arXiv subjects

A. Monfardini

Publications and source records attributed to A. Monfardini.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Electronics and data acquisition demonstrator for a kinetic inductance camera

A prototype of digital frequency multiplexing electronics allowing the real time monitoring of kinetic inductance detector (KIDs) arrays for mm-wave astronomy has been developed. It requires only 2 coaxial cables for instrumenting a large array. For that, an excitation comb of frequencies is generated and fed through the detector. The direct frequency synthesis and the data acquisition relies heavily on a large FPGA using parallelized and pipelined processing. The prototype can instrument 128 resonators (pixels) over a bandwidth of 125 MHz. This paper describes the technical solution chosen, the algorithm used and the results obtained.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2011

A dual-band millimeter-wave kinetic inductance camera for the IRAM 30-meter telescope

Context. The Neel IRAM KIDs Array (NIKA) is a fully-integrated measurement system based on kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) currently being developed for millimeter wave astronomy. In a first technical run, NIKA was successfully tested in 2009 at the Institute for Millimetric Radio Astronomy (IRAM) 30-meter telescope at Pico Veleta, Spain. This prototype consisted of a 27-42 pixel camera imaging at 150 GHz. Subsequently, an improved system has been developed and tested in October 2010 at the Pico Veleta telescope. The instrument upgrades included dual-band optics allowing simultaneous imaging at 150 GHz and 220 GHz, faster sampling electronics enabling synchronous measurement of up to 112 pixels per measurement band, improved single-pixel sensitivity, and the fabrication of a sky simulator to replicate conditions present at the telescope. Results. The new dual-band NIKA was successfully tested in October 2010, performing in-line with sky simulator predictions. Initially the sources targeted during the 2009 run were re-imaged, verifying the improved system performance. An optical NEP was then calculated to be around 2 \dot 10-16 W/Hz1/2. This improvement in comparison with the 2009 run verifies that NIKA is approaching the target sensitivity for photon-noise limited ground-based detectors. Taking advantage of the larger arrays and increased sensitivity, a number of scientifically-relevant faint and extended objects were then imaged including the Galactic Center SgrB2(FIR1), the radio galaxy Cygnus A and the NGC1068 Seyfert galaxy. These targets were all observed simultaneously in the 150 GHz and 220 GHz atmospheric windows.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

NIKA: A millimeter-wave kinetic inductance camera

Current generation millimeter wavelength detectors suffer from scaling limits imposed by complex cryogenic readout electronics. To circumvent this it is imperative to investigate technologies that intrinsically incorporate strong multiplexing. One possible solution is the kinetic inductance detector (KID). In order to assess the potential of this nascent technology, a prototype instrument optimized for the 2 mm atmospheric window was constructed. Known as the Néel IRAM KIDs Array (NIKA), it was recently tested at the Institute for Millimetric Radio Astronomy (IRAM) 30-meter telescope at Pico Veleta, Spain. The measurement resulted in the imaging of a number of sources, including planets, quasars, and galaxies. The images for Mars, radio star MWC349, quasar 3C345, and galaxy M87 are presented. From these results, the optical NEP was calculated to be around $1 \times 10^{-15}$ W$ / $Hz$^{1/2}$. A factor of 10 improvement is expected to be readily feasible by improvements in the detector materials and reduction of performance-degrading spurious radiation.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

High-speed phonon imaging using frequency-multiplexed kinetic inductance detectors

We present a measurement of phonon propagation in a silicon wafer utilizing an array of frequency-multiplexed superconducting resonators coupled to a single transmission line. The electronic readout permits fully synchronous array sampling with a per-resonator bandwidth of 1.2 MHz, allowing sub-$μ$s array imaging. This technological achievement is potentially vital in a variety of low-temperature applications, including single-photon counting, quantum-computing and dark-matter searches.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2008

