Abstracts of Interest
Selected by:
Tristan Sudholz
Abstract: 1811.05790
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Title:Prestige Bias on Time Allocation Committees?
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: (No abstract for this journals: article commences: ) Fairness is a key issue in the careers of astronomers. I examine here the anecdota l suggestion that "you're more likely to get time if you're on the TAC", using public and published data for a large international telescope facility...
Abstract: 1811.05887
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Title:Prospects of observing gamma-ray bursts with orbital detectors of ultra-high energy cosmic rays
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: TUS (Tracking Ultraviolet Set-up), the first orbital telescope of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), has demonstrated that instruments of this kind have much broader capabilities and can also detect meteors,transient luminous events, anthropogenic glow and other processes taking place in the Earth atmosphere in the UV frequency range. In this short letter, we address the question if an orbital UHECR detector can also register gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) via the fluorescent glow of irradiated nocturnal atmosphere. An analysis of the Fermi GBM catalog of GRBs and properties of several active and perspective instruments reveals that a detector with an optical system similar to that of the KLYPVE-EUSO (K-EUSO) mission and an appropriate "slow-mode" trigger can possibly detect only 1--2 GRBs in two years of operation.
Abstract: 1811.05994
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Title:Probabilistic Random Forest: A machine learning algorithm for noisy datasets
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Machine learning (ML) algorithms become increasingly important in the analysis of astronomical data. However, since most ML algorithms are not designed to take data uncertainties into account, ML based studies are mostly restricted to data with high signal-to-noise ratio. Astronomical datasets of such high-quality are uncommon. In this work we modify the long-established Random Forest (RF) algorithm to take into account uncertainties in the measurements (i.e., features) as well as in the assigned classes (i.e., labels). To do so, the Probabilistic Random Forest (PRF) algorithm treats the features and labels as probability distribution functions, rather than deterministic quantities. We perform a variety of experiments where we inject different types of noise to a dataset, and compare the accuracy of the PRF to that of RF. The PRF outperforms RF in all cases, with a moderate increase in running time. We find an improvement in classification accuracy of up to 10% in the case of noisy features, and up to 30% in the case of noisy labels. The PRF accuracy decreased by less then 5% for a dataset with as many as 45% misclassified objects, compared to a clean dataset. Apart from improving the prediction accuracy in noisy datasets, the PRF naturally copes with missing values in the data, and outperforms RF when applied to a dataset with different noise characteristics in the training and test sets, suggesting that it can be used for Transfer Learning.
Abstract: 1811.06317
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Title:The physics of asymmetric supernovae and supernovae remnants
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We model the circumstellar medium with four density profiles: hyperbolic type, power law type, exponential type and Gaussian type. We solve analytically or numerically the four first-order differential equations which arise in the framework of the classical thin layer approximation. The non-cubic dependence of the swept mass with the advancing radius is also considered. We derive the equation of motion for the thin layer approximation in special relativity in two cases. The initial conditions are chosen in order to model the temporal evolution of SN 1987A over 23 years and of SN 1006 over 1000 years. We review the building blocks of the symmetrical and asymmetrical formations of the image.
Abstract: 1811.06454
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Title:Solar Wind Charge Exchange: An Astrophysical Nuisance
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Solar Wind Charge-Exchange (SWCX) emission is present in every X-ray observation of an astrophysical object. The emission is problematic when one cannot remove the foreground by the simultaneous measurement of a nearby field. SWCX emission is a serious impediment to the study of the diffuse hot ISM, including the Galactic halo, as its contribution to diagnostic emission lines is temporally variable. Modeling the SWCX emission, in order to remove it from our observations, has proven to be more difficult than originally anticipated. This work reviews our current understanding of SWCX emission, with special attention to all of the components required for future modeling tools. Since, in the absence of such a tool, observing programs can still be constructed to minimize the effect of SWCX, mitigation strategies are discussed. Although some aspects of SWCX will be very difficult to characterize, progress continues on many fronts.
Abstract: 1811.06464
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Title:Impact of using the ultra-high-energy cosmic ray arrival energies to constrain source associations
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We present a Bayesian hierarchical model which enables a joint fit of the ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) energy spectrum and arrival directions within the context of a physical model for the UHECR phenomenology. In this way, possible associations with astrophysical source populations can be assessed in a physically and statistically principled manner. The importance of including the UHECR energy data and detection effects is demonstrated through simulation studies, showing that the effective GZK horizon is significantly extended for typical reconstruction uncertainties. We also verify the ability of the model to fit and recover physical parameters from CRPropa 3 simulations. Finally, the model is used to assess the fraction of the the publicly available dataset of 231 UHECRs detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) which are associated with the Fermi-LAT 2FHL catalogue, a set of starburst galaxies and Swift-BAT hard X-ray sources. We find association fractions of 9.5 (+2.4,-5.9), 22.7 (+6.6, -12.4) and 22.8 (+6.6, -8.0) per cent for the 2FHL, starburst galaxies and Swift-BAT catalogues respectively.
Abstract: 1811.06814
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Title:A simple approach to CO cooling in molecular clouds
(Submitted on 16 Nov 2018)
Abstract: CO plays an important role in interstellar molecular clouds, both as a coolant, and as a diagnostic molecule. However, a proper evaluation of the cooling rate due to CO requires a determination of the populations of many levels, the spontaneous and stimulated radiative de-excitation rates between these levels, and the transfer of the emitted multi-line radiation; additionally, this must be done for three isotopologues. It would be useful to have a simple analytic formulation that avoided these complications; this could then be used in situations where CO plays an important role as a coolant, but the details of this role are not the main concern. We derive such a formulation here, by first considering the two asymptotic forms that obtain in the limits of (a) low volume-density and optical depth, and (b) high volume-density and optical depth. These forms are then combined in such a way as to fit the detailed numerical results from Goldsmith \& Langer (1978), which cover low temperatures, and a range of physical conditions where the interplay of thermal and sub-thermal excitation, optical-depth effects, and the contributions from rare isotopologues, are all important. The fit is obtained using the Metropolis-Hastings method, and reproduces the results of GL78 well. It is a purely local and analytic function of state --- specifically a function of the density, $ρ$, isothermal sound speed, $a$, CO abundance, $X_{_{\rm CO}}$, and velocity divergence, $\nabla\cdot{\boldsymbol\upsilon}$. As an application, we consider the cooling layer following a slow steady non-magnetic planar J-shock. We show that, if the post-shock cooling is dominated by CO and its isotopologues, the thickness of the post-shock cooling layer is very small and approximately independent of the pre-shock velocity, $\upsilon_o$, or pre-shock isothermal sound speed, $a_o$.
Abstract: 1811.07439
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Title:On the Neutrino Flares from the Direction of TXS 0506+056
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: For the first time since the discovery of high-energy cosmic neutrinos by IceCube, a multimessenger campaign identified a distant gamma ray blazar, TXS 0506+056, as the source of a high-energy neutrino. The extraordinary brightness of the blazar despite its distance suggests that it may belong to a special class of sources that produce cosmic rays. Moreover, over the last 10 years of data, the high-energy neutrino flux from the source is dominated by a previous neutrino flare in 2014, which implies that flaring sources strongly contribute to the cosmic ray flux. We investigate the contribution of this subclass of flaring blazars to the high-energy neutrino flux and examine its connection to the very high energy cosmic ray observations. We also study the high energy gamma ray emission accompanying the neutrino flare and show that the sources must be more efficient neutrino than gamma ray emitters. This conclusion is supported by the gamma-ray observations during the 2014 neutrino flare.
Abstract: 1811.07633
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Title:Neutrino Sources from a Multi-Messenger Perspective
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The field of high-energy neutrino astronomy is undergoing a rapid evolution. After the discovery of a diffuse flux of astrophysical TeV-PeV neutrinos in 2013, the IceCube observatory has recently found first compelling evidence for neutrino emission from blazars. In this brief review, I will summarize the status of these neutrino observations and highlight the strong role of multi-messenger astronomy for their interpretation.
Abstract: 1811.07636
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Title:Understanding the neutrino mass constraints achievable by combining CMB lensing and spectroscopic galaxy surveys
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We perform a thorough examination of the neutrino mass ($M_ν$) constraints achievable by combining future spectroscopic galaxy surveys with cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments, focusing on the contribution of CMB lensing. CMB lensing can help by breaking the $M_ν$-curvature degeneracy when combined with baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO)-only measurements, but we demonstrate this combination wastes a great deal of constraining power, as the broadband shape of the power spectrum contributes significantly to constraints. We also expand on previous work to demonstrate how cosmology-independent constraints on $M_ν$ can be extracted by combining measurements of the scale-dependence in the power spectrum caused by neutrino free-streaming with the full power of future CMB surveys. These free-streaming constraints are independent of the optical depth to the CMB ($τ$) and give stronger constraints alone on $M_ν$ than are given by the combination of BAOs and CMB lensing. Finally, we demonstrate that the effect of including the galaxy-CMB lensing cross power spectrum is negligible.
Abstract: 1811.08260
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Title:Results from the Pierre Auger Observatory
(Submitted on 20 Nov 2018)
Abstract: I describe some of the results on ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays that have been obtained with the Pierre Auger Observatory. These include measurements of the spectrum, composition and anisotropies. Possible astrophysical scenarios that account for these results are discussed.
Abstract: 1811.08851
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Title:Method of EAS's Cherenkov and fluorescent light separation using silicon photomultipliers
(Submitted on 21 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Preliminary results on the development of a separation method for Cerenkov (CL) and fluorescence (FL) light from EAS are shown. The results are based on the measurement of attenuation coefficients of CL and FL for different filters. A total of six optical filters were investigated: filters from optical glass UFS-1, UFS-5, FS6 (analogue BG3) and interference filters SL 360-50, SL 280-380, FF01-375/110. The measurements were performed using silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). To improve existing fluorescent light detectors, a segment of 7 SiPM was developed, which would be able to separate both components of the light flux from EAS at the level of primary data processing.
Abstract: 1811.08934
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Title:Addressing the circularity problem in the $E_\text{p}-E_\text{iso}$ correlation of Gamma-Ray Bursts
(Submitted on 16 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Given their huge luminosity and redshift distribution extending up to $z\sim9$, Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are potentially a very powerful tool for studying the geometry and the accelerated expansion of the universe. We here propose a new model-independent technique to overcome the circularity problem affecting the use of GRBs as distance indicators through the use of $E_{\rm p}$--$E_{\rm iso}$ correlation. We calibrate the $E_{\rm p}$--$E_{\rm iso}$ correlation and find the GRB distance moduli that can be used to constrain dark energy models.} We use observational Hubble data to approximate the cosmic evolution through Bézier parametric curve obtained through the linear combination of Bernstein basis polynomials. In so doing, we build up a new data set consisting of 193 GRB distance moduli. We combine this sample with the supernova JLA data set to test the standard $Λ$CDM model and its $w$CDM extension. We place observational constraints on the cosmological parameters through Markov Chain Monte Carlo numerical technique. Moreover, we compare the theoretical scenarios by performing the AIC and BIC statistics. For the $Λ$CDM model we find $Ω_m=0.397^{+0.040}_{-0.039}$ at the $2σ$ level, while for the $w$CDM model we obtain $Ω_m=0.34^{+0.13}_{-0.15}$ and $w=-0.86^{+0.36}_{-0.38}$ at the $2σ$ level. Our analysis suggests that $Λ$CDM model is statistically favoured over the $w$CDM scenario. The results of our numerical analysis are consistent with previous findings involving GRB data. Also, the values of $Ω_m$ and $w$ for the $w$CDM model are in remarkable agreement with those obtained by the Dark Energy Survey collaboration. No evidence for extension of the $Λ$CDM model is found.
