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A. Parmar

Publications and source records attributed to A. Parmar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Euclid preparation. Far-infrared predictions for Euclid galaxy catalogues: cluster, protocluster, and field

The MAMBO mock galaxy catalogue, based on the Millennium Simulation with empirically assigned galaxy properties, provides predictions of FIR fluxes and physical parameters of Euclid-detectable galaxies. Predicted FIR flux distributions confirm that only the brightest Euclid sources will be detectable in existing FIR surveys. We employ stacking to measure the mean dust properties as a function of stellar mass and redshift. We find dust temperatures and infrared luminosities increase with redshift across all mass bins, while dust masses remain roughly constant. FIR number counts from MAMBO show overall good agreement with observations, and the total infrared luminosity function reproduces published estimates across most redshift ranges, extending to z~10. Comparing the Euclid Wide and Deep Surveys, we find that the EDS recovers the total IRLF to fainter luminosities and higher redshifts (up to z~6 in $I_E$), although its detectability falls below 80% at z>4, whereas the EWS becomes strongly incomplete beyond z~2. We also examine the dependence of the IRLF on environment. Schechter fits indicate that the faint-end slope $\alpha$ flattens with redshift for cluster and protocluster galaxies, while remaining approximately constant for field populations. Imposing additional detection limits from Herschel-PACS and SPIRE shows that only the most luminous ($L_{IR}$ > $10^{12.5}$ $L_{\odot}$) galaxies remain detectable at z~4, but the limited MAMBO area (3.14$deg^2$) is inadequate for statistically robust (>3$\sigma$) constraints. Survey areas at least 30 times larger are required. Overall, the MAMBO FIR extension reproduces key number count and IRLF trends, provides realistic predictions for FIR-detected Euclid galaxies, and highlights the importance of synergies with current and future FIR/sub-mm facilities to probe environmental dependence with sufficient depth and area.

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Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1). The average far-infrared properties of Euclid-selected star-forming galaxies

The first Euclid Quick Data Release contains millions of galaxies with excellent optical and near-infrared (IR) coverage. To complement this dataset, we investigate the average far-IR properties of Euclid-selected main sequence (MS) galaxies using existing Herschel and SCUBA-2 data. We use 17.6deg$^2$ (2.4deg$^2$) of overlapping Herschel (SCUBA-2) data, containing 2.6 million (240000) MS galaxies. We bin the Euclid catalogue by stellar mass and photometric redshift and perform a stacking analysis following SimStack, which takes into account galaxy clustering and bin-to-bin correlations. We detect stacked far-IR flux densities across a significant fraction of the bins. We fit modified blackbody spectral energy distributions in each bin and derive mean dust temperatures, dust masses, and star-formation rates (SFRs). We find similar mean SFRs compared to the Euclid catalogue, and we show that the average dust-to-stellar mass ratios decreased from z$\simeq$1 to the present day. Average dust temperatures are largely independent of stellar mass and are well-described by the function $T_2+(T_1-T_2){\rm e}^{-t/\tau}$, where $t$ is the age of the Universe, $T_1=79.7\pm7.4$K, $T_2=23.2\pm0.1$K, and $\tau=1.6\pm0.1$Gyr. We argue that since the dust temperatures are converging to a non-zero value below $z=1$, the dust is now primarily heated by the existing cooler and older stellar population, as opposed to hot young stars in star-forming regions at higher redshift. We show that since the dust temperatures are independent of stellar mass, the correlation between dust temperature and SFR depends on stellar mass. Lastly, we estimate the contribution of the Euclid catalogue to the cosmic IR background (CIB), finding that it accounts for >60% of the CIB at 250, 350, and 500$\mu$m. Forthcoming Euclid data will extend these results to higher redshifts, lower stellar masses, and recover more of the CIB.

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MeerKAT Observations of Herschel Protocluster Candidates

High-redshift protoclusters consisting of dusty starbursts are thought to play an important role in galaxy evolution. Their dusty nature makes them bright in the FIR/submm but difficult to find in optical/NIR surveys. Radio observations are an excellent way to study these dusty starbursts, as dust is transparent in the radio and there is a tight correlation between the FIR and radio emission of a galaxy. Here, we present MeerKAT 1.28 GHz radio imaging of 3 Herschel candidate protoclusters, with a synthesised beam size of ~$7.5'' \times 6.6''$ and a central thermal noise down to $4.35~\mu$Jy/beam. Our source counts are consistent with other radio counts with no evidence of overdensities. Around 95% of the Herschel sources have 1.28 GHz IDs. Using the Herschel 250 micron primary beam size as the searching radius, we find 54.2% Herschel sources have multiple 1.28 GHz IDs. Our average FIR-radio correlation coefficient $q_{250\mu m}$ is $2.33\pm 0.26$. Adding $q_{250\mu m}$ as a new constraint, the probability of finding chance-aligned sources is reduced by a factor of ~6, but with the risk of discarding true identifications of radio-loud/quiet sources. With accurate MeerKAT positions, we cross-match our Herschel sources to optical/NIR data followed by photometric redshift estimations. By removing $z<1$ sources, the density contrasts of two of the candidate protoclusters increase, suggestive of them being real protoclusters at $z>1$. There is also potentially a $0.9<z<1.2$ overdensity associated with one candidate protocluster. In summary, photometric redshifts from radio-optical cross-identifications have provided some tentative evidence of overdensities aligning with two of the candidate protoclusters.

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Role of neutron transfer in the reaction mechanism of $^9$Be+$^{169}$Tm, $^{181}$Ta, $^{187}$Re and $^{197}$Au systems

The contribution of one neutron stripping cross section to the total reaction cross section has been studied for $^9$Be projectile incident on $^{169}$Tm, $^{181}$Ta, $^{187}$Re and $^{197}$Au targets around Coulomb barrier energy. The measured one neutron stripping cross sections for these systems have been compared with the coupled channel calculations. The recently developed global set of optical model potential parameters for $^9$Be projectile has been used in the present calculations. The cumulative of measured complete fusion (CF), incomplete fusion (ICF), one neutron stripping and calculated non-capture breakup (NCBU) cross sections is found to explain almost the reaction cross sections for all the targets. A very small contribution from target inelastic states and elastic breakