arXiv subjects

A. Cuoco

Publications and source records attributed to A. Cuoco.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

The spectrum of isotropic diffuse gamma-ray emission between 100 MeV and 820 GeV

The γ-ray sky can be decomposed into individually detected sources, diffuse emission attributed to the interactions of Galactic cosmic rays with gas and radiation fields, and a residual all-sky emission component commonly called the isotropic diffuse γ-ray background (IGRB). The IGRB comprises all extragalactic emissions too faint or too diffuse to be resolved in a given survey, as well as any residual Galactic foregrounds that are approximately isotropic. The first IGRB measurement with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) used 10 months of sky-survey data and considered an energy range between 200 MeV and 100 GeV. Improvements in event selection and characterization of cosmic-ray backgrounds, better understanding of the diffuse Galactic emission, and a longer data accumulation of 50 months, allow for a refinement and extension of the IGRB measurement with the LAT, now covering the energy range from 100 MeV to 820 GeV. The IGRB spectrum shows a significant high-energy cutoff feature, and can be well described over nearly four decades in energy by a power law with exponential cutoff having a spectral index of $2.32\pm0.02$ and a break energy of $(279\pm52)$ GeV using our baseline diffuse Galactic emission model. The total intensity attributed to the IGRB is $(7.2\pm0.6) \times 10^{-6}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ sr$^{-1}$ above 100 MeV, with an additional $+15$%/$-30$% systematic uncertainty due to the Galactic diffuse foregrounds.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Constraints on the Galactic Dark Matter signal from the Fermi-LAT measurement of the diffuse gamma-ray emission

We study diffuse gamma-ray emission at intermediate Galactic latitudes measured by the Fermi Large Area Telescope with the aim of searching for a signal from dark matter annihilation or decay. In the absence of a robust dark matter signal, constraints are presented. We set both, conservative dark matter limits requiring that the dark matter signal does not exceed the observed diffuse gamma-ray emission and limits derived based on modeling the foreground astrophysical diffuse emission. Uncertainties in several parameters which characterize conventional astrophysical emission are taken into account using a profile likelihood formalism. The resulting limits impact the range of particle masses over which dark matter thermal production in the early Universe is possible, and challenge the interpretation of the PAMELA/Fermi-LAT cosmic ray anomalies as annihilation of dark matter.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Dark Matter implications of Fermi-LAT measurement of anisotropies in the diffuse gamma-ray background

The detailed origin of the diffuse gamma-ray background is still unknown. However, the contribution of unresolved sources is expected to induce small-scale anisotropies in this emission, which may provide a way to identify and constrain the properties of its contributors. Recent studies have predicted the contributions to the angular power spectrum (APS) from extragalactic and galactic dark matter (DM) annihilation or decay. The Fermi-LAT collaboration reported detection of angular power with a significance larger than $3σ$ in the energy range from 1 GeV to 10 GeV on 22 months of data [Ackermann et al. 2012]. For these preliminary results the already published Fermi-LAT APS measurements [Ackermann et al. 2012] are compared to the accurate predictions for DM anisotropies from state-of-the-art cosmological simulations as presented in [Fornasa et al. 2013] to derive constraints on different DM candidates.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Constraints on the Galactic Halo Dark Matter from Fermi-LAT Diffuse Measurements

We have performed an analysis of the diffuse gamma-ray emission with the Fermi Large Area Telescope in the Milky Way Halo region searching for a signal from dark matter annihilation or decay. In the absence of a robust dark matter signal, constraints are presented. We consider both gamma rays produced directly in the dark matter annihilation/decay and produced by inverse Compton scattering of the e+e- produced in the annihilation/decay. Conservative limits are derived requiring that the dark matter signal does not exceed the observed diffuse gamma-ray emission. A second set of more stringent limits is derived based on modeling the foreground astrophysical diffuse emission using the GALPROP code. Uncertainties in the height of the diffusive cosmic-ray halo, the distribution of the cosmic-ray sources in the Galaxy, the index of the injection cosmic-ray electron spectrum and the column density of the interstellar gas are taken into account using a profile likelihood formalism, while the parameters governing the cosmic-ray propagation have been derived from fits to local cosmic-ray data. The resulting limits impact the range of particle masses over which dark matter thermal production in the early Universe is possible, and challenge the interpretation of the PAMELA/Fermi-LAT cosmic ray anomalies as annihilation of dark matter.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Anisotropies in the diffuse gamma-ray background measured by the Fermi LAT

The contribution of unresolved sources to the diffuse gamma-ray background could induce anisotropies in this emission on small angular scales. We analyze the angular power spectrum of the diffuse emission measured by the Fermi LAT at Galactic latitudes |b| > 30 deg in four energy bins spanning 1 to 50 GeV. At multipoles \ell \ge 155, corresponding to angular scales \lesssim 2 deg, angular power above the photon noise level is detected at >99.99% CL in the 1-2 GeV, 2-5 GeV, and 5-10 GeV energy bins, and at >99% CL at 10-50 GeV. Within each energy bin the measured angular power takes approximately the same value at all multipoles \ell \ge 155, suggesting that it originates from the contribution of one or more unclustered source populations. The amplitude of the angular power normalized to the mean intensity in each energy bin is consistent with a constant value at all energies, C_P/ ^2 = 9.05 +/- 0.84 x 10^{-6} sr, while the energy dependence of C_P is consistent with the anisotropy arising from one or more source populations with power-law photon spectra with spectral index Γ_s = 2.40 +/- 0.07. We discuss the implications of the measured angular power for gamma-ray source populations that may provide a contribution to the diffuse gamma-ray background.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Anisotropies in the diffuse gamma-ray background measured by Fermi LAT

The small angular scale fluctuations of the (on large scale) isotropic gamma-ray background (IGRB) carry information about the presence of unresolved source classes. A guaranteed contribution to the IGRB is expected from the unresolved gamma-ray AGN while other extragalactic sources, Galactic gamma-ray source populations and dark matter Galactic and extragalactic structures (and sub-structures) are candidate contributors. The IGRB was measured with unprecedented precision by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on-board of the Fermi gamma-ray observatory, and these data were used for measuring the IGRB angular power spectrum (APS). Detailed Monte Carlo simulations of Fermi-LAT all-sky observations were performed to provide a reference against which to compare the results obtained for the real data set. The Monte Carlo simulations are also a method for performing those detailed studies of the APS contributions of single source populations, which are required in order to identify the actual IGRB contributors. We present preliminary results of an anisotropy search in the IGRB. At angular scales <2deg (e.g. above multipole 155), angular power above the photon noise level is detected, at energies between 1 and 10 GeV in each energy bin, with statistical significance between 7.2 and 4.1 sigmas. The energy not dependence of the fluctuation anisotropy is pointing to the presence of one or more unclustered source populations, while the energy dependence of the intensity anisotropy is consistent with source populations having average photon index 2.40\pm0.07.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Anisotropies in the Diffuse Gamma-Ray Background from Dark Matter with Fermi LAT: a closer look

We perform a detailed study of the sensitivity to the anisotropies related to Dark Matter (DM) annihilation in the Isotropic Gamma-Ray Background (IGRB) as measured by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT). For the first time, we take into account the effects of the Galactic foregrounds and use a realistic representation of the Fermi-LAT. We consider DM anisotropies of extra-galactic origin and of Galactic origin (which can be generated through annihilation in the Milky Way sub-structures) as opposed to a background of anisotropies generated by sources of astrophysical origin, blazars for example. We find that with statistics from 5 years of observation Fermi is sensitive to a DM contribution at the level of the thermal-relic cross section depending on the DM mass and annihilation mode. The anisotropy method for DM searches has a sensitivity comparable to the usual methods based only on the energy spectrum and thus constitutes an independent and complementary piece of information in the DM puzzle. (abridged)

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

A global autocorrelation study after the first Auger data: impact on the number density of UHECR sources