Abstract: 1811.07979
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Title:Search for steady point-like sources in the astrophysical muon neutrino flux with 8 years of IceCube data
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The IceCube Collaboration has observed a high-energy astrophysical neutrino flux and recently found evidence for neutrino emission from the blazar TXS 0506+056. However, the source or sources of most of the observed flux remains uncertain. Through-going muons produced by muon-neutrinos are ideal to search for point-like neutrino emission from astrophysical sources because their arrival direction can be resolved with an angular resolution $\leq1^\circ$. Here, an unbinned search for steady point-like neutrino sources is performed based on eight years of IceCube data measured between 2009 and 2017. Compared to previous searches, this search includes an improved event selection and reconstruction and it is optimized for point-like neutrino emission with the same flux-characteristics as the observed astrophysical muon-neutrino flux. The result is an improvement in flux sensitivity of ~35% assuming an $E^{-2}$ spectrum. The sensitivity on the muon-neutrino flux is at a level of $E^2 \mathrm{d} N /\mathrm{d} E = 3\cdot 10^{-13}\,\mathrm{TeV}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}$. No new evidence for neutrino sources is found in a full sky scan and in an a priori candidate source list. Furthermore, no significant excesses above background are found from populations of sub-threshold sources. The implications of the non-observation for potential source classes are discussed.
Abstract: 1811.05647
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Title:AGN Feedback in galaxy groups: a detailed study of X-ray features and diffuse radio emission in IC1262
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: This paper reports a systematic search of X-ray cavities, density jumps and shocks in the inter-galactic environment of the galaxy group IC~1262 using {\it Chandra}, GMRT and VLA archival observations. The X-ray imaging analysis reveals a pair of X-ray cavities on the north and south of the X-ray peak, at projected distances of 6.48\,kpc and 6.30\,kpc respectively. Total mechanical power contained in both these cavities is found to be $\sim$12.37$\times 10^{42}$ erg~s$^{-1}$, and compares well with the X-ray luminosity, within the cooling radius, measured to be $\sim 3.29 \times 10^{42}$ erg~s$^{-1}$, suggesting that the mechanical power injected by the central AGN efficiently balances the radiative loss. We detect a previously unknown X-ray cavity at the position of southern radio lobe in the intra-group medium and find a loop of excess X-ray emission extending $\sim$100 kpc southwest from the central galaxy. The X-ray cavity at the position of southern radio lobe probably represents a first generation X-ray cavity. Two surface brightness edges are evident to the west and east$-$north of the center of this group. The radio galaxy at the core of the IC~1262 group is a rare low-redshift ultra-steep radio galaxy, its spectral index being $α\! \sim\! -1.73$ (including the central AGN) and $α\! \sim\! -2.08$ (excluding the central AGN). We detect a radio phoenix embedded within the southern radio lobe, for the first time in a poor group, with a spectral index ($α\!\leq\! -1.92$). The spectral index distribution across the phoenix steepens with increasing distance from its intensity peak.
Abstract: 1811.05980
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Title:Inferring a difference in the star-forming properties of lower versus higher X-ray luminosity AGNs
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We explore the distribution of RMS=SFR/SFR_MS (where SFR_MS is the star formation rate of "Main Sequence" star-forming galaxies) for AGN hosts at z=1. We split our sample into two bins of X-ray luminosity divided at Lx=2x10^43erg s-1 to investigate whether the RMS distribution changes as a function of AGN power. Our main results suggest that, when the RMS distribution of AGN hosts is modelled as a log-normal distribution (i.e. the same shape as that of MS galaxies), galaxies hosting more powerful X-ray AGNs (i.e. Lx>2x10^43erg s-1) display a narrower RMS distribution that is shifted to higher values compared to their lower Lx counterparts. In addition, we find that more powerful X-ray AGNs have SFRs that are more consistent with that of MS galaxies compared to lower Lx AGNs. Despite this, the mean SFRs (as opposed to RMS) measured from these distributions are consistent with the previously observed flat relationship between SFR and Lx. Our results suggest that the typical star-forming properties of AGN hosts change with Lx , and that more powerful AGNs typically reside in more MS-like star-forming galaxies compared to lower Lx AGNs.
Abstract: 1811.05988
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Title:Constraints on Decaying Dark Matter from the Isotropic Gamma-Ray Background
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: If the dark matter is unstable, the decay of these particles throughout the universe and in the halo of the Milky Way could contribute significantly to the isotropic gamma-ray background (IGRB) as measured by Fermi. In this article, we calculate the high-latitude gamma-ray flux resulting from dark matter decay for a wide range of channels and masses, including all contributions from inverse Compton scattering and accounting for the production and full evolution of cosmological electromagnetic cascades. We also make use of recent multi-wavelength analyses that constrain the astrophysical contributions to the IGRB, enabling us to more strongly restrict the presence any component arising from decaying dark matter. Over a wide range of decay channels and masses (from GeV to EeV and above), we derive stringent lower limits on the dark matter's lifetime, generally in the range of $τ\sim (1-5)\times 10^{28}$ s.
Abstract: 1811.06027
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Title:Compton-thick AGN in the NuSTAR era II: A deep NuSTAR and XMM-Newton view of the candidate Compton thick AGN in NGC 1358
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We present the combined NuSTATR and XMM-Newton 0.6-79 keV spectral analysis of a Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 1358, which we selected as a candidate Compton thick (CT-) active galactic nucleus (AGN) on the basis of previous Swift/BAT and Chandra studies. According to our analysis, NGC 1358 is confirmed to be a CT-AGN using physical motivated models, at >3 $σ$ confidence level. Our best-fit shows that the column density along the 'line-of-sight' of the obscuring material surrounding the accreting super-massive black hole is N$\rm _H$ = [1.96--2.80] $\times$ 10$^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$. The high-quality data from NuSTAR gives the best constraints on the spectral shape above $\sim$10 keV to date on NGC 1358. Moreover, by combining NuSTAR and XMM-Newton data, we find that the obscuring torus has a low covering factor ($f_c$ <0.17), and the obscuring material is distributed in clumps, rather than uniformly. We also derive an estimate of NGC 1358's Eddington ratio, finding it to be $λ_{\rm Edd}$ $\sim$$4.7_{-0.3}^{+0.3}$ $\times$ 10$^{-2}$, which is in acceptable agreement with previous measurements. Finally, we find no evidence of short-term variability, over a $\sim$100 ks time-span, in terms of both 'line-of-sight' column density and flux.
