Abstracts of Interest
Selected by:
Justin Albury
Abstract: 1711.05737
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Title: Computing mean logarithmic mass from muon counts in air shower experiments
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2017 (v1), last revised 16 Aug 2018 (this version, v2))
Abstract: I discuss the conversion of muon counts in air showers, which are observable by experiments, into mean logarithmic mass, an important variable to express the mass composition of cosmic rays. Stochastic fluctuations in the shower development and statistical fluctuations from muon sampling can subtly bias the conversion. A central theme is that the mean of the logarithm of the muon number is not identical to the logarithm of the mean. It is discussed how that affects the conversion in practice. Simple analytical formulas to quantify and correct such biases are presented, which are applicable to any kind of experiment.
Abstract: 1808.05620
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Title: First HAWC Observations of the Sun Constrain Steady TeV Gamma-Ray Emission
(Submitted on 16 Aug 2018)
Abstract: Steady gamma-ray emission up to at least 200 GeV has been detected from the solar disk in the Fermi-LAT data, with the brightest, hardest emission occurring during solar minimum. The likely cause is hadronic cosmic rays undergoing collisions in the Sun's atmosphere after being redirected from ingoing to outgoing in magnetic fields, though the exact mechanism is not understood. An important new test of the gamma-ray production mechanism will follow from observations at higher energies. Only the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory has the required sensitivity to effectively probe the Sun in the TeV range. Using three years of HAWC data from November 2014 to December 2017, just prior to the solar minimum, we search for 1--100 TeV gamma rays from the solar disk. No evidence of a signal is observed, and we set strong upper limits on the flux at a few $10^{-12}$ TeV$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ at 1 TeV. Our limit, which is the most constraining result on TeV gamma rays from the Sun, is $\sim10\%$ of the theoretical maximum flux (based on a model where all incoming cosmic rays produce outgoing photons), which in turn is comparable to the Fermi-LAT data near 100 GeV. The prospects for a first TeV detection of the Sun by HAWC are especially high during solar minimum, which began in early 2018.
Abstract: 1808.05624
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Title: Constraints on Spin-Dependent Dark Matter Scattering with Long-Lived Mediators from TeV Observations of the Sun with HAWC
(Submitted on 16 Aug 2018)
Abstract: We analyze the Sun as a source for the indirect detection of dark matter through a search for gamma rays from the solar disk. Capture of dark matter by elastic interactions with the solar nuclei followed by annihilation to long-lived mediators can produce a detectable gamma-ray flux. We search three years of data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory and find no statistically significant detection of TeV gamma-ray emission from the Sun. Using this, we constrain the spin-dependent elastic scattering cross section of dark matter with protons for dark matter masses above 1 TeV, assuming an unstable mediator with a favorable lifetime. The results complement constraints obtained from Fermi-LAT observations of the Sun and together cover WIMP masses between 4 GeV and $10^6$ GeV. The cross section constraints for mediator decays to gamma rays can be as strong as $\sim10^{-45}$ cm$^{-2}$, which is more than four orders of magnitude stronger than current direct-detection experiments for 1 TeV dark matter mass. The cross-section constraints at higher masses are even better, nearly 7 orders of magnitude better than the current direct-detection constraints for 100 TeV dark matter mass. This demonstration of sensitivity encourages detailed development of theoretical models in light of these powerful new constraints.
Abstract: 1808.05603
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Title: Using Gaia DR2 to Constrain Local Dark Matter Density and Thin Dark Disk
(Submitted on 16 Aug 2018)
Abstract: We use stellar kinematics from the latest Gaia data release (DR2) to measure the local dark matter density $\rho_{\rm DM}$ in a heliocentric cylinder of radius $R= 150 \ {\rm pc}$ and half-height $z= 200 \ {\rm pc}$. We also explore the prospect of using our analysis to estimate the DM density in local substructure by setting constraints on the surface density and scale height of a thin dark disk aligned with the baryonic disk and formed due to dark matter self-interaction. Performing the statistical analysis within a Bayesian framework for three types of tracers, we obtain ${\rho_{\rm DM}= 0.023 \pm 0.012}$ M$_\odot$/pc$^3$ for A stars; early G stars give a similar result, while F stars yield a significantly higher value. For a thin dark disk, A stars set the strongest constraint: excluding surface densities (5-15) M$_\odot$/pc$^2$ for scale heights below 100 pc with 95% confidence. Comparing our results with those derived using Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) data, we find that the uncertainty in our measurements of the local DM content is dominated by systematic errors that arise from assumptions of our kinematic analysis in the low $z$ region. Furthermore, there will only be a marginal reduction in these uncertainties with more data in the Gaia era. We comment on the robustness of our method and discuss potential improvements for future work.