We perform an autocorrelation study of the Auger data with the aim to constrain the number density n_s of ultrahigh energy cosmic ray (UHECR) sources, estimating at the same time the effect on $n_s$ of the systematic energy scale uncertainty and of the distribution of UHECR. The use of global analysis has the advantage that no biases are introduced, either in n_s or in the related error bar, by the a priori choice of a single angular scale. The case of continuous, uniformly distributed sources is nominally disfavored at 99% C.L. and the fit improves if the sources follow the large-scale structure of matter in the universe. The best fit values obtained for the number density of proton sources are within a factor ~2 around n_s ~ 10^{-4}/Mpc^3 and depend mainly on the Auger energy calibration scale, with lower densities being preferred if the current scale is correct. The data show no significant small-scale clustering on scales smaller than a few degrees. This might be interpreted as a signature of magnetic smearing of comparable size, comparable with the indication of a ~3 degrees magnetic deflection coming from cross-correlation results. The effects on the above results of some approximations done is also discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2009

Secondary radiation from the Pamela/ATIC excess and relevance for Fermi

The excess of electrons/positrons observed by the Pamela and ATIC experiments gives rise to a noticeable amount of synchrotron and Inverse Compton Scattering (ICS) radiation when the e^+e^- interact with the Galactic Magnetic Field, and the InterStellar Radiation Field (ISRF). In particular, the ICS signal produced within the WIMP annihilation interpretation of the Pamela/ATIC excess shows already some tension with the EGRET data. On the other hand, 1 yr of Fermi data taking will be enough to rule out or confirm this scenario with a high confidence level. The ICS radiation produces a peculiar and clean "ICS Haze" feature, as well, which can be used to discriminate between the astrophysical and Dark Matter scenarios. This ICS signature is very prominent even several degrees away from the galactic center, and it is thus a very robust prediction with respect to the choice of the DM profile and the uncertainties in the ISRF.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2008

Astrophysical interpretation of the medium scale clustering in the ultra-high energy sky

We compare the clustering properties of the combined dataset of ultra-high energy cosmic rays events, reported by the AGASA, HiRes, Yakutsk and Sugar collaborations, with a catalogue of galaxies of the local universe (redshift z<~0.06). We find that the data reproduce particularly well the clustering properties of the nearby universe within z <~0.02. There is no statistically significant cross-correlation between data and structures, although intriguingly the nominal cross-correlation chance probability drops from ~50% to ~10% using the catalogue with a smaller horizon. Also, we discuss the impact on the robustness of the results of deflections in some galactic magnetic field models used in the literature. These results suggest a relevant role of magnetic fields (possibly extragalactic ones, too) and/or possibly some heavy nuclei fraction in the UHECRs. The importance of a confirmation of these hints by Auger data is emphasized.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Science with the new generation high energy gamma- ray experiments

This Conference is the fifth of a series of Workshops on High Energy Gamma- ray Experiments, following the Conferences held in Perugia 2003, Bari 2004, Cividale del Friuli 2005, Elba Island 2006. This year the focus was on the use of gamma-ray to study the Dark Matter component of the Universe, the origin and propagation of Cosmic Rays, Extra Large Spatial Dimensions and Tests of Lorentz Invariance.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Disentangling neutrino-nucleon cross section and high energy neutrino flux with a km^3 neutrino telescope

The energy--zenith angular event distribution in a neutrino telescope provides a unique tool to determine at the same time the neutrino-nucleon cross section at extreme kinematical regions, and the high energy neutrino flux. By using a simple parametrization for fluxes and cross sections, we present a sensitivity analysis for the case of a km^3 neutrino telescope. In particular, we consider the specific case of an under-water Mediterranean telescope placed at the NEMO site, although most of our results also apply to an under-ice detector such as IceCube. We determine the sensitivity to departures from standard values of the cross sections above 1 PeV which can be probed independently from an a-priori knowledge of the normalization and energy dependence of the flux. We also stress that the capability to tag downgoing neutrino showers in the PeV range against the cosmic ray induced background of penetrating muons appears to be a crucial requirement to derive meaningful constraints on the cross section.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