Abstract: 1811.06056
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Title:The Efficiency of Noble Gas Trapping in Astrophysical Environments
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Amorphous ice has long been invoked as a means for trapping extreme volatiles into solids, explaining the abundances of these species in comets and planetary atmospheres. Experiments have shown that such trapping is possible and have been used to estimate the abundances of each species in primitive ices after they formed. However, these experiments have been carried out at deposition rates which exceed those expected in a molecular cloud or solar nebula by many orders of magnitude. Here we develop a numerical model which reproduces the experimental results and apply it to those conditions expected in molecular clouds and protoplanetary disks. We find that two regimes of ice trapping exist: `burial trapping' where the ratio of trapped species to water in the ice reflects that same ratio in the gas and `equilibrium trapping' where the ratio in the ice depends only on the partial pressure of the trapped species in the gas. The boundary between these two regimes is set by both the temperature and rate of ice deposition. Such effects must be accounted for when determining the source of trapped volatiles during planet formation.
Abstract: 1811.06291
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Title:The High Mass X-ray Binaries in star-forming galaxies
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The high mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) provide an exciting framework to investigate the evolution of massive stars and the processes behind binary evolution. HMXBs have shown to be good tracers of recent star formation in galaxies and might be important feedback sources at early stages of the Universe. Furthermore, HMXBs are likely the progenitors of gravitational wave sources (BH--BH or BH--NS binaries that may merge producing gravitational waves). In this work, we investigate the nature and properties of HMXB population in star-forming galaxies. We combine the results from the population synthesis model MOBSE (Giacobbo et al. 2018) together with galaxy catalogs from EAGLE simulation (Schaye et al. 2015). Therefore, this method describes the HMXBs within their host galaxies in a self-consistent way. We compute the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of HMXBs in star-forming galaxies, showing that this methodology matches the main features of the observed XLF.
Abstract: 1811.06356
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Title:Self-consistent model of extragalactic neutrino flux from evolving blazar population
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We study constraints on the population of neutrino emitting blazars imposed by the absence of doublets in astrophysical muon neutrino signal and z>0.3 redshift of nearest identified neutrino-emitting blazar (an order of magnitude further away than the nearest gamma-ray emitting blazar). We show that in spite of the absence of correlation of neutrino arrival directions with positions of gamma-ray emitting blazars, cumulative blazar flux could explain most of astrophysical neutrino flux measured in muon neutrino channel. This is possible if the population of neutrino emitting blazars has experienced rapid positive evolution at least as (1+z)^5 at z< 1. Such a model avoids previously derived constraint on the low level of blazar contribution to extragalactic neutrino flux because gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes are dominated by different sets of blazars. Rapid evolution of neutrino emitting blazars could be explained by the fact that only high luminosity blazars hosting radiatively efficient accretion flows are efficient neutrino sources.
Abstract: 1811.06675
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Title:Does misalignment between magnetic field and angular momentum enhance or suppress circumstellar disk formation?
(Submitted on 16 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The effect of misalignment between the magnetic field $\magB$ and the angular momentum $\Jang$ of molecular cloud cores on the angular momentum evolution during the gravitational collapse is investigated by ideal and non-ideal MHD simulations. For the non-ideal effect, we consider the ohmic and ambipolar diffusion. Previous studies that considered the misalignment reported qualitatively contradicting results. Magnetic braking was reported as being either strengthened or weakened by misalignment in different studies. We conducted simulations of cloud-core collapse by varying the stability parameter $α$ (the ratio of the thermal to gravitational energy of the core) with and without including magnetic diffusion The non-ideal MHD simulations show the central angular momentum of the core with $θ=0^\circ$ ($\Jang \parallel \magB$) being always greater than that with $θ=90^\circ$ ($\Jang \perp \magB$), independently of $α$, meaning that circumstellar disks form more easily form in a core with $θ=0^\circ$. The ideal MHD simulations, in contrast, show the the central angular momentum of the core with $θ=90^\circ$ being greater than with $θ=0^\circ$ for small $α$, and is smaller for large $α$. Inspection of the angular momentum evolution of the fluid elements reveals three mechanisms contributing to the evolution of the angular momentum: (i) magnetic braking in the isothermal collapse phase, (ii) selective accretion of the rapidly (for $θ=90^\circ$ ) or slowly (for $θ=0^\circ$) rotating fluid elements to the central region, and (iii) magnetic braking in the first-core and the disk. The difference between the ideal and non-ideal simulations arises from the different efficiencies of (iii).
Abstract: 1811.06745
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Title:Analysis of the duration--hardness ratio plane of gamma-ray bursts using skewed distributions
(Submitted on 16 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The two widely accepted classes of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), short and long, are with confidence ascribed to mergers of compact objects and collapse of massive stars, respectively. A third, intermediate/soft class, remains putative. Its existence was claimed based on univariate and bivariate analyses of GRB observables modeled with Gaussian distributions. This, however, may not be the appropriate approach, as it has been already shown that the univariate distributions of durations are better described by mixtures of two skewed components rather than three Gaussian ones.
This paper investigates whether data in the duration--hardness ratio plane is better modeled by mixtures of skewed bivariate distributions than by normal ones. The archival data set of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory/BATSE and Fermi/GBM data from the most recent catalogue release are examined. The preferred model is chosen based on two information criteria, Akaike ($AIC$) and Bayesian ($BIC$). It is found that the best description is given by a two-component mixture of skewed Student-$t$ distributions, which outperforms any other model considered. This implies that the distribution of the studied parameters is intrinsically skewed, introducing spurious Gaussian components, and hence the third class is unlikely to be a real phenomenon. Its existence, based on statistical inference, is therefore rejected as unnecessary to explain the observations.
Abstract: 1811.06764
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Title:The reconfinement of AGN jets
(Submitted on 16 Nov 2018)
Abstract: In this paper we study the reconfinement of initially freely-expanding unmagnetised relativistic jets by the pressure of non-uniform external gas using numerical approach. The results are compared with the simple semi-analytic model proposed by Komissarov & Falle (1997). In particular, we explore the reconfinement in power-law atmospheres and in the King atmosphere, which describes the X-ray coronas of giant elliptic galaxies. The results show significant deviations from the KF model, which systematically underestimates the reconfinement scale. For the power-law atmospheres the disagreement increases with the power index k, exceeding two orders of magnitude for k=1.5. For the King model, strong deviations are found on the outskirts of the atmosphere, where the distribution approaches a power law. However for jets reconfined inside the core, the reconfinement scale is increased only by the factor of two. When the King model is modified by adding a central cusp, this has little impact on the jets which are reconfined outside of the cusp region but inside the cusp the reconfinement scale significantly reduces.
Abstract: 1811.06781
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Title:Concerning the occurrence of bow shocks around high-mass X-ray binaries
(Submitted on 16 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We investigate the occurrence of stellar bow shocks around high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) in the Galaxy. We seek to conduct a survey of HMXBs in the mid-infrared to search for the presence of bow shocks around these objects. Telescopes operating in the mid-infrared, such as the Spitzer Space Telescope or Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), are potent tools for searching for the stellar bow shocks. We used the available archival data from these telescopes to search for bow shock candidates around the confirmed and candidate HMXBs in the Galaxy. We detected extended mid-infrared structures around several surveyed confirmed and candidate HMXBs. Two of these structures, associated with Vela X-1 and 4U 1907+09, are genuine bow shocks that have been studied previously. However, there are no new unambiguous bow shocks among the rest of the objects. The paucity of bow shocks around HMXBs suggests that the majority of these systems still reside within hot, low-density bubbles around their parent star clusters or associations. This also implies that the dynamical ejection of massive binaries is apparently less efficient than the ejections caused by the supernova explosions inside a binary.
Abstract: 1811.07127
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Title:Observational Predictions for Sub-Chandrasekhar Mass Explosions: Further Evidence for Multiple Progenitor Systems for Type Ia Supernovae
(Submitted on 17 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We present a numerical parameter survey of 1-D sub-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarf explosions. Carbon-oxygen white dwarfs accreting a helium shell have the potential to explode in the sub-Chandrasekhar mass regime. Previous studies have shown how the ignition of a helium shell can either directly ignite the white dwarf at the core-shell interface or propagate a shock wave into the center of the core causing a shock driven central ignition. We examine the explosions of white dwarfs from 0.6 - 1.2 $M_{\odot}$ with Helium shells of 0.01 $M_{\odot}$, 0.05 $M_{\odot}$ and 0.08$M_{\odot}$. Distinct observational signatures of sub-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarf explosions are predicted for two categories of shell size. Thicker-shell models show an excess of flux combined with red colors for the first few days after explosion. The flux excess is caused by the presence of radioactive material in the ashes of the helium shell, and the red colors are due to these ashes creating significant line blanketing in the UV through the blue portion of the spectrum. Models with thin helium shells reproduce several typical Type Ia supernova signatures. We identify a relationship between Si II velocity and luminosity which, for the first time, identifies a sub-class of observed supernovae that are consistent with these models. This sub-class is further delineated by the absence of carbon in their atmospheres. Finally, we suggest that the proposed difference in the ratio of selective to total extinction between the high velocity and normal velocity Type Ia supernovae is not due to differences in the properties of the dust around these events, but is rather an artifact of applying a single extinction correction to two populations of supernovae which likely have different intrinsic colors.
Abstract: 1811.07654
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Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:AGILE, Fermi, Swift, and GASP-WEBT multi-wavelength observations of the high-redshift blazar 4C $+$71.07 in outburst
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The flat-spectrum radio quasar 4C $+$71.07 is a high-redshift ($z=2.172$), $γ$-loud blazar whose optical emission is dominated by the thermal radiation from accretion disc. 4C $+$71.07 has been detected in outburst twice by the AGILE $γ$-ray satellite during the period end of October - mid November 2015, when it reached a $γ$-ray flux of the order of $F_{\rm E>100\,MeV} = (1.2 \pm 0.3)\times 10^{-6}$ photons cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ and $F_{\rm E>100\,MeV} = (3.1 \pm 0.6)\times 10^{-6}$ photons cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, respectively, allowing us to investigate the properties of the jet and of the emission region. We investigated its spectral energy distribution by means of almost simultaneous observations covering the cm, mm, near-infrared, optical, ultra-violet, X-ray and $γ$-ray energy bands obtained by the GASP-WEBT Consortium, the Swift and the AGILE and Fermi satellites. The spectral energy distribution of the second $γ$-ray flare (the one whose energy coverage is more dense) can be modelled by means of a one-zone leptonic model, yielding a total jet power of about $4\times10^{47}$ erg s$^{-1}$. During the most prominent $γ$-ray flaring period our model is consistent with a dissipation region within the broad-line region. Moreover, this class of high-redshift, large-mass black-hole flat-spectrum radio quasars might be good targets for future $γ$-ray satellites such as e-ASTROGAM.
Abstract: 1811.07926
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - II. First data release
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is an ongoing sensitive, high-resolution 120-168MHz survey of the entire northern sky for which observations are now 20% complete. We present our first full-quality public data release. For this data release 424 square degrees, or 2% of the eventual coverage, in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45$^\circ$00$'$00$''$ to 57$^\circ$00$'$00$''$) were mapped using a fully automated direction-dependent calibration and imaging pipeline that we developed. A total of 325,694 sources are detected with a signal of at least five times the noise, and the source density is a factor of $\sim 10$ higher than the most sensitive existing very wide-area radio-continuum surveys. The median sensitivity is S$_{\rm 144 MHz} = 71\,μ$Jy beam$^{-1}$ and the point-source completeness is 90% at an integrated flux density of 0.45mJy. The resolution of the images is 6$''$ and the positional accuracy is within 0.2$''$. This data release consists of a catalogue containing location, flux, and shape estimates together with 58 mosaic images that cover the catalogued area. In this paper we provide an overview of the data release with a focus on the processing of the LOFAR data and the characteristics of the resulting images. In two accompanying papers we provide the radio source associations and deblending and, where possible, the optical identifications of the radio sources together with the photometric redshifts and properties of the host galaxies. These data release papers are published together with a further $\sim$20 articles that highlight the scientific potential of LoTSS.