In-situ measurement of the permittivity of helium using microwave NbN resonators

By measuring the electrical transport properties of superconducting NbN quarter-wave resonators in direct contact with a helium bath, we have demonstrated a high-speed and spatially sensitive sensor for the permittivity of helium. In our implementation a $\sim10^{-3}$ mm$^3$ sensing volume is measured with a bandwidth of 300 kHz in the temperature range 1.8 to 8.8 K. The minimum detectable change of the permittivity of helium is calculated to be $\sim6\times$$10^{-11}$ $ε_0$/Hz$^{1/2}$ with a sensitivity of order $10^{-13}$ $ε_0$/Hz$^{1/2}$ easily achievable. Potential applications include operation as a fast, localized helium thermometer and as a transducer in superfluid hydrodynamic experiments.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Multiwavelength analysis of the intriguing GRB 061126: the reverse shock scenario and magnetization

We present a detailed study of the prompt and afterglow emission from Swift GRB 061126 using BAT, XRT, UVOT data and multi-color optical imaging from ten ground-based telescopes. GRB 061126 was a long burst (T_90=191 s) with four overlapping peaks in its gamma-ray light curve. The X-ray afterglow, observed from 26 min to 20 days after the burst, shows a simple power-law decay with alpha_X=1.290 \pm 0.008. Optical observations presented here cover the time range from 258 s (Faulkes Telescope North) to 15 days (Gemini North) after the burst; the decay rate of the optical afterglow shows a steep-to-shallow transition (from alpha_1=1.48 \pm 0.06 to alpha_2=0.88 \pm 0.03) approximately 13 min after the burst. We suggest the early, steep component is due to a reverse shock and show that the magnetic energy density in the ejecta, expressed as a fraction of the equipartion value, is a few ten times larger than in the forward shock in the early afterglow phase. The ejecta might be endowed with primordial magnetic fields at the central engine. The optical light curve implies a late-time break at about 1.5 days after the burst, while there is no evidence of the simultaneous break in the X-ray light curve. We model the broad band emission and show that some afterglow characteristics (the steeper decay in X-ray and the shallow spectral index from optical to X-ray) are difficult to explain in the framework of the standard fireball model. This might imply that the X-ray afterglow is due to an additional emission process, such as late time central engine activity rather than blast-wave shock emission. The possible chromatic break at 1.5 days after the burst would give support to the additional emission scenario.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The afterglow onset for GRB060418 and GRB060607A

Gamma-ray burst are thought to be produced by highly relativistic outflows. Although upper and lower limits for the outflow initial Lorentz factor $Γ_0$ are available, observational efforts to derive a direct determination of $Γ_0$ have so far failed or provided ambiguous results. As a matter of fact, the shape of the early-time afterglow light curve is strongly sensitive on $Γ_0$ which determines the time of the afterglow peak, i.e. when the outflow and the shocked circumburst material share a comparable amount of energy. We now comment early-time observations of the near-infrared afterglows of GRB 060418 and GRB 060607A performed by the REM robotic telescope. For both events, the afterglow peak was singled out and allowed us to determine the initial fireball Lorentz, $Γ_0\sim 400$.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

REM observations of GRB 060418 and GRB 060607A: the onset of the afterglow and the initial fireball Lorentz factor determination

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) emission is believed to originate in highly relativistic fireballs. Currently, only lower limits were securely set to the initial fireball Lorentz factor Gamma_0. We aim to provide a direct measure of Gamma_0. The early-time afterglow light curve carries information about Gamma_0, which determines the time of the afterglow peak. We have obtained early observations of the near-infrared afterglows of GRB 060418 and GRB 060607A with the REM robotic telescope. For both events, the afterglow peak could be clearly singled out, allowing a firm determination of the fireball Lorentz of Gamma_0 ~ 400, fully confirming the highly relativistic nature of GRB fireballs. The deceleration radius was inferred to be R_dec ~ 10^17 cm. This is much larger than the internal shocks radius (believed to power the prompt emission), thus providing further evidence for a different origin of the prompt and afterglow stages of the GRB.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The prompt to late-time multiwavelength analysis of GRB 060210

