cloud. Low mass AGB stars (1<M/Msun<3) are among the most important polluters of the Milky Way, because of the strong winds eroding their chemically enriched envelopes. They are responsible for the nucleosynthesis of the main component of the cosmic s-elements.
RoboNet-II uses a global network of robotic telescopes to perform follow-up observations of microlensing events in the Galactic Bulge. The current network consists of three 2m telescopes located in Hawaii and Australia (owned by Las Cumbers Observatory) and the Canary Islands (owned by Liverpool John Moores University). In future years the network will be expanded by deploying clusters of 1m telescopes in other suitable locations. A principal scientific aim of the RoboNet-II project is the detection of cool extra-solar planets by the method of gravitational microlensing. These detections will provide crucial constraints to models of planetary formation and orbital migration. RoboNet-II acts in coordination with the PLANET microlensing follow-up network and uses an optimization algorithm (``web-PLOP'') to select the targets and a distributed scheduling paradigm (eSTAR) to execute the observations. Cotinuous automated assesment of the observations and anomaly detection is provided by the ARTEMiS system.
In this letter, we propose a model of inflationary cosmology with a bounce preceded and study its primordial curvature perturbations. Our model gives rise to a primordial power spectrum with a feature of oscillation on large scales compared with the nearly scale-invariant spectrum generated by the traditional slow rolling inflation model. We will show this effect changes the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) temperature power spectrum and the Large Scale Structure (LSS) matter power spectrum. And further with a detailed simulation we will point out this signal is detectable to the forthcoming observations, such as PLANCK and LAMOST.
Though pick-up ions (PUIs) are a well known phenomenon in the inner heliosphere, their phase-space distribution nevertheless is a theoretically unsettled problem. Especially the question of how pick-up ions form their suprathermal tails, extending to far above their injection energies, still now is unsatistactorily answered. Though Fermi-2 velocity diffusion theories have revealed that such tails are populated, they nevertheless show that resulting population densities are much less than seen in observations showing power-laws with a velocity index of ``-5''. We first investigate here, whether or not observationally suggested power-laws can be the result of a quasi-equilibrium state between suprathermal ions and magnetohydrodynamic turbulences in energy exchange with eachother. We demonstrate that such an equilibrium cannot be established. We furthermore show that Fermi-2 type energy diffusion in the outer heliosphere is too inefficient to determine the shape of the distribution function there. As we can show, however, power-laws beyond the injection threshold can be established, if the injection takes place at higher energies of the order of 100 keV. As we demonstrate here, such an injection is connected with modulated anomalous cosmic ray (ACR) particles at the lower end of their spectrum when they again start being convected outwards with the solar wind. Therefore, we refer these particles as ACR-PUIs. In our quantitative calculation of the pick-up ion spectrum resulting under such conditions we in fact find again power-laws, however with a velocity power index of ``-4'' and fairly distance-independent spectral intensities. As it seems these facts are observationally well supported by VOYAGER measurements in the lowest energy channels.
We introduce a simple and efficient algorithm for diffusion in smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations and apply it to the problem of chemical mixing. Based on the concept of turbulent diffusion, we link the diffusivity of a pollutant to the local physical conditions and can thus resolve mixing in space and time. We apply our prescription to the evolution of an idealized supernova remnant and find that we can model the distribution of heavy elements without having to explicitly resolve hydrodynamic instabilities in the post-shock gas. Instead, the dispersal of the pollutant is implicitly modeled through its dependence on the local velocity dispersion. Our method can thus be used in any SPH simulation that investigates chemical mixing but lacks the necessary resolution on small scales. Potential applications include the enrichment of the interstellar medium in present-day galaxies, as well as the intergalactic medium at high redshifts.
We present color-magnitude diagrams of globular clusters for models with self-enrichment and pre-enrichment. The models with self-enrichment turn out to have two or more main sequence turnoff points in the color-magnitude diagram if the fraction of mass lost by the globular cluster under supernova explosions does not exceed 95-97%. The models with pre-enrichment can have only one main sequence turnoff point. We argue that the cluster wCen evolved according to a self-enrichment scenario.
We study the 0.5-10keV emission of a sample of five of the broadest double-peaked Balmer-line emitters with Chandra. The Balmer lines of these objects originate close (within a few hundred gravitational radii) to the central black holes of the Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs), and their double-peaked profiles suggest an origin in the AGN accretion disk. We find that four of the five targets can be modeled by simple power-law continua with photon indices (1.6-1.8) typical of similar luminosity AGNs. One object, SDSS J0132-0952, shows evidence of ionized intrinsic absorption. The most-luminous SDSS double-peaked emitter, SDSS J2125-0813, has either an unusual flat spectrum (~1) or is also highly absorbed. It is the only double-peaked emitter for which no external illumination is necessary to account for the Balmer line emission. The strength of the Balmer-line emission in the remaining four objects suggests that the total line flux likely exceeds the viscous energy that can be extracted locally from the accretion disk and external illumination is necessary. All five double-peaked emitters have unusually strong X-ray emission relative to their UV/optical emission, which is the likely source of the external illumination necessary for the production of the observed strong broad lines. On average about 30% of their bolometric luminosities are emitted between 0.5-10keV. The spectral energy distributions of the five double-peaked emitters show the big blue bumps characteristic of radiatively efficient accretion flows. The Balmer line profiles, as well as the optical and X-ray fluxes of the double-peaked emitters, are highly variable on timescales of months to years in the AGN rest frame.
Recent works have shown that the thermal inertia of km-sized near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) is more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of main belt asteroids (MBAs) with sizes (diameters) between 200 and 1,000 km. This confirms the idea that large MBAs, over hundreds millions of years,have developed a fine and thick thermally insulating regolith layer, responsible for the low values of their thermal inertia, whereas km-sized asteroids, having collisional lifetimes of only some millions years, have less regolith, and consequently a larger surface thermal inertia. Because it is believed that regolith on asteroids forms as a result of impact processes, a better knowledge of asteroid thermal inertia values and its correlation with size, taxonomic type, and density can be used as an important constraintfor modeling of impact processes on asteroids. However, our knowledge of asteroids' thermal inertia values is still based on few data points with NEAs covering the size range 0.1-20 km and MBAs that >100 km. Here, we use IRAS infrared measurements to estimate the thermal inertias of MBAs with diameters 100 km and known shapes and spin vector: filling an important size gap between the largest MBAs and the km-sized NEAs. An update to the inverse correlation between thermal inertia and diameter is presented. For some asteroids thermophysical modelling allowed us to discriminate between the two still possible spin vector solutions derived from optical lightcurve inversion. This is important for (720) Bohlinia: our preferred solution was predicted to be the correct one by Vokrouhlicky et al. (2003, Nature 425, 147) just on theoretical grounds.