Abstract: 1811.07929
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Evolutionary phases of merging clusters as seen by LOFAR
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Massive, merging galaxy clusters often host giant, diffuse radio sources that arise from shocks and turbulence; hence, radio observations can be useful for determining the merger state of a cluster. In preparation for a larger study, we selected three clusters -- Abell 1319, Abell 1314, and RXC J1501.3+4220 (Z7215) -- making use of the new LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) at 120-168 MHz, and together with archival data, show that these clusters appear to be in pre-merging, merging, and post-merging states, respectively. We argue that Abell 1319 is likely in its pre-merging phase, where three separate cluster components are about to merge. There are no radio halos nor radio relics detected in this system. Abell 1314 is a highly-disturbed, low-mass cluster which is likely in the process of merging. This low-mass system does not show a radio halo, however, we argue that the merger activates mechanisms that cause electron re-acceleration in the large 800 kpc radio tail associated with IC~711. In the cluster Z7215 we discover diffuse radio emission at the cluster center, and we classify this emission as a radio halo, although it is dimmer and smaller than expected by the radio halo power versus cluster mass correlation. We suggest that the disturbed cluster Z7215 is in its post-merging phase. Systematic studies of this kind over a larger sample of clusters observed with LoTSS will help constrain the time scales involved in turbulent re-acceleration and the subsequent energy losses of the underlying electrons.
Abstract: 1811.07942
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:LOFAR observations of the XMM-LSS field
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We present observations of the XMM Large-Scale Structure (XMM-LSS) field observed with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) at 120-168 MHz. Centred at a J2000 declination of $-4.5^{\circ}$, this is a challenging field to observe with LOFAR because of its low elevation with respect to the array. The low elevation of this field reduces the effective collecting area of the telescope, thereby reducing sensitivity. This low elevation also causes the primary beam to be elongated in the north-south direction, which can introduce side lobes in the synthesised beam in this direction. However the XMM-LSS field is a key field to study because of the wealth of ancillary information, encompassing most of the electromagnetic spectrum. The field was observed for a total of 12 hours from three four-hour LOFAR tracks using the Dutch array. The final image presented encompasses $\sim 27$ deg$^2$, which is the region of the observations with a $>$50\% primary beam response. Once combined, the observations reach a central rms of 280 $μ$Jy beam$^{-1}$ at 144 MHz and have an angular resolution of $7.5 \times \ 8.5$". We present our catalogue of detected sources and investigate how our observations compare to previous radio observations. This includes investigating the flux scale calibration of these observations compared to previous measurements, the implied spectral indices of the sources, the observed source counts and corrections to obtain the true source counts, and finally the clustering of the observed radio sources.
Abstract: 1811.07949
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:The environments of radio-loud AGN from the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS)
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: An understanding of the relationship between radio-loud active galaxies and their large-scale environments is essential for realistic modelling of radio-galaxy evolution and environmental impact, for understanding AGN triggering and life cycles, and for calibrating galaxy feedback in cosmological models. We use the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Data Release 1 catalogues to investigate this relationship. We cross-matched 8,745 radio-loud AGN with 0.08<z<0.4, selected from LoTSS, with two Sloan Digital Sky Survey cluster catalogues, and find that only 10 percent of LoTSS AGN in this redshift range have an association, so that the majority of low-redshift AGN (including a substantial fraction of the most radio-luminous objects) must inhabit haloes with M < 10^14 M_sun. We find that the probability of a cluster association, and the richness of the associated cluster, is correlated with AGN radio luminosity, and for the cluster population, the number of associated AGN and the radio luminosity of the brightest associated AGN is richness-dependent. We demonstrate that these relations are not driven solely by host-galaxy stellar mass, supporting models in which large-scale environment is influential in driving AGN jet activity. At the lowest radio luminosities we find that the minority of objects with a cluster association are located at larger mean cluster-centre distances than more luminous AGN, which appears to be driven primarily by host-galaxy mass. Finally, we also find that FRI radio galaxies inhabit systematically richer environments than FRIIs. The work presented here demonstrates the potential of LoTSS for AGN environmental studies. In future, the full northern-sky LoTSS catalogue, together with the use of deeper optical/IR imaging data and spectroscopic follow-up with WEAVE-LOFAR, will provide opportunities to extend this type of work to much larger samples and higher redshifts.
Abstract: 1811.07952
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Diagnostics of a Nuclear Starburst: Water and Methanol Masers
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We test models of starburst driven outflows using observations of the 22.2 GHz H$_2$O and 36.2 GHz class I CH$_3$OH maser lines. We have observed the starburst galaxy NGC 253 using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. We present evidence for entrainment of star-forming dense-molecular gas in the outflow of NGC 253. We also show that H$_2$O masers are associated with forming super star clusters and not with supernova remnants. We detect four new 36 GHz CH$_3$OH masers in the central kpc and show possible evidence for a star-formation origin of two class I CH$_3$OH masers. Such high resolution observations are essential for understanding the origin of these masers.
Abstract: 1811.07961
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Blazars in the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey First Data Release
(Submitted on 19 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Historically, the blazar population has been poorly understood at low frequencies because survey sensitivity and angular resolution limitations have made it difficult to identify megahertz counterparts. We used the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) first data release value-added catalogue (LDR1) to study blazars in the low-frequency regime with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. We identified radio counterparts to all $98$ known sources from the Third \textit{Fermi}-LAT Point Source Catalogue (3FGL) or Roma-BZCAT Multi-frequency Catalogue of Blazars ($5^{\mathrm{th}}$ edition) that fall within the LDR1 footprint. Only the 3FGL unidentified $γ$-ray sources (UGS) could not be firmly associated with an LDR1 source; this was due to source confusion. We examined the redshift and radio luminosity distributions of our sample, finding flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) to be more distant and more luminous than BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs) on average. Blazars are known to have flat spectra in the gigahertz regime but we found this to extend down to $144$ MHz, where the radio spectral index, $α$, of our sample is $-0.17 \pm 0.14$. For BL Lacs, $α= -0.13 \pm 0.16$ and for FSRQs, $α = -0.15 \pm 0.17$. We also investigated the radio-to-$γ$-ray connection for the $30$ $γ$-ray-detected sources in our sample. We find Pearson's correlation coefficient is $0.45$ ($p = 0.069$). This tentative correlation and the flatness of the spectral index suggest that the beamed core emission contributes to the low-frequency flux density. We compare our sample distribution with that of the full LDR1 on colour-colour diagrams, and we use this information to identify possible radio counterparts to two of the four UGS within the LDR1 field. We will refine our results as LoTSS continues.