We present our analysis of the multiwavelength photometric & spectroscopic observations of GRB 060210 and discuss the results in the overall context of current GRB models. All available optical data underwent a simultaneous temporal fit, while X-ray and gamma-ray observations were analysed temporally & spectrally. The results were compared to each other and to possible GRB models. The X-ray afterglow is best described by a smoothly broken power-law with a break at 7.4 hours. The late optical afterglow has a well constrained single power-law index which has a value between the two X-ray indices, though it does agree with a single power-law fit to the X-ray. An evolution of the hardness of the high-energy emission is demonstrated and we imply a minimum host extinction from a comparison of the extrapolated X-ray flux to that measured in the optical. We find that the flaring gamma-ray and X-ray emission is likely due to internal shocks while the flat optical light curve at that time is due to the external shock. The late afterglow is best explained by a cooling break between the optical and X-rays and continued central engine activity up to the time of the break. The required collimation corrected energy of ~ 2x10^52 erg, while at the high end of the known energy distribution, is not unprecedented.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Remarkable Afterglow of GRB 061007: Implications for Optical Flashes and GRB Fireballs

We present a multiwavelength analysis of Swift GRB 061007. The 2-m robotic Faulkes Telescope South (FTS) began observing 137 s after the onset of the gamma-ray emission, when the optical counterpart was already decaying from R 10.3 mag, and continued observing for the next 5.5 hours. These observations begin during the final gamma-ray flare and continue through and beyond a long, soft tail of gamma-ray emission whose flux shows an underlying simple power-law decay identical to that seen at optical and X-ray wavelengths, with temporal slope alpha 1.7 This remarkably simple decay in all of these bands is rare for Swift bursts, which often show much more complex light curves. We suggest the afterglow emission begins as early as 30-100 s and is contemporaneous with the on-going variable prompt emission from the central engine, but originates from a physically distinct region dominated by the forward shock. The afterglow continues unabated until at least 10^5 s showing no evidence of a break. The observed multiwavelength evolution of GRB 061007 is explained by an expanding fireball whose optical, X-ray and late-time gamma-ray emission is dominated by emission from a forward shock with typical synchrotron frequency, nu_m, that is already below the optical band as early as t=137 s and a cooling frequency, nu_c, above the X-ray band to at least t=10^5 s. In contrast, the typical frequency of the reverse shock lies in the radio band at early time. We suggest that the unexpected lack of bright optical flashes from the majority of Swift GRBs may be explained with a low nu_m originating from small microphysics parameters, epsilon_e and epsilon_B. (Abridged)

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

A Review of Early-Time Optical Follow-ups with 2-m Robotic Telescopes

We summarise recent deep, rapid GRB follow-up observations using the RoboNet-1.0 network which comprises three fully-robotic 2-m telescopes, the Liverpool Telescope and the Faulkes Telescopes North and South. Observations begin automatically within minutes of receipt of a GRB alert and may continue for hours or days to provide well-sampled multi-colour light curves or deep upper limits. Our light curves show a variety of early afterglow behaviour, from smooth, simple or broken power laws to 'bumpy', for a wide range of optical brightness (from the unprecedented faint detections of GRB 060108 and GRB 060510B to classical bright ones). We discuss GRB 051111 as an example of how the combination of optical and X-ray light curves can provide insight into the circumburst environment, in particular the role played by intrinsic extinction soon after the burst.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Extensive multiband study of the X-ray rich GRB 050408. A likely off-axis event with an intense energy injection

Aims. Understand the shape and implications of the multiband light curve of GRB 050408, an X-ray rich (XRR) burst. Methods. We present a multiband optical light curve, covering the time from the onset of the gamma-ray event to several months after, when we only detect the host galaxy. Together with X-ray, millimetre and radio observations we compile what, to our knowledge, is the most complete multiband coverage of an XRR burst afterglow to date. Results. The optical and X-ray light curve is characterised by an early flattening and an intense bump peaking around 6 days after the burst onset. We explain the former by an off-axis viewed jet, in agreement with the predictions made for XRR by some models, and the latter with an energy injection equivalent in intensity to the initial shock. The analysis of the spectral flux distribution reveals an extinction compatible with a low chemical enrichment surrounding the burst. Together with the detection of an underlying starburst host galaxy we can strengthen the link between XRR and classical long-duration bursts.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The circumburst environment of a FRED GRB: study of the prompt emission and X-ray/optical afterglow of GRB 051111