Phase transitions taking place during inflation give rise to bubbles of true vacuum embedded in the false vacuum. These bubbles can imprint a distinctive signature on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). We evaluate the feasibility of detecting the void signatures in CMB maps, such as those that will be made available by the upcoming ESA Planck Surveyor Mission.
We examine the extent to which the self-annihilation of supersymmetric neutralino dark matter, as well as light dark matter, influences the rate of heating, ionisation and Lyman-alpha pumping of interstellar hydrogen and helium and the extent to which this is manifested in the 21cm background signal. Unlike previous studies we fully consider the enhancements to the annihilation rate from dark matter halos and substructures within them. We find that the influence of such structures results in significant changes in the brightness temperature. The effect on the global signature at redshifts within the range probed LOFAR (i.e. z<12) is on the edge of its sensitivity in the case of neutralino dark matter, and very likely to be detected for annihilating light dark matter.
We present an analysis of Kr I 1236 line measurements from 50 sight lines in the Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph data archives that have sufficiently high resolution and signal-to-noise ratio to permit reliable krypton-to-hydrogen abundance ratio determinations. The distribution of Kr/H ratios in this sample is consistent with a single value for the ISM within 5900 pc of the Sun, log(Kr/H) = -9.02+/-0.02, apart from a rough annulus from between about 600 and 2500 pc distant. The Kr/H ratio toward stars within this annulus is elevated by approximately 0.11 dex, similar to previously noted elevations of O/H and Cu/H gas-phase abundances beyond about 800 pc. A significant drop in the gas-phase N/O ratio in the same region suggests that this is an artifact of nucleosynthetic history. Since the physical scale of the annulus' inner edge is comparable to the radius of the Gould Belt and the outer limit of heliocentric distances where the D/H abundance ratio is highly variable, these phenomena may be related to the Gould Belt's origins.
We report the detection of very high-energy gamma-ray emission from the intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object W Comae (z=0.102) by VERITAS. The source was observed between January and April 2008. A strong outburst of gamma-ray emission was measured in the middle of March, lasting for only four days. The energy spectrum measured during the two highest flare nights is fit by a power-law and is found to be very steep, with a differential photon spectral index of Gamma = 3.81 +- 0.35_stat +- 0.34_syst. The integral photon flux above 200GeV during those two nights corresponds to roughly 9% of the flux from the Crab Nebula. Quasi-simultaneous Swift observations at X-ray energies were triggered by the VERITAS observations. The spectral energy distribution of the flare data can be described by synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC) or external-Compton (EC) leptonic jet models, with the latter offering a more natural set of parameters to fit the data.
We present an observational study about the effects of the interactions in the kinematics, stellar population and abundances of the components of the galaxy pair AM2306-721. Rotation curves for the main and companion galaxies were obtained, showing a deprojected velocity amplitude of 175 km/s and 185 km/s, respectively. The interaction between the main and companion galaxies was modeled using numerical N-body/hydrodynamical simulations, with the result indicating that the current stage of the merger would be about 250 Myr after perigalacticum. The spatial variation in the distribution of the stellar population components in both galaxies was analysed by fitting combinations of stellar population models of different age groups. The central region of main galaxy is dominated by an old (5-10 Gyr) population, while significant contributions from a young (200 Myr) and intermediate (1 Gyr) components are found in the disk, being enhanced in the direction of the tidal features. The stellar population of the companion galaxy is overall much younger, being dominated by components with 1 Gyr or less, quite widely spread over the whole disk. Spatial profiles of the oxygen abundance were obtained from the a grid of photoionization models using the R23 line ratio. The disk of the main galaxy shows a clear radial gradient, while the companion galaxy presents an oxygen abundance relatively homogeneous across the disk. The absence of an abundance gradient in the secondary galaxy is interpreted in terms of mixing by gas flows from the outer parts to the center of the galaxy due to the gravitational interaction with the more massive primary.
One of the interesting features of Ultraluminous X-ray sources is that many of them are surrounded by luminous nebulae exhibiting diverse observational properties. In different cases the nebulae are photoionized or shock-powered. Generally, the two energy sources appear to coexist. ULX bubble nebulae may be considered a new class of shock-powered nebulae similar to upscaled versions of stellar wind bubbles. Their expansion rates support constant energy influx rather than single powerful events like Hypernova explosions.
We point out that by comparing the total mass (in gravitational units) of the earth-moon system, as determined by lunar laser ranging, with the sum of the lunar mass as independently determined by its gravitational action on satellites or asteroids, and the earth mass, as determined by the LAGEOS geodetic survey satellite, one can get a direct measure of the mass of earth-bound dark matter lying between the radius of the moon's orbit and the geodetic satellite orbit. Current data show that the mass of such earth-bound dark matter must be less than $4 \times 10^{-9}$ of the earth's mass.
We study in detail the mechanism of baryon and lepton asymmetry generation in the framework of the $\nu$MSM (an extension of the Standard Model by three singlet fermions with masses smaller than the electroweak scale). We elucidate the issue of CP-violation in the model and define the phase relevant for baryogenesis. We clarify the question of quantum-mechanical coherence, essential for the lepton asymmetry generation in singlet fermion oscillations and compute the relevant damping rates. The range of masses and couplings of singlet leptons which can lead to successful baryogenesis is determined. The conditions which ensure survival of primordial (existing above the electroweak temperatures) asymmetries in different leptonic numbers are analysed. We address the question whether CP-violating reactions with lepton number non-conservation can produce leptonic asymmetry {\em below} the sphaleron freeze-out temperature. This asymmetry, if created, leads to resonant production of dark matter sterile neutrinos. We show that the requirement that a significant lepton asymmetry be produced puts stringent constraints on the properties of a pair of nearly degenerate singlet fermions, which can be tested in accelerator experiments. In this region of parameters the $\nu$MSM provides a common mechanism for production of baryonic matter and dark matter in the universe. We analyse different fine-tunings of the model and discuss possible symmetries of the $\nu$MSM Lagrangian that can lead to them.
A weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) weighing only a few GeV has been invoked as an explanation for the signal from the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. We show that the data from DAMA/LIBRA are now powerful enough to strongly constrain the properties of any putative WIMP. Accounting for the detailed recoil spectrum, a light WIMP with a Maxwellian velocity distribution and a spin-independent (SI) interaction cannot account for the data. Even neglecting the spectrum, much of the parameter space is excluded by limits from the DAMA unmodulated signal at low energies. Significant modifications to the astrophysics or particle physics can open light mass windows.
We present a unified approach to neutrino processes in nucleon matter based on Landau's theory of Fermi liquids that includes one- and two-quasiparticle-quasihole pair states as well as mean-field effects. We show how rates of neutrino processes involving two nucleons may be calculated in terms of the collision integral in the Landau transport equation for quasiparticles. Using a relaxation time approximation, we solve the transport equation for density and spin-density fluctuations and derive a general form for the response functions. We apply our approach to neutral-current processes in neutron matter, where the spin response function is crucial for calculations of neutrino elastic and inelastic scattering, neutrino-pair bremsstrahlung and absorption from strongly-interacting nucleons. We calculate the relaxation rates using modern nuclear interactions and including many-body contributions, and find that rates of neutrino processes are reduced compared with estimates based on the one-pion exchange interaction, which is used in current simulations of core-collapse supernovae.
A period of slow contraction with equation of state w > 1, known as an ekpyrotic phase, has been shown to flatten and smooth the universe if it begins the phase with small perturbations. In this paper, we explore how robust and powerful the ekpyrotic smoothing mechanism is by beginning with highly inhomogeneous and anisotropic initial conditions and numerically solving for the subsequent evolution of the universe. Our studies, based on a universe with gravity plus a scalar field component that can include a regime with w > 1, show that some regions become homogeneous and isotropic while others exhibit mixmaster-like behavior in which the scalar field behaves like a fluid with w=1. We find that the ekpyrotic smoothing mechanism is robust in the sense that the ratio of the proper volume of the smooth region to the mixmaster-like region grows exponentially fast along time slices of constant mean curvature.
A number of positive and null results on the time variation of fundamental constants have been reported. It is difficult to judge whether or not these claims are mutually consistent, since the observable quantities depend on several parameters, namely the coupling strengths and masses of particles. The evolution of these coupling-parameters over cosmological history is also a priori unknown. A direct comparison requires a relation between the couplings. We explore several distinct scenarios based on unification of gauge couplings, providing a representative (though not exhaustive) sample of such relations. For each scenario we obtain a characteristic time dependence and discuss whether a monotonic time evolution is allowed. For all scenarios, some contradictions between different observations appear. We show how a clear observational determination of non-zero variations would test the dominant mechanism of varying couplings within unified theories.
We discuss the interpretation of the annual modulation signal seen in the DAMA experiment in terms of spin-independent elastic WIMP scattering. Taking into account channeling in the crystal as well as the spectral signature of the modulation signal we find that the low-mass WIMP region consistent with DAMA data is confined to WIMP masses close to m_wimp ~ 12 GeV, in disagreement with the constraints from CDMS and XENON. We conclude that even if channeling is taken into account this interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal is strongly disfavoured. We study the robustness of this result with respect to variations of the WIMP velocity distribution in our galaxy, by changing various parameters of the distribution function, and by using the results of a realistic N-body dark matter simulation. We find that only by making rather extreme assumptions regarding halo properties can we obtain marginal agreement between DAMA and CDMS/XENON.
I review the current status of neutrino astrophysics, including solar neutrinos; atmospheric neutrinos; neutrino mass and oscillations; supernova neutrinos; neutrino nucleosynthesis (Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the neutrino process, the r-process); neutrino cooling and red giants; and high energy neutrino astronomy.
Links to: arXiv, form interface, find, astro-ph, recent, 0808, contact, help (Access key information)
Recent studies have shown that distant red galaxies (DRGs), which dominate the high-mass end of the galaxy population at z~2.5, are more strongly clustered than the population of blue star-forming galaxies at similar redshifts. However these studies have been severely hampered by the small sizes of fields having deep near-infrared imaging. Here we use the large UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey to study the clustering of DRGs. The size and depth of this survey allows for an unprecedented measurement of the angular clustering of DRGs at 2<z_phot<3 and K<21. The correlation function shows the expected power law behavior, but with an apparent upturn at theta<~10". We deproject the angular clustering to infer the spatial correlation length, finding 10.6+-1.6 h^-1 Mpc. We use the halo occupation distribution framework to demonstrate that the observed strong clustering of DRGs is not consistent with standard models of galaxy clustering, confirming previous suggestions that were based on smaller samples. Inaccurate photometric redshifts could artificially enhance the observed clustering, however significant systematic redshift errors would be required to bring the measurements into agreement with the models. Another possibility is that the underlying assumption that galaxies interact with their large-scale environment only through halo mass is not valid, and that other factors drive the evolution of the oldest, most massive galaxies at z~2.
(Abridged) We present STIS observations of 14 nearby low-luminosity active galactic nuclei, including 13 LINERs and 1 Seyfert, taken at multiple parallel slit positions centered on the galaxy nuclei and covering the H-alpha spectral region. For each galaxy, we measure the emission-line velocities, line widths, and strengths, to map out the inner narrow-line region structure. There is a wide diversity among the velocity fields: in a few galaxies the gas is clearly in disk-like rotation, while in other galaxies the gas kinematics appear chaotic or are dominated by radial flows with multiple velocity components. The [S II] line ratio indicates a radial stratification in gas density, with a sharp increase within the inner 10-20 pc, in the majority of the Type 1 objects. We examine how the [N II] 6583 line width varies as a function of aperture size over a range of spatial scales, extending from scales comparable to the black hole's sphere of influence to scales dominated by the host galaxy's bulge. For most galaxies in the sample, we find that the emission-line velocity dispersion is largest within the black hole's gravitational sphere of influence, and decreases with increasing aperture size toward values similar to the bulge stellar velocity dispersion measured within ground-based apertures. Future dynamical modeling in order to determine black hole masses for a few objects in this sample may be worthwhile, although disorganized motion will limit the accuracy of the mass measurements.