Abstract: 1811.08272
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Science Pipelines for the Square Kilometre Array
(Submitted on 20 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be both the largest radio telescope ever constructed and the largest Big Data project in the known Universe. The first phase of the project will generate on the order of 5 zettabytes of data per year. A critical task for the SKA will be its ability to process data for science, which will need to be conducted by science pipelines. Together with polarization data from the LOFAR Multifrequency Snapshot Sky Survey (MSSS), we have been developing a realistic SKA-like science pipeline that can handle the large data volumes generated by LOFAR at 150 MHz. The pipeline uses task-based parallelism to image, detect sources, and perform Faraday Tomography across the entire LOFAR sky. The project thereby provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the technological development of the SKA telescope, while simultaneously enabling cutting-edge scientific results. In this paper, we provide an update on current efforts to develop a science pipeline that can enable tight constraints on the magnetised large-scale structure of the Universe.
Abstract: 1811.08446
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Classification of Multiwavelength Transients with Machine Learning
(Submitted on 20 Nov 2018)
Abstract: With the advent of powerful telescopes such as the SKA and LSST, we are entering a golden era of multiwavelength transient astronomy. In order to cope with the dramatic increase in data volume as well as successfully prioritise spectroscopic follow-up resources, we propose a new machine learning approach for the classification of radio and multiwavelength transients. The algorithm consists of three steps: (1) augmentation and interpolation of the data using Gaussian processes; (2) feature extraction using a wavelet decomposition; (3) classification with the robust machine learning algorithm known as random forests. We apply this algorithm to existing radio transient data, illustrating its ability to accurately classify most of the eleven classes of radio variables and transients after just eight hours of observations, achieving an overall accuracy of $73.5\%$. We show how performance is expected to increase as more training data are acquired, by training the classifier on a simulated representative training set, achieving an overall accuracy of $97.4\%$. Finally, we outline a general approach for including multiwavelength data for general transient classification, and demonstrate its effectiveness by incorporating a single optical data point into the analysis, which improves the overall accuracy by $\approx 22\%$.
Abstract: 1811.08542
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Jet Geometry and Rate Estimate of Coincident Gamma Ray Burst and Gravitational Wave Observations
(Submitted on 21 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Short Gamma-Ray Burst (SGRB) progenitors have long been thought to be coalescing compact system of two Neutron Stars (NSNS) or a Neutron Star and a Black Hole (NSBH). The August 17$^{\rm th}$, 2017 detection of the GW170817 gravitational-wave signal by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo in coincidence with the electromagnetic observation of the SGRB GRB170817A confirmed this scenario and provided new physical information on the nature of these astronomical events. We use SGRB observations by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and GW170817/GRB170817A observational data to estimate the detection rate of coincident gravitational-wave and electromagnetic observations by a gravitational-wave network and constrain the physical parameters of the SGRB jet structure. We estimate the rate of LIGO-Virgo gravitational-wave detections coincident with SGRB electromagnetic detections by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to be in the range $\sim$ 0.2 (0.6) to $\sim$ 0.6 (1.7) yr$^{-1}$ at the planned LV network sensitivity in the third (fourth) observing run. Assuming a structured jet model with a uniform ultra-relativistic jet surrounded by a region with power-law decay emission, we find the most likely values for the jet half-opening angle and the power-law exponent to be $θ_c=10.7\,{}^{\circ}{}^{+6.1\,{}^{\circ}}_{-3.3\,{}^{\circ}}$ and $s=9.0^{+7.4}_{-2.4}$, respectively.
Abstract: 1811.08826
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:The Astrophysics of Nanohertz Gravitational Waves
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Pulsar timing array (PTA) collaborations in North America, Australia, and Europe, have been exploiting the exquisite timing precision of millisecond pulsars over decades of observations to search for correlated timing deviations induced by gravitational waves (GWs). The discovery space of this nanohertz band is potentially rich with populations of inspiraling supermassive black-holes binaries, decaying cosmic string networks, relic post-inflation GWs, and even non-GW imprints of axionic dark matter.
This article aims to provide an understanding of the exciting open science questions in cosmology, galaxy evolution, and fundamental physics that will be addressed by the detection and study of GWs at nanohertz frequencies. The focus of the article is on providing an understanding of the mechanisms by which PTAs can address specific questions in these fields, and to outline some of the subtleties and difficulties in each case. The material included is weighted most heavily towards the questions which we expect will be answered in the coming months to decades with PTAs; however, we have made efforts to include most currently anticipated applications of nanohertz GWs.
Abstract: 1811.08909
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Testing diffusion of cosmic rays in the heliosphere with p/He data from AMS
(Submitted on 21 Nov 2018)
Abstract: After six years of continuous observations in space, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment has released new data on the temporal evolution of the proton and helium fluxes in cosmic rays. These data revealed that the ratio between proton and helium fluxes at the same value of rigidity $R=p/Z$ (momentum/charge ratio) is not constant at $R\lesssim$ 3 GV. In particular, the ratio is found to decrease steadily during the descending phase of Solar Cycle 24 toward the next minimum. We show that such a behavior is a remarkable signature of the $β\timesλ(R)$ dependence in the diffusion of cosmic rays in heliosphere, where $β$ is their adimensional speed and $λ(R)$ is their mean free path, a universal function of rigidity for all nuclei. This dependence is responsible for distinctive charge/mass dependent effects in the time-dependent modulation of low-rigidity particles.