Abstract: 1808.05131
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Title: Designs for next generation CMB survey strategies from Chile
(Submitted on 15 Aug 2018)
Abstract: New telescopes are being built to measure the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) with unprecedented sensitivity, including Simons Observatory (SO), CCAT-prime, the BICEP Array, SPT-3G, and CMB Stage-4. We present observing strategies for telescopes located in Chile that are informed by the tools used to develop recent Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and Polarbear surveys. As with ACT and Polarbear, these strategies are composed of scans that sweep in azimuth at constant elevation. We explore observing strategies for both small (0.42 m) aperture telescopes (SAT) and a large (6 m) aperture telescope (LAT). We study strategies focused on small sky areas to search for inflationary gravitational waves as well as strategies spanning roughly half the low-foreground sky to constrain the effective number of relativistic species and measure the sum of neutrino masses via the gravitational lensing signal due to large scale structure. We present these strategies specifically considering the telescope hardware and science goals of the SO, located at 23 degrees South latitude, 67.8 degrees West longitude. Observations close to the Sun and the Moon can introduce additional systematics by applying additional power to the instrument through telescope sidelobes. Significant side lobe contamination in the data can occur even at tens of degrees or more from bright sources. Therefore, we present several strategies that implement Sun and Moon avoidance constraints into the telescope scheduling. Strategies for resolving conflicts between simultaneously visible fields are discussed. We focus on maximizing telescope time spent on science observations. It will also be necessary to schedule calibration measurements, however that is beyond the scope of this work. The outputs of this study are algorithms that can generate specific schedule commands for the Simons Observatory instruments.
Abstract: 1808.05152
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Title: Studies of Systematic Uncertainties for Simons Observatory: Optical Effects and Sensitivity Considerations
(Submitted on 15 Aug 2018)
Abstract: The Simons Observatory (SO) is a new experiment that aims to measure the cosmic microwave background (CMB) in temperature and polarization. SO will measure the polarized sky over a large range of microwave frequencies and angular scales using a combination of small ($\sim0.5 \, \rm m$) and large ($\sim 6\, \rm m $) aperture telescopes and will be located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. This work is part of a series of papers studying calibration, sensitivity, and systematic errors for SO. In this paper, we discuss current efforts to model optical systematic effects, how these have been used to guide the design of the SO instrument, and how these studies can be used to inform instrument design of future experiments like CMB-S4. While optical systematics studies are underway for both the small aperture and large aperture telescopes, we limit the focus of this paper to the more mature large aperture telescope design for which our studies include: pointing errors, optical distortions, beam ellipticity, cross-polar response, instrumental polarization rotation and various forms of sidelobe pickup.
Abstract: 1808.05123
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Title: Laboratory simulation of astrophysical jets within facilities of Plasma Focus type
(Submitted on 15 Aug 2018)
Abstract: A laboratory simulation of astrophysical processes is one of the intensively developed areas of plasma physics. A new series of experiments has been launched recently on the Plasma Focus type facility in NRC Kurchatov Institute. The main goal is to study the mechanisms of the jet stabilization, due to which it can propagate at distances much greater than their transverse dimensions. The experiments with stationary gas filling revealed regimes in which a narrowly collimated plasma jet was formed, the head of which was no wider than several centimeters at jet propagation distances of up to 100 cm. The PF-1000 (IFPiLM, Warsaw, Poland) and KPF-4 (SFTI, Sukhum, Abkhazia) experiments are aimed at creating profiled initial gas distributions to control the conditions of plasma jet propagation in the ambient plasma. Estimations of the dimensionless parameters, i.e. the Mach, Reynolds, and Peclet numbers which were achieved during the experiments, showed that the PF-facilities can be used for the YSO jets modelling. The future experiments, which can allow one to understand the nature of the stable plasma ejections observed in many astrophysical sources, are discussed.