It has been suggested that galactic shock asymmetry induced by our galaxy infall toward the Virgo Cluster may be a source of periodicity in cosmic ray exposure as the solar system oscillates normal to the galactic plane, thereby inducing an observed terrestrial periodicity in biodiversity. Here we investigate one possible mechanism, the ionization and dissociation in the atmosphere, resulting in changes in atmospheric chemistry which culminate in the depletion of ozone and a resulting increase in the dangerous solar UVB flux on the ground. We estimate the enhancement of cosmic ray intensity for a range of reasonable parameters of the galactic wind and galactic magnetic field, and use these to compute steady-state atmospheric effects. At the lower end of this range, we find that the effects are far too small to be of serious consequence. At the upper end of this range, the level of ozone depletion approaches that currently experienced due to anthropogenic effects such as accumulated chlorofluorocarbons, i.e. ~2.1 % global average loss of ozone column density. We discuss some of the possible effects. While much smaller intensity than atmospheric effects of a nearby galactic gamma-ray burst, the duration of the effects would be about 10^6 times greater. Current ozone depletion is a documented stress on the biosphere; it is not clear whether its consequences would be severe if of extended duration. We conclude that for estimates at the upper end of the reasonable range of the cosmic ray variability over geologic time, the mechanism of atmospheric ozone depletion may provide a small additional stress, enhancing the impact of other events. However, in order to account for large fluctuations in biodiversity correlated with cosmic ray flux, other mechanisms should be investigated.
We present stellar velocity dispersion measurements in the host galaxies of 10 luminous quasars (M_V < -23) using the Ca H&K lines in off-nuclear spectra. We combine these data with effective radii and magnitudes from the literature to place the host galaxies on the Fundamental Plane (FP) where their properties are compared to other types of galaxies. We find that the radio-loud (RL) QSO hosts have similar properties to massive elliptical galaxies, while the radio-quiet (RQ) hosts are more similar to intermediate mass galaxies. The RL hosts lie at the upper extreme of the FP due to their large velocity dispersions (<sigma_*> = 321 km s^-1), low surface brightness (<mu_e(r)> = 20.8 mag arcsec^-2), and large effective radii (<R_e> = 11.4 kpc), and have <M_*> = 1.5 x 10^12 M_sun and <M/L> = 12.4. In contrast, properties of the RQ hosts are <sigma_*> = 241 km s^-1, <M_*> ~ 4.4 x 10^11 M_sun, and <M/L> ~ 5.3. The distinction between these galaxies occurs at sigma_* ~ 300 km s^-1, R_e ~ 6 kpc, and corresponding M_* ~ 5.9 +/- 3.5 x 10^11 M_sun. Our data support previous results that PG QSOs are related to gas-rich galaxy mergers that form intermediate-mass galaxies, while RL QSOs reside in massive early-type galaxies, most of which also show signs of recent mergers or interactions. Most previous work has drawn these conclusions by using estimates of the black hole mass and inferring host galaxy properties from that, while here we have relied purely on directly measured host galaxy properties.
We performed cosmological, magneto-hydrodynamical simulations to follow the evolution of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters, exploring the possibility that the origin of the magnetic seed fields are galactic outflows during the star-burst phase of galactic evolution. To do this we coupled a semi-analytical model for magnetized galactic winds as suggested by Bertone et.al. (2006) to our cosmological simulation. We find that the strength and structure of magnetic fields observed in galaxy clusters are well reproduced for a wide range of model parameters for the magnetized, galactic winds and do only weakly depend on the exact magnetic structure within the assumed galactic outflows. Although the evolution of a primordial magnetic seed field shows no significant differences to that of galaxy clusters fields from previous studies, we find that the magnetic field pollution in the diffuse medium within filaments is below the level predicted by scenarios with pure primordial magnetic seed field. We therefore conclude that magnetized galactic outflows and their subsequent evolution within the intra-cluster medium can fully account for the observed magnetic fields in galaxy clusters. Our findings also suggest that measuring cosmological magnetic fields in low-density environments such as filaments is much more useful than observing cluster magnetic fields to infer their possible origin.
We present a high signal-to-noise spectrum of a bright galaxy at z = 4.9 in 14 h of integration on VLT FORS2. This galaxy is extremely bright, i_850 = 23.10 +/- 0.01, and is strongly-lensed by the foreground massive galaxy cluster Abell 1689 (z=0.18). Stellar continuum is seen longward of the Ly-alpha emission line at ~7100 \AA, while intergalactic H I produces strong absorption shortward of Ly-alpha. Two transmission spikes at ~6800 Angstroms (A) and ~7040 A are also visible, along with other structures at shorter wavelengths. Although fainter than a QSO, the absence of a strong central ultraviolet flux source in this star forming galaxy enables a measurement of the H I flux transmission in the intergalactic medium (IGM) in the vicinity of a high redshift object. We find that the effective H I optical depth of the IGM is remarkably high within a large 14 Mpc (physical) region surrounding the galaxy compared to that seen towards QSOs at similar redshifts. Evidently, this high-redshift galaxy is located in a region of space where the amount of H I is much larger than that seen at similar epochs in the diffuse IGM. We argue that observations of high-redshift galaxies like this one provide unique insights on the nascent stages of baryonic large-scale structures that evolve into the filamentary cosmic web of galaxies and clusters of galaxies observed in the present universe.
CONTEXT: Extragalactic globular clusters have been studied in elliptical
galaxies and in a few luminous spiral galaxies, but little is known about
globular clusters in low-luminosity spirals.
AIMS: Past observations with the ACS have shown that NGC 45 hosts a large
population of globular clusters (19), as well as several young star clusters.
In this work we aim to confirm the bona fide globular cluster status for 8 of
19 globular cluster candidates and to derive metallicities, ages, and
velocities.
METHODS: VLT/FORS2 multislit spectroscopy in combination with the Lick/IDS
system was used to derive velocities and to constrain metallicities and
[alpha/Fe] element ratio of the globular clusters.
RESULTS: We confirm the 8 globular clusters as bona fide globular clusters.
Their velocities indicate halo or bulge-like kinematics, with little or no
overall rotation. From absorption indices such as H_beta, H_gamma, and H_delta
and the combined [MgFe]' index, we found that the globular clusters are
metal-poor [Z/H]<=-0.33 dex and [alpha/Fe]<=0.0 element ratio. These results
argue in favor of a population of globular clusters formed during the
assembling of the galaxy.