Abstract: 1811.09168
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Joint gravitational wave - gamma-ray burst detection rates in the aftermath of GW170817
(Submitted on 22 Nov 2018)
Abstract: The observational follow-up campaign of the gravitational wave (GW) multi-messenger event GW170817/GRB170817A has shown that the prompt $γ$-rays are consistent with a relativistic structured jet observed from a wide viewing angle $\gtrsim 20$°. We perform Bayesian inference using the data from early and late EM observations to determine the jet profile of GRB170817A assuming a structured jet model. We use the geometric dependence on the burst luminosity to produce a short duration gamma-ray burst (sGRB) efficiency function with redshift, which folded in with binary neutron star detection rate, allows us to estimate the future joint GW/sGRB detection rates for LIGO and Virgo detectors. We show that, if the jet structured profile of GRB170817A is a relatively common feature of sGRBs, then there is a realistic probability of another off-axis coincident detection during the third aLIGO/Virgo observing run (O3). We also find that up to 4 yr$^{-1}$ joint events may be observed during the advanced LIGO run at design sensitivity and up to 10 yr$^{-1}$ by the upgraded advanced LIGO configuration A+. We show that the detection efficiencies for wide-angled sGRB emissions will be limited by GRB satellites as the GW detection range increases through proposed upgrades. Therefore, although the number of coincident detections will increase with GW detector sensitivity, the relative proportion of detected binary neutron stars with $γ$-ray counterparts will decrease; 12\% for O3 down to 3\% during A+.
Abstract: 1811.09483
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:The Energy Function and Cosmic Formation Rate of Fast Radio Bursts
(Submitted on 23 Nov 2018)
Abstract: Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are intense radio transients whose physical origin remains unknown. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to use a model-independent method to obtain the energy function and cosmic formation rate directly from the observational data. Based on a sample of 28 Parkes FRBs, we determine, for the first time, the energy function and formation rate of FRBs by using the non-parametric Lynden-Bell $\rm C^{-}$ method. A relatively strong evolution of energy $E(z)\propto(1+z)^{2.0}$ is found. After removing this evolution, the energy function can be well described by a broken power-law function. We also derive the cosmic formation rate which evolves as $\dot ρ (z) \propto {(1 + z)^{- 2.0 \pm 0.4}}$ at $z < 1.6$ and $\dot ρ(z) \propto {(1 + z)^{ - 5.0 \pm 1.3}}$ at $z > 1.6$. The local formation rate of FRBs is $\dot ρ(0) \simeq 4.3_{ - 1.0}^{ + 1.1}\; \times {10^4}\;{\rm{Gp}}{\rm{c}^{ - 3}}{\rm{y}}{\rm{r}^{ - 1}}$. Furthermore, we find that the cosmic star formation rate coupled with an appropriate time delay function can explain the formation rate of FRBs. This might be a valuable clue for the physical origin of FRBs.
Abstract: 1811.09516
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Star formation at high redshift
(Submitted on 23 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We present here a three-dimesional hydrodynamical simulation for star formation. Our aim is to explore the effect of the metal-line cooling on the thermodynamics of the star-formation process. We explore the effect of changing the metallicty of the gas from $Z/Z_{\odot}=10^{-4}$ to $Z/Z_{\odot}=10^{-2}$. Furthermore, we explore the implications of using the observational abundance pattern of a CEMP-no star, which have been considered to be the missing second-generation stars, the so-called Pop. III.2 stars. In order to pursue our aim, we modelled the microphysics by employing the public astrochemistry package KROME, using a chemical network which includes sixteen chemical species (H, H$^{+}$, H$^{-}$, He, He$^{+}$, He$^{++}$, e$^{-}$, H$_{2}$, H$_{2}^{+}$, C, C$^{+}$, O, O$^{+}$, Si, Si$^{+}$, and Si$^{++}$). We couple KROME with the fully three-dimensional Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) code GRADSPH. With this framework we investigate the collapse of a metal-enhanced cloud, exploring the fragmentation process and the formation of stars. We found that the metallicity has a clear impact on the thermodynamics of the collapse, allowing the cloud to reach the CMB temperature floor for a metallicity $Z/Z_{\odot}=10^{-2}$, which is in agreement with previous work. Moreover, we found that adopting the abundance pattern given by the star SMSS J031300.36-670839.3 the thermodynamics behavior is very similar to simulations with a metallicity of $Z/Z_{\odot}=10^{-2}$, due to the high carbon abundance. As long as only metal line cooling is considered, our results support the metallicity threshold proposed by previous works, which will very likely regulate the first episode of fragmentation and potentially determine the masses of the resulting star clusters.
Abstract: 1811.05670
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Gravitational Waves from Walking Technicolor
(Submitted on 14 Nov 2018)
Abstract: We study gravitational waves from the first-order electroweak phase transition in the $SU(N_c)$ gauge theory with $N_f/N_c\gg 1$ ("large $N_f$ QCD") as a candidate for the walking technicolor, which is modeled by the $U(N_f)\times U(N_f)$ linear sigma model with classical scale symmetry (without mass term), particularly for $N_f=8$ ("one-family model"). This model exhibits spontaneous breaking of the scale symmetry as well as the $U(N_f)\times U(N_f)$ radiatively through the Coleman-Weinberg mechanism $\grave{a}$ la Gildener-Weinberg, thus giving rise to a light pseudo dilaton (techni-dilaton) to be identified with the 125 GeV Higgs. This model possess a strong first-order electroweak phase transition due to the resultant Coleman-Weinberg type potential. We estimate the bubble nucleation that exhibits an ultra supercooling and then the signal for a stochastic gravitational wave produced via the strong first-order electroweak phase transition. We show that the amplitude can be reached to the expected sensitivities of the LISA.
Abstract: 1811.06157
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Full Text: [ PostScript, PDF]
Title:Perspectives on Astrophysics Based on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Techniques
(Submitted on 15 Nov 2018)
Abstract: About two generations ago, a large part of AMO science was dominated by experimental high energy collision studies and perturbative theoretical methods. Since then, AMO science has undergone a transition and is now dominated by quantum, ultracold, and ultrafast studies. But in the process, the field has passed over the complexity that lies between these two extremes. Most of the Universe resides in this intermediate region. We put forward that the next frontier for AMO science is to explore the AMO complexity that describes most of the Cosmos.
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