Abstract: 1808.05625
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Title: Multiwavelength Cross-Correlations and Flaring Activity in Bright Blazars
(Submitted on 16 Aug 2018)
Abstract: Blazars are known for their energetic multiwavelength flares from radio wavelengths to high-energy $\gamma$-rays. In this work, we study radio, optical, and $\gamma$-ray light curves of 145 bright blazars spanning up to 8~yr, to probe the flaring activity and interband correlations. Of these, 105 show $>1\sigma$ correlations between one or more wavebands, 26 of which have a $>3\sigma$ correlation in at least one wavelength pair, as measured by the discrete correlation function. The most common and strongest correlations are found between the optical and $\gamma$-ray bands, with fluctuations simultaneous within our $\sim 30$~d resolution. The radio response is usually substantially delayed with respect to the other wavelengths with median time lags of $\sim 100$--160~d. A systematic flare identification via Bayesian block analysis provides us with a first uniform sample of flares in the three bands, allowing us to characterise the relative rates of multiband and "orphan" flares. Multiband flares tend to have higher amplitudes than "orphan" flares.
Abstract: 1808.05881
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Title: Hunting misaligned radio-loud AGN (MAGN) candidates among the uncertain $γ$-ray sources of the third Fermi-LAT Catalogue
(Submitted on 17 Aug 2018)
Abstract: BL Lac Objects (BL Lacs) and Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQs) are radio-loud active galaxies (AGNs) whose jets are seen at a small viewing angle (blazars), while Misaligned Active Galactic Nuclei (MAGNs) are mainly radiogalaxies of type FRI or FRII and Steep Spectrum Radio Quasars (SSRQs), which show jets of radiation oriented away from the observer's line of sight. MAGNs are very numerous and well studied in the lower energies of the electromagnetic spectrum but are not commonly observed in the gamma-ray energy range, because their inclination leads to the loss of relativistic boosting of the jet emission. The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in the 100 MeV -300 GeV energy range detected only 18 MAGNs (15 radio galaxies and 3 SSRQs) compared to 1144 blazars. Studying MAGNs and their environment in the gamma-ray sky is extremely interesting, because FRI and FRII radio galaxies are respectively considered the parent populations of BL Lacs and FSRQs, and these account for more than 50% of the known gamma-ray sources. The aim of this study is to hunt new gamma-ray MAGN candidates among the remaining blazars of uncertain type and unassociated AGNs, using machine learning techniques and other physical constraints when strict classifications are not available. We found 10 new MAGN candidates associated with gamma-ray sources. Their features are consistent with a source with a misaligned jet of radiation. This study reinforces the need for more systematic investigation of MAGNs in order to improve understanding of the radiation emission mechanisms and and the disparity of detection between more powerful and weaker gamma-ray AGNs.
Abstract: 1808.05617
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Title: Black Holes and Neutron Stars in Nearby Galaxies: Insights from NuSTAR
(Submitted on 16 Aug 2018)
Abstract: Nearby galaxy surveys have long classified X-ray binaries (XRBs) by the mass category of their donor stars (high-mass and low-mass). The NuSTAR observatory, which provides imaging data at E $>10$ keV, has enabled the classification of extragalactic XRBs by their compact object type: neutron star (NS) or black hole (BH). We analyzed NuSTAR/Chandra/XMM-Newton observations from a NuSTAR-selected sample of 12 galaxies within 5 Mpc having stellar masses ($M_{\star}$) $10^{7-11}$ $M_{\odot}$ and star formation rates (SFR) $\approx0.01-15$ $M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$. We detect 128 NuSTAR sources to a sensitivity of $\approx10^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$. Using NuSTAR color-intensity and color-color diagrams we classify 43 of these sources as candidate NS and 47 as candidate BH. We further subdivide BH by accretion states (soft, intermediate, and hard) and NS by weak (Z/Atoll) and strong (accreting pulsar) magnetic field. Using 8 normal (Milky Way-type) galaxies in the sample, we confirm the relation between SFR and galaxy X-ray point source luminosity in the 4-25 and 12-25 keV energy bands. We also constrain galaxy X-ray point source luminosity using the relation $L_{\rm{X}}=\alpha M_{\star}+\beta\text{SFR}$, finding agreement with previous work. The XLF of all sources in the 4-25 and 12-25 keV energy bands matches with the $\alpha=1.6$ slope for high-mass XRBs. We find that NS XLFs suggest a decline beginning at the Eddington limit for a 1.4 $M_{\odot}$ NS, whereas the BH fraction shows an approximate monotonic increase in the 4-25 and 12-25keV energy bands. We calculate the overall ratio of BH to NS to be $\approx1$ for 4-25 keV and $\approx2$ for 12-25 keV.
Abstract: 1808.05027
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Title: Fermi-Large Area Telescope observations of the brightest Gamma-ray flare ever detected from CTA 102
(Submitted on 15 Aug 2018)
Abstract: We present a multi-wavelength study of the FSRQ CTA 102 using Fermi-LAT and simultaneous Swift-XRT/UVOT observations. The Fermi-LAT telescope detected one of the brightest flares from this object during Sep, 2016 to Mar, 2017. In the 190 days of observation period the source underwent four major flares. A detailed analysis of the temporal and spectral properties of these flares indicates the flare at MJD 57751.594 has a $\gamma$-ray flux of (30.12$\pm$4.48)$\times 10^{-6}$ ph cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ (from 90 minutes binning) in the energy range of 0.1--300 GeV. This has been found to be the highest flux ever detected from CTA 102. Time dependent leptonic modelling of the pre-flare, rising state, flares and decaying state has been done. A single emission region of size $6.5\times 10^{16}$ cm has been used in our work to explain the multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions. During flares the luminosity in electrons increases nearly seventy times compared to the pre-flare state.
Abstract: 1808.05794
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Title: Binary neutron star and short gamma-ray burst simulations in light of GW170817
(Submitted on 17 Aug 2018)
Abstract: In the dawn of the multi-messenger era including gravitational waves, which was marked by the first ever coincident detection of gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation it is important to lay back and think about established knowledge. Numerical simulations of binary neutron star mergers and simulations of short GRB jets have to combine efforts in order to understand such complicated and phenomenologicaly rich explosions. We review the status of numerical relativity simulations with respect to any jet or magnetized outflow produced after merger. We compare what is known from such simulations, with what is used and obtained from short GRB jet simulations propagating through the BNS ejecta. We point out facts that are established and can be considered known, and things that need to be further revised and/or clarified.
Abstract: 1808.04132
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Title: The Enigmatic compact radio source coincident with the energetic X-ray pulsar PSR J1813$-$1749 and HESS J1813$-$178
(Submitted on 13 Aug 2018)
Abstract: New VLA detections of the variable radio continuum source VLA J181335.1$-$174957, associated with the energetic X-ray pulsar PSR~J1813$-$1749 and the TeV source HESS J1813-178, are presented. The radio source has a right circular polarization of $\sim50\%$, and a negative spectral index of $-1.3\pm0.1$, which show that it is non-thermal. The radio pulses of the pulsar are not detected from additional Effelsberg observations at 1.4~GHz made within one week of a VLA detection. This result would appear to support the idea that the continuum radio emission detected with the VLA does not trace the time-averaged emission pulses, as had previously been suggested. We discuss other possible origins for the radio source, such as a pulsar wind, magnetospheric emission, and a low-mass star companion. However, observations made at higher frequencies by Camilo et al. (in preparation) show that the VLA source is in fact the time-averaged pulsed emission and that the detection of the pulses had not been achieved because this is the most scattered pulsar known.
Abstract: 1808.05151
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Title: Planet formation inside proto-giants: First 3D simulations
(Submitted on 15 Aug 2018)
Abstract: Numerical simulations of pebble dynamics inside gas clumps formed by gravitational instability of protoplanetary discs are presented. We find that dust-mediated Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities transport pebbles inward rapidly via dense metal-rich "fingers". This speeds up sedimentation of small pebbles by up to two orders of magnitude and yet does not impede grain growth because grains of all sizes sediment at the same collective speed as long as Stokes number is less than unity. In simulations with a fixed pebble size, solid planetary cores form if pebble size exceeds a few cm. Pebble growth leads to core formation in some hundreds of years even when pebbles injected into clumps are of mm or smaller sizes. Properties of the gas clump dictate what kind of cores can be made. Low central temperature clumps allow formation of solid cores out of refractory materials, whereas in the highest temperature clumps pebbles of any composition are vaporised and make fuzzy cores only. These results confirm that gravitational instability of protoplanetary discs is a robust mechanism of hatching cores from sub-Earth to Neptune mass, as well as gas giants with massive cores, solid or fuzzy. This mode of planet formation is especially promising for environs too young and distant (such as the ALMA-observed HL Tau disc) or too violent (such as circum-binary planets) to form via the Core Accretion scenarios.
Abstract: 1808.05887
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Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title: Exonephology: Transmission spectra from a 3D simulated cloudy atmosphere of HD209458b
(Submitted on 17 Aug 2018)
Abstract: We present high resolution transmission spectra, calculated directly from a 3D radiative-hydrodynamics simulation that includes kinetic cloud formation, for HD209458b. We find that the high opacity of our vertically extensive cloud deck, composed of a large number density of sub-micron particles, flattens the transmission spectrum and obscures spectral features identified in observed data. We use the PandExo simulator to explore features of our HD209458b spectrum which may be detectable with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). We determine that an 8 - 12 micron absorption feature attributed to the mixed-composition, predominantly silicate cloud particles is a viable marker for the presence of cloud. Further calculations explore, and trends are identified with, variations in cloud opacity, composition heterogeneity and artificially scaled gravitational settling on the transmission spectrum. Principally, by varying the upper extent of our cloud decks, rainout is identified to be a key process for the dynamical atmospheres of hot-Jupiters and shown to dramatically alter the resulting spectrum. Our synthetic transmission spectra, obtained from the most complete, forward atmosphere simulations to--date, allow us to explore the model's ability to conform with observations. Such comparisons can provide insight into the physical processes either missing, or requiring improvement.
Abstract: 1808.05099
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Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title: Asteroid mining with small spacecraft and its economic feasibility
(Submitted on 15 Aug 2018)
Abstract: Asteroid mining offers the possibility to revolutionize supply and availability of many resources vital for human civilization. Analysis suggests that Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA) contain enough volatile and high value minerals to make the mining process economically feasible. Considering possible applications, specifically the mining of water in space has become a major focus for near-term options. Most proposed projects for asteroid mining, however, involve spacecraft based on traditional designs resulting in large, monolithic and expensive systems.
An alternative approach is presented in this paper, basing the asteroid mining process on multiple small spacecraft, i.e. a decentralized architecture. To the best knowledge of the authors, limited thorough analysis of the asteroid mining capability of small spacecraft has been conducted. This paper explores the lower limit of spacecraft size for asteroid mining operations. After defining a feasible miniaturized spacecraft design, capable of extracting water from asteroids and transporting it to an appropriate orbit, a high-level economic analysis is performed. This analysis reveals several key constraints in making near-term asteroid mining financially sustainable under the assumptions given in this study.
Abstract: 1808.05772
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Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title: Panoramic optical and near-infrared SETI instrument: overall specifications and science program
(Submitted on 17 Aug 2018)
Abstract: We present overall specifications and science goals for a new optical and near-infrared (350 - 1650 nm) instrument designed to greatly enlarge the current Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) phase space. The Pulsed All-sky Near-infrared Optical SETI (PANOSETI) observatory will be a dedicated SETI facility that aims to increase sky area searched, wavelengths covered, number of stellar systems observed, and duration of time monitored. This observatory will offer an "all-observable-sky" optical and wide-field near-infrared pulsed technosignature and astrophysical transient search that is capable of surveying the entire northern hemisphere. The final implemented experiment will search for transient pulsed signals occurring between nanosecond to second time scales. The optical component will cover a solid angle 2.5 million times larger than current SETI targeted searches, while also increasing dwell time per source by a factor of 10,000. The PANOSETI instrument will be the first near-infrared wide-field SETI program ever conducted. The rapid technological advance of fast-response optical and near-infrared detector arrays (i.e., Multi-Pixel Photon Counting; MPPC) make this program now feasible. The PANOSETI instrument design uses innovative domes that house 100 Fresnel lenses, which will search concurrently over 8,000 square degrees for transient signals (see Maire et al. and Cosens et al., this conference). In this paper, we describe the overall instrumental specifications and science objectives for PANOSETI.
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