The 21 cm emission of HI is the most promising probe of the epoch of reionization (EoR). In the next few years, the SKA pathfinders will provide statistical measurements of this signal. Numerical simulations predicting these observations are necessary to optimize the design of the instruments and help in the interpretation of the data. Simulations are reaching a reasonable level in terms of scale range, but are still often relying on simplifications to compute the strength of the signal. The main difficulty is the computation of the spin temperature of HI which depends on the gas kinetic temperature and the level of the local Ly-alpha flux (Wouthuysen-Field effect). A T_S >> T_CMB assumption is usual. However, this assumption does not apply early or even later in the reionization history if the sources of ionizing radiation are stars (and not quasars). This work presents the first EoR numerical simulations including, beside dynamics and ionizing continuum radiative transfer, a self-consistent treatment of the Ly-alpha radiative transfer, which allows us to compute the spin temperature accurately. We use two different box sizes, 20 h^-1 Mpc and 100 h^-1 Mpc, and a star source model. Using the redshift dependence of average quantities, maps, and power spectra, we quantify the effect of using different assumptions to compute the spin temperature and the influence of the box size. We find that the biggest effect comes from allowing for a signal in absorption: indeed regions seen in absorption survive (with our source model) almost until the end of reionization. The influence of using the real, local, Ly-alpha flux is important for an average ionization fraction smaller than ~10%: it changes the overall amplitude of the signal, and adds its own fluctuations to the power spectrum.
We have used archival FUSE data to complete a survey of interstellar HD in 41 lines of sight with a wide range of extinctions. This follow up to an earlier survey was made to further assess the utility of HD as a cosmological probe; to analyze the HD formation process; and to see what trends with other interstellar properties were present in the data. We employed the curve-of-growth method, supported by line profile fitting, to derive accurate column densities of HD. We find that the N(HD)/2N(H2) ratio is substantially lower than the atomic D/H ratio and conclude that the molecular ratio has no bearing on cosmology, because local processes are responsible for the formation of HD. Based on correlations with E(B-V), H2, CO, and iron depletion, we find that HD is formed in the densest portion of the clouds; the slope of the logN(HD)/log(H2) correlation is greater than 1.0, caused by the destruction rate of HD declining more slowly than that of H2; and, as a sidelight, that the depletions are density dependent.
Several lines of evidence have suggested that the the galaxy cluster Cl~0024+17, an apparently relaxed system, is actually a collision of two clusters, the interaction occurring along our line of sight. In this paper we present a high-resolution $N$-body/hydrodynamics simulation of such a collision. We have created mock X-ray observations of our simulated system using MARX, a program that simulates the on-orbit performance of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. We analyze these simulated data to generate radial profiles of the surface brightness and temperature. At later times, $t = 2.0-3.0$ Gyr after the collision, the simulated surface brightness profiles are better fit by a superposition of two $\beta$-model profiles than a single profile, in agreement with the observations of Cl~0024+17. In general, due to projection effects, much of the post-collision density and temperature structure of the clusters is not seen in the observations. In particular, the observed temperatures from spectral fitting are much lower than the temperature of the hottest gas. We determine from our fitted profiles that if the system is modeled as a single cluster, the hydrostatic mass estimate is a factor $\sim$2-3 less than the actual mass, but if the system is modeled as two galaxy clusters in superposition, a hydrostatic mass estimation can be made which is accurate to within $\sim$10%. We examine some implications of these results for galaxy cluster X-ray surveys.
We present the first resolved images of the eclipsing binary Beta Lyrae, obtained with the CHARA Array interferometer and the MIRC combiner in the H band. The images clearly show the mass donor and the thick disk surrounding the mass gainer at all six epochs of observation. The donor is brighter and generally appears elongated in the images, the first direct detection of photospheric tidal distortion due to Roche-lobe filling. We also confirm expectations that the disk component is more elongated than the donor and is relatively fainter at this wavelength. Image analysis and model fitting for each epoch were used for calculating the first astrometric orbital solution for Beta Lyrae, yielding precise values for the orbital inclination and position angle. The derived semi-ma jor axis also allows us to estimate the distance of Beta Lyrae; however, systematic differences between the models and the images limit the accuracy of our distance estimate to about 15%. To address these issues, we will need a more physical, self-consistent model to account for all epochs as well as the multi-wavelength information from the eclipsing light curves.
Higher-order gravity models have been recently the subject of much attention in the context of cosmic acceleration. These models are derived by adding various curvature invariants to the Einstein-Hilbert action. Several studies showed that these models can have late-time self-acceleration and could, in some cases, fit various observational constraints. In view of the infinite spectrum of invariants that could be built from curvature tensors, we propose here a method based on minimal sets of independent invariants as a possible route for a systematic approach to these models. We explore a connection made between theorems on bases in invariants theory in relativity and higher-order cosmological models. A dynamical system analysis is performed and some models with accelerating attractors are discussed. The asymptotic behavior of the models is also studied using analytical calculations.
The role of shear in alleviating catastrophic quenching by shedding small-scale magnetic helicity through fluxes along contours of constant shear is discussed. The level of quenching of the dynamo effect depends on the quenched value of the turbulent magnetic diffusivity. Earlier estimates that might have suffered from the force-free degeneracy of Beltrami fields are now confirmed for shear flows where this degeneracy is lifted. For a dynamo that is saturated near equipartition field strength those estimates result in a 5-fold decrease of the magnetic diffusivity as the magnetic Reynolds number based on the wavenumber of the energy-carrying eddies is increased from 2 to 600. Finally, the role of shear in driving turbulence and large-scale fields by the magneto-rotational instability is emphasized. New simulations are presented and the 3pi/4 phase shift between poloidal and toroidal fields is confirmed. It is suggested that this phase shift might be a useful diagnostic tool in identifying mean-field dynamo action in simulations and to distinguish this from other scenarios invoking magnetic buoyancy as a means to explain migration away from the midplane.
Aspects of turbulence in protostellar accretion discs are being reviewed. The emergence of dead zones due to poor ionization and alternatives to the magneto-rotational instability are discussed. The coupling between dust and gas in protostellar accretion discs is explained and turbulent drag is compared with laminar drag in the Stokes and Epstein regimes. Finally, the significance of magnetic field generation in turbulent discs is emphasized in connection with driving outflows and with star-disc coupling.
Using direct simulations of hydromagnetic turbulence driven by random polarized waves it is shown that dynamo action is possible over a wide range of magnetic Prandtl numbers from 0.01 to 1. Triply-periodic boundary conditions are being used. In the final saturated state the resulting magnetic field has a large-scale component of Beltrami type. During the kinematic phase only the case with the smallest magnetic Prandtl number shows large-scale magnetic fields, but it is less organized than in the nonlinear stage. For small magnetic Prandtl numbers the growth rate is comparable with that calculated from an alpha squared mean-field dynamo. In the linear regime the magnetic helicity spectrum has a short inertial range compatible with a -5/3 power law, while in the nonlinear regime it is the current helicity whose spectrum is compatible with such a law. In the saturated case, the spectral magnetic energy in the inertial range is in slight excess over the spectral kinetic energy, although for small magnetic Prandtl numbers the magnetic energy spectrum reaches its resistive cutoff wavenumber more quickly. The viscous energy dissipation declines with the square root of the magnetic Prandtl number, which implies that most of the energy is dissipated via Joule heat.
We study the properties of clumps formed in three-dimensional simulations of converging flows in the magnetised, thermally bistable, warm neutral medium (WNM). Based on these simulations we find: (1) Pockets of cold, dense molecular clumps form through thermal instability in the contact layer of the convergent flow. They are characterised by a sharp density jump at the boundary to the WNM. (2) The clumps grow in mass at roughly constant density by the outward propagation of the sharp transition layer to the WNM and, at later times, by coagulation. (3) The clumps are approximately in pressure equilibrium with their surroundings and are well separated in the early stages of the cloud evolution. They typically have mean densities of n ~ 1000 cm^-3 and temperatures of T ~ 23 K. (4) The clumps internal turbulence is transonic with pressure fluctuations of up to factors of 2 above and below the thermal value of the surrounding WNM. (5) The velocity and magnetic fields tend to be aligned with each other within the clumps, although both are significantly fluctuating, suggesting that the velocity tends to stretch and align the magnetic field with it. We conclude that thermal instability is responsible for the large density contrast between clumps and WNM, while turbulent ram pressure fluctuations together with gravity are responsible for the internal substructure of the clumps. In the final stages of the evolution mergers drive clumps into the gravitationally unstable regime and consequently star formation sets in.
The young star cluster NGC 602 and its associated HII region, N90, formed in a relatively isolated and diffuse environment in the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud. Its isolation from other regions of massive star formation and the relatively simple surrounding HI shell structure allows us to constrain the processes that may have led to its formation and to study conditions leading to massive star formation. We use images from Hubble Space Telescope and high resolution echelle spectrographic data from the Anglo-Australian Telescope along with 21-cm neutral hydrogen (HI) spectrum survey data and the shell catalogue derived from it to establish a likely evolutionary scenario leading to the formation of NGC 602. We identify a distinct HI cloud component that is likely the progenitor cloud of the cluster and HII region which probably formed in blister fashion from the cloud's periphery. We also find that the past interaction of HI shells can explain the current location and radial velocity of the nebula. The surrounding Interstellar Medium is diffuse and dust-poor as demonstrated by a low visual optical depth throughout the nebula and an average HI density of the progenitor cloud estimated at 1 cm^-3. These conditions suggest that the NGC 602 star formation event was produced by compression and turbulence associated with HI shell interactions. It therefore represents a single star forming event in a low gas density region.
It has been suggested that the acceleration of the Universe may be due to the backreaction of perturbations to the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background. For a Universe dominated by cold dark matter, it is known that the backreaction of superhorizon perturbations can not drive acceleration. We extend this result to models with cold dark matter together with a scalar field. We show that the scalar field can drive acceleration only via the standard mechanism of a constant or nearly constant piece of its potential (i.e., a cosmological constant); there is no separate mechanism involving superhorizon backreaction. This rules out some models which have been proposed in the literature.
We discuss the main results that were recently published by the Auger Collaboration and their impact on our knowledge of the ultra high energy cosmic rays and neutrinos.
The effect of the QCD phase transition is studied for the mass-radius relation of compact stars and for hot and dense matter at a given proton fraction used as input in core-collapse supernova simulations. The phase transitions to the 2SC and CFL color superconducting phases lead to stable hybrid star configurations with a pure quark matter core. In supernova explosions quark matter could be easily produced due to $\beta$-equilibrium, small proton fractions and nonvanishing temperatures. A low critical density for the phase transition to quark matter is compatible with present pulsar mass measurements.
Various laboratory-based experiments are underway attempting to detect dark matter directly. The event rates and detailed signals expected in these experiments depend on the dark matter phase space distribution on sub-milliparsec scales. These scales are many orders of magnitude smaller than those that can be resolved by conventional N-body simulations, so one cannot hope to use such tools to investigate the effect of mergers in the history of the Milky Way on the detailed phase-space structure probed by the current experiments. In this paper we present an alternative approach to investigating the results of such mergers, by studying a simplified model for a merger of a sub-halo with a larger parent halo. With an appropriate choice of parent halo potential, the evolution of material from the sub-halo can be expressed analytically in action-angle variables, so it is possible to obtain its entire orbit history very rapidly without numerical integration. Furthermore by evolving backwards in time, we can obtain arbitrarily-high spatial resolution for the current velocity distribution at a fixed point. Although this model cannot provide a detailed quantitative comparison with the Milky Way, its properties are sufficiently generic that it offers qualitative insight into the expected structure arising from a merger at a resolution that cannot be approached with full numerical simulations. Preliminary results indicate that the velocity-space distribution of dark matter particles remains characterized by discrete and well-defined peaks over an extended period of time, both for single and multi-merging systems, in contrast to the simple smooth velocity distributions sometimes assumed in predicting laboratory experiment detection rates.
Studies of nearby galaxies reveal that roughly half of their low mass X-ray binary (LMXB) populations are associated with globular clusters (GCs). We have established that the LMXB hosting frequency is correlated to various GC properties such as mass and metallicity. While the X-ray luminosities of a few of the brightest LMXBs in GCs are consistent with the accreting object being a black hole (BH), the only definitive way to distinguish between a black hole and multiple superposed sources in a GC is to detect variability. We have discovered just such a variable 4x10^39 erg/s black hole X-ray binary in a low metallicity globular cluster in the halo of NGC 4472. The change in the X-ray spectrum between the bright and faint epochs suggests that the luminosity variation is due to eclipsing by a warped accretion disk. The optical spectrum of this source also reveals strong, broad, [O III] lambda 5007 and [O III] lambda 4959 emission. An analysis of the X-ray spectrum suggests that the [O III] lines are produced by the photoionization of a wind driven by a stellar mass black hole accreting mass at or above its Eddington luminosity. As it is dynamically implausible to form an accreting stellar mass BH system in a GC with an intermediate mass BH it appears that this massive globular cluster does not harbor an intermediate mass BH. The inferred mass of this BH falls well below the extrapolation of the well known M_BH-sigma and M_BH-M_Stellar relations to this GC. Therefore our analysis suggests that not all old, metal poor stellar systems form black holes consistent with these relations, which have been established for much more massive stellar systems.
A rudimentary calculation is employed to evaluate the possible effects of beta- decays of excited-state nuclei on the astrophysical r-process. Single-particle levels calculated with the FRDM are adapted to the calculation of beta-decay rates of these excited-state nuclei. Quantum numbers are determined based on proximity to Nilson model levels. The resulting rates are used in an r-process network calculation in which a supernova hot-bubble model is coupled to an extensive network calculation including all nuclei between the valley of stability and the neutron drip line and with masses A<284. Beta-decay rates are included as functional forms of the environmental temperature. While the decay rate model used is simple and phenomenological, it is consistent across all 3700 nuclei involved in the r-process network calculation. This represents an approximate first estimate to gauge the possible effects of excited-state beta-decays on r-process freeze-out abundances.
Two classes of gamma-ray bursts have been identified in the BATSE catalogs characterized by durations shorter and longer than about 2 seconds. There are, however, some indications for the existence of a third class. Swift satellite detectors have different spectral sensitivity than pre-Swift ones for gamma-ray bursts. Therefore, it is worth to reanalyze the durations and their distribution. We analyze, the maximum likelihood estimation, the bursts duration distribution, published in The First BAT Catalog, whether it contains two, three or more groups. The three log-normal fit is significantly (99.54% probability) better than the two for the duration distribution. Monte-Carlo simulations also confirm this probability (99.2%). Similarly, in previous results we found that the fourth component is not needed. The relative frequencies of the distribution of the groups are 7% short 35% intermediate and 58% long. Although the relative frequencies of the groups are different than in the BATSE GRB sample, the difference in the instrument spectral sensitivities can explain this bias on a natural way. This means theoretical models may be needed to explain three different type of gamma-ray bursts.
The remarkable pre-main-sequence object V718 Per (HMW 15, H187) in the young cluster IC 348 periodically undergoes long-lasting eclipses caused by variable amounts of circumstellar dust in the line-of-sight to the star. It has been speculated that the star is a close binary and similar to another unusual eclipsing object, KH 15D. We have submitted V718 Per to a detailed photometric and spectroscopic study to find out more about the properties of the stellar object and the occulting circumstellar material, and to look for signatures of a possible binary component. Our photometric data show that the eclipses are very symmetric and persistent, and that the extinction deviates only little from what is expected for normal interstellar material. The spectroscopic data, obtained at minimum as well as at maximum brightness, indicate a primordial abundance of Li and a surface effective temperature of about 5200 K. Remarkably, the in-eclipse spectrum shows a significant broadening of the photospheric absorption lines, as well as a weak increase in emission components of H-alpha and the Ca II IR triplet. We did not detect any atomic or molecular features from to the occulting body in the in-eclipse spectrum. We also found no evidence of radial velocity changes in V718 Per to within about +/- 80 m/s, which for an edge-on system corresponds to a maximum companion mass of 6 Jupiter masses. Our observations suggest that V718 Per is a single star, and thus very different from KH 15D. We conclude that V718 Per is surrounded by an edge-on circumstellar disk with an irregular mass distribution orbiting at a distance of 3.3 AU from the star, presumably at the inner disk edge. We ascribe the broadening of photospheric absorption lines during the eclipse to forward scattering of stellar light in the circumstellar dust feature.
The equilibrium rotation of tidally evolved "Earth-like" extra-solar planets is often assumed to be synchronous with their orbital mean motion. The same assumption persisted for Mercury and Venus until radar observations revealed their true spin rates. As many of these planets follow eccentric orbits and are believed to host dense atmospheres, we expect the equilibrium rotation to differ from the synchronous motion. Here we provide a general description of the allowed final equilibrium rotation states of these planets, and apply this to already discovered cases in which the mass is lower than twelve Earth-masses. At low obliquity and moderate eccentricity, it is shown that there are at most four distinct equilibrium possibilities, one of which can be retrograde. Because most presently known "Earth-like" planets present eccentric orbits, their equilibrium rotation is unlikely to be synchronous.
The effect of diffusion on the chemical composition of subdwarf B (sdB) stars and of hot white dwarfs strongly depends on the presence of weak winds. In the paper, for stars with half a solar mass, for various effective temperatures between 25000 K and 50000 K, and for various metallicities between solar and 1/100 solar, the mass loss rates are predicted as a function of the surface gravity. With assumptions similar to the original theory of radiatively driven winds, the method of solution of the momentum equation has been modified, because the usual parametrization of the line force multiplier leads to complications in the case of weak winds. According to the results, weak winds with mass-loss rates of the order E-11 solar masses per year may exist only for the most luminous sdB stars. For the more compact ones, the decoupling of the metals from the bulk matter (hydrogen and helium) is expected in the wind region, because the momentum exchange via Coulomb collisions is not effective enough. Thus multicomponent effects are of great importance. For the case of white dwarfs no wind solution exists at all, if multicomponent effects are neglected.
I present here the main results of recent realistic, 3D, hydrodynamical simulations of convection at the surface of metal-poor red giant stars. I discuss the application of these convection simulations as time-dependent, 3D, hydrodynamical model atmospheres to spectral line formation calculations and abundance analyses. The impact of 3D models on derived elemental abundances is investigated by means of a differential comparison of the line strengths predicted in 3D under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) with the results of analogous line formation calculations performed with classical, 1D, hydrostatic model atmospheres. The low surface temperatures encountered in the upper photospheric layers of 3D model atmospheres of very metal-poor stars cause spectral lines of neutral metals and molecules to appear stronger in 3D than in 1D calculations. Hence, 3D elemental abundances derived from such lines are significantly lower than estimated by analyses with 1D models. In particular, differential 3D$-$1D LTE abundances for C, N, and O derived from CH, NH, and OH lines are found to be in the range -0.5 to -1 dex. Large negative differential 3D-1D corrections to the Fe abundance are also computed for weak low-excitation neutral Fe lines. The application of metal-poor 3D models to the spectroscopic analysis of extremely iron-poor halo stars is discussed.