We report a multi-wavelength analysis of the prompt emission and early afterglow of GRB051111 and discuss its properties in the context of current fireball models. The detection of GRB051111 by the Burst Alert Telescope on-board Swift triggered early BVRi' observations with the 2-m robotic Faulkes Telescope North in Hawaii, as well as X-ray observations with the Swift X-Ray Telescope. The prompt gamma-ray emission shows a classical FRED profile. The optical afterglow light curves are fitted with a broken power law, with alpha_1=0.35 to alpha_2=1.35 and a break time around 12 minutes after the GRB. Although contemporaneous X-ray observations were not taken, a power law connection between the gamma-ray tail of the FRED temporal profile and the late XRT flux decay is feasible. Alternatively, if the X-ray afterglow tracks the optical decay, this would represent one of the first GRBs for which the canonical steep-shallow-normal decay typical of early X-ray afterglows has been monitored optically. We present a detailed analysis of the intrinsic extinction, elemental abundances and spectral energy distribution. From the absorption measured in the low X-ray band we find possible evidence for an overabundance of some alpha elements such as oxygen, [O/Zn]=0.7+/-0.3, or, alternatively, for a significant presence of molecular gas. The IR-to-X-ray Spectral Energy Distribution measured at 80 minutes after the burst is consistent with the cooling break lying between the optical and X-ray bands. Extensive modelling of the intrinsic extinction suggests dust with big grains or grey extinction profiles. The early optical break is due either to an energy injection episode or, less probably, to a stratified wind environment for the circumburst medium.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The early and late-time spectral and temporal evolution of GRB 050716

We report on a comprehensive set of observations of Gamma Ray Burst 050716, detected by the Swift satellite and subsequently followed-up rapidly in X-ray, optical and near infra-red wavebands. The prompt emission is typical of long-duration bursts, with two peaks in a time interval of T90 = 68 seconds (15 - 350 keV). The prompt emission continues at lower flux levels in the X-ray band, where several smaller flares can be seen, on top of a decaying light curve that exhibits an apparent break around 220 seconds post trigger. This temporal break is roughly coincident with a spectral break. The latter can be related to the extrapolated evolution of the break energy in the prompt gamma-ray emission, and is possibly the manifestation of the peak flux break frequency of the internal shock passing through the observing band. A possible 3 sigma change in the X-ray absorption column is also seen during this time. The late-time afterglow behaviour is relatively standard, with an electron distribution power-law index of p = 2 there is no noticable temporal break out to at least 10 days. The broad-band optical/nIR to X-ray spectrum indicates a redshift of z ~> 2 for this burst, with a host-galaxy extinction value of E(B-V) ~ 0.7 that prefers an SMC-like extinction curve.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Multi-wavelength afterglow observations of the high redshift GRB 050730

GRB 050730 is a long duration high-redshift burst (z=3.967) discovered by Swift. The afterglow shows variability and is well monitored over a wide wavelength range. We present comprehensive temporal and spectral analysis of the afterglow of GRB 050730 including observations from the millimeter to X-rays. We use multi-wavelength afterglow data to understand the temporal and spectral decay properties with superimposed variability of this high redshift burst. Five telescopes were used to study the decaying afterglow of GRB 050730 in the B, V, r', R, i', I, J and K photometric pass bands. A spectral energy distribution was constructed at 2.9 hours post-burst in the K, J, I, R, V and B bands. X-ray data from the satellites Swift and XMM-Newton were used to study the afterglow evolution at higher energies. The early afterglow shows variability at early times and shows a steepening at ~0.1 days (8.6 ks) in the B, V, r', R, i', I, J and K passbands. The early afterglow light curve decayed with alpha_1 = -0.60+/-0.07 and alpha_2 = -1.71+/-0.06 based on R and I band data. A millimeter detection of the afterglow around 3 days after the burst shows an excess in comparison to predictions. The early X-ray light curve observed by Swift is complex and contains flares. At late times the X-ray light curve can be fit by a powerlaw alpha_x = -2.5+/-0.15 which is steeper than the optical light curve. A spectral energy distribution (SED) was constructed at \~2.9 hours after the burst. An electron energy index, p, of ~ 2.3 was calculated using the SED and the photon index from the X-ray afterglow spectra and indicates that the synchrotron cooling frequency nu_c is above observed frequencies.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Anatomy of A Dark Burst - The Afterglow of GRB 060108