High Energy Neutrinos with a Mediterranean Neutrino Telescope

The high energy neutrino detection by a km^3 Neutrino Telescope placed in the Mediterranean sea provides a unique tool to both determine the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux and the neutrino-nucleon cross section in the extreme kinematical region, which could unveil the presence of new physics. Here is performed a brief analysis of possible NEMO site performances.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Signature of Large Scale Structures on the Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Sky

If the diffuse extragalactic gamma ray emission traces the large scale structures of the universe, peculiar anisotropy patterns are expected in the gamma ray sky. In particular, because of the cutoff distance introduced by the absorption of 0.1-10 TeV photons on the infrared/optical background, prominent correlations with the local structures within a range of few hundreds Mpc should be present. We provide detailed predictions of the signal based on the PSCz map of the local universe. We also use mock N-body catalogues complemented with the halo model of structures to study some statistical features of the expected signatures. The results are largely independent from cosmological details, and depend mostly on the index of correlation (or bias) of the sources with respect to the large scale distribution of galaxies. For instance, the predicted signal in the case of a quadratic correlation (as it may happen for a dark matter annihilation contribution to the diffuse gamma flux) differs substantially from a linear correlation case, providing a complementary tool to unveil the nature of the sources of the diffuse gamma ray emission. The chances of the present and future space and ground based observatories to measure these features are discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Ultra High Energy Neutrinos in the Mediterranean: detecting nu_tau and nu_mu with a km^3 Telescope

We perform a study of the ultra high energy neutrino detection performances of a km^3 Neutrino Telescope sitting at the three proposed sites for ANTARES, NEMO and NESTOR in the Mediterranean sea. We focus on the effect of the underwater surface profile on the total amount of yearly expected tau and mu crossing the fiducial volume in the limit of full detection efficiency and energy resolution. We also emphasize the possible enhancement of matter effect by a suitable choice of the geometry of the Telescope.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

First hints of large scale structures in the ultra-high energy sky?

The result of the recent publication [M. Kachelriess and D. V. Semikoz Astropart. Phys. 26, 10 (2006)] of a broad maximum around 25 degrees in the two-point autocorrelation function of ultra-high energy cosmic ray arrival directions has been intriguingly interpreted as the first imprint of the large scale structures (LSS) of baryonic matter in the near universe. We analyze this suggestion in light of the clustering properties expected from the PSCz astronomical catalogue of LSS. The chance probability of the signal is consistent within 2 sigma with the predictions based on the catalogue. No evidence for a significant cross-correlation of the observed events with known overdensities in the LSS is found, which may be due to the role of the galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields, and is however consistent with the limited statistics. The larger statistics to be collected by the Pierre Auger Observatory is needed to answer definitely the question.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The signature of local cosmic structures on the ultra-high energy cosmic ray anisotropies

Current experiments collecting high statistics in ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are opening a new window on the universe facing the possibility to perform UHECR astronomy. Here we discuss a large scale structure (LSS) model for the UHECR origin for which we evaluate the expected large scale anisotropy in the UHECR arrival distribution. Employing the IRAS PSCz catalogue as tracer of the LSS, we derive the minimum statistics needed to reject or assess the correlation of the UHECRs with the baryonic distribution in the universe, in particular providing a forecast for the Auger experiment.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The footprint of large scale cosmic structure on the ultra-high energy cosmic ray distribution

Current experiments collecting high statistics in ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are opening a new window on the universe. In this work we discuss a large scale structure model for the UHECR origin which evaluates the expected anisotropy in the UHECR arrival distribution starting from a given astronomical catalogue of the local universe. The model takes into account the main selection effects in the catalogue and the UHECR propagation effects. By applying this method to the IRAS PSCz catalogue, we derive the minimum statistics needed to significatively reject the hypothesis that UHECRs trace the baryonic distribution in the universe, in particular providing a forecast for the Auger experiment.

astro-ph↗