We demonstrate that the observationally inferred rapid onset of star formation after parental molecular clouds have assembled can be achieved by flow-driven cloud formation of atomic gas, using our previous three-dimensional numerical simulations. We post-process these simulations to approximate CO formation, which allows us to investigate the times at which CO becomes abundant relative to the onset of cloud collapse. We find that global gravity in a finite cloud has two crucial effects on cloud evolution. (a) Lateral collapse (perpendicular to the flows sweeping up the cloud) leads to rapidly increasing column densities above the accumulation from the one-dimensional flow. This in turn allows fast formation of CO, allowing the molecular cloud to ``appear'' rapidly. (b) Global gravity is required to drive the dense gas to the high pressures necessary to form solar-mass cores, in support of recent analytical models of cloud fragmentation. While the clouds still appear ``supersonically turbulent'', this turbulence is relegated to playing a secondary role, in that it is to some extent a consequence of gravitational forces.
Recently there have been suggestions that the Type Ia supernova data can be explained using only general relativity and cold dark matter with no dark energy. In "Swiss cheese" models of the Universe, the standard Friedmann-Robertson-Walker picture is modified by the introduction of mass compensating spherical inhomogeneities, typically described by the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi metric. If these inhomogeneities correspond to underdense cores surrounded by mass-compensating overdense shells, then they can modify the luminosity distance-redshift relation in a way that can mimic accelerated expansion. It has been argued that this effect could be large enough to explain the supernova data without introducing dark energy or modified gravity. We show that the large apparent acceleration seen in some models can be explained in terms of standard weak field gravitational lensing together with insufficient randomization of void locations. The underdense regions focus the light less than the homogeneous background, thus dimming supernovae in a way that can mimic the effects of acceleration. With insufficient randomization of the spatial location of the voids and of the lines of sight, coherent defocusing can lead to anomalously large demagnification effects. We show that a proper randomization of the voids and lines of sight reduces the effect to the point that it can no longer explain the supernova data.
Transition region explosive events have long been suggested as direct signatures of magnetic reconnection in the solar atmosphere. In seeking further observational evidence to support this interpretation, we study the relation between explosive events and the evolution of the solar magnetic field as seen in line-of-sight photospheric magnetograms. We find that about 38% of events show changes of the magnetic structure in the photosphere at the location of an explosive event over a time period of 1 h. We also discuss potential ambiguities in the analysis of high sensitivity magnetograms.
We investigate the radiation of a blackbody in a cavity of finite size. For a given geometry, we use semiclassical techniques to obtain explicit expressions of the modified Planck's and Stefan-Boltzmann's blackbody radiation laws as a function of the size and shape of the cavity. We determine the range of parameters (temperature, size and shape of the cavity) for which these effects are accessible to experimental verification. Finally we discuss potential applications of our findings in the physics of the cosmic microwave background and sonoluminescence.
We provide a novel mechanism that resolves the Big Bang Singularity present in FRW space-times without the need for ghost fields. Building on the fact that a four-fermion interaction arises in General Relativity when fermions are covariantly coupled, we show that at early times the decrease in scale factor enhances the correlation between pairs of fermions. This enhancement leads to a BCS-like condensation of the fermions and opens a gap dynamically driving the Hubble parameter to zero and results in a non-singular bounce. We derive the four fermion interaction and the effective potential for the gap, demonstrating a consistency condition necessary for the non-singular bounce.
In this Chapter we deal with the attempts to measure the general relativistic gravitomagnetic Lense-Thirring effect with the Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) technique applied to the existing LAGEOS and LAGEOS II terrestrial satellites and to the recently approved LARES.
We compare the waveforms and orbital dynamics from the first long-term, fully non-linear, numerical simulations of generic black-hole binaries with post-Newtonian predictions. Our binaries have mass ratios q~0.8 and arbitrarily oriented spins with magnitudes S_1/m_1^2~0.6 and S_2/m_2^2~0.4 and orbit 9 times prior to merger. The binaries start at an initial orbital separation of r~11M, with orbital parameters determined by 2.5PN and 3.5PN post-Newtonian evolutions of a quasi-circular binary that started at r=50M. The resulting binaries have essentially no eccentricity according to the 2.5PN and 3.5PN systems, but show significant eccentricity in the numerical simulations; although 3.5PN significantly reduces the eccentricity of the binary compared to 2.5PN. We perform three numerical evolutions from r~11M with maximum resolutions of h=M/48,M/53.3,M/59.3, to verify numerical convergence. We observe a reasonably good agreement between the PN and numerical waveforms, with an overlap of nearly 99% for the first six cycles of the (l=2,m=+-2) modes, 94% for the (l=2,m=+-1) modes, and nearly 91% for the (l=3,m=+-3) modes. The phase differences between numerical and post-Newtonian approximations appear to be independent of the (l,m) modes considered and relatively small for the first 3-4 orbits. A clear advantage of the 3.5 PN model over the 2.5 PN one is observed. In addition, we identify features in the waveforms related to precession.
String gas cosmology is a string theory-based approach to early universe cosmology which is based on making use of robust features of string theory such as the existence of new states and new symmetries. A first goal of string gas cosmology is to understand how string theory can effect the earliest moments of cosmology before the effective field theory approach which underlies standard and inflationary cosmology becomes valid. String gas cosmology may also provide an alternative to the current standard paradigm of cosmology, the inflationary universe scenario. Here, the current status of string gas cosmology is reviewed.
The effect of neutrino trapping on the longitudinal dielectric function at low densities has been investigated by using different relativistic mean field models. Parameter sets G2 of Furnstahl-Serot-Tang and Z271 of Horowitz-Piekarewicz, along with the adjusted parameter sets of both models, have been used in this study. The role of the isovector adjustment and the effect of the Coulomb interaction have been also studied. The effect of the isovector adjustment is found to be more significant in the Horowitz-Piekarewicz model, not only in the neutrinoless matter, but also in the matter with neutrino trapping. Although almost independent to the variation of the leptonic fraction, the instability region of matter with neutrino trapping is found to be larger. The presence of more protons and electrons compared to the neutrinoless case is the reason behind this finding. For parameter sets with soft equation of states at low density, the appearance of a large and negative epsilon_L (q, q0 = 0) in some parts of the edge of the instability region in matter with neutrino trapping is understood as a consequence of the fact that the Coulomb interaction produced by electrons and protons interaction is larger than the repulsive isovector interaction created by the asymmetry between the proton and neutron numbers.
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