We report the first detection of an optical afterglow of a GRB (060108) that would have been classified as 'dark' in the absence of deep, rapid ground-based optical imaging with the 2-m robotic Faulkes Telesscope (FTN). Our multiwavelength analysis reveals an X-ray light curve typical of many Swift long GRBs (3-segments plus flare). Its optical afterglow, however, was already fainter than the detection limit of the UVOT within 100s of the burst. Optical imaging in BVRi' filters with the FTN began 2.75 minutes after the burst and resulted in the detection of the optical afterglow at 5.3 minutes, with a UKIRT K-band identification at ~45 mins. R and i'-band light curves are consistent with a single power law decay in flux, F(t) prop t^-a where a=0.43+/-0.08, or a 2-segment light curve with a steep decay a_1 <0.88, flattening to a_2 ~ 0.31, with evidence for rebrightening at i' band. Deep VLT R-band imaging at ~12 days reveals a faint, extended object (R ~23.5 mag) at the location of the afterglow. Although the brightness is compatible with the extrapolation of the a_2 slow decay, significant flux is likely due to a host galaxy. This implies that the optical light curve had a break before 12 days, akin to what observed in the X-rays. We derive a maximum photometric redshift z<3.2 for GRB 060108 and a best-fitting optical-to-X-ray SED at 1000 s after the burst consistent with a power law with index beta_OX = 0.54 and a small amount of extinction. The unambiguous detection at B-band and the derived photometric redshift rule out a high redshift as the reason for the optical faintness of GRB 060108. Instead, the hard opt/X-ray spectral index confirms it as one of the optically-darkest bursts detected and with modest host extinction explains the UVOT non-detection (abridged).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The variable X-ray light curve of GRB 050713A: the case of refreshed shocks

We present a detailed study of the spectral and temporal properties of the X-ray and optical emission of GRB050713a up to 0.5 day after the main GRB event. The X-ray light curve exhibits large amplitude variations with several rebrightenings superposed on the underlying three-segment broken powerlaw that is often seen in Swift GRBs. Our time-resolved spectral analysis supports the interpretation of a long-lived central engine, with rebrightenings consistent with energy injection in refreshed shocks as slower shells generated in the central engine prompt phase catch up with the afterglow shock at later times. Our sparsely-sampled light curve of the optical afterglow can be fitted with a single power law without large flares. The optical decay index appears flatter than the X-ray one, especially at later times.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

High Quality Early Time Light Curves of GRB 060206: Implications for Gamma Ray Burst Environments and Energetics

The 2-m robotic Liverpool Telescope (LT) reacted promptly to the high-redshift (z=4.048) gamma-ray burst GRB 060206. The afterglow was identified automatically and multicolor r'i'z' imaging was triggered without human intervention. Combining our data with those obtained from later follow-ups provides a well-sampled optical light-curve from 5 minutes to >2d after the gamma event. The light-curve is highly structured with at least three bumps evident in the first 75 minutes, including a major rebrightening (Delta_r'=-1.6 at t=3000s), interpreted as late energy injection. At early time (t=440s), we find evidence for fast (Delta t_(rest)<4s<<t) variability, indicating on-going internal-engine activity. We emphasise that a low redshift GRB (z<1) with similar intrinsic properties would have been interpreted completely differently due to undersampling of the light curve in the rest frame at early times; the light-curve behaviour of GRB 060206 should therefore not be considered peculiar. Finally, although the observed late-time steepening of the optical light curve resembles a jet break if taken in isolation, the lack of a corresponding change in the X-ray slope rules out a jet-break interpretation. Traditionally, GRB jet breaks have been inferred from optical data in the absence of simultaneous X-ray data. We suggest therefore that current estimates of the jet opening angle distribution might be biased by events like GRB060206. Consequently, the GRB explosion energy distribution and event rates may have to be revised.

astro-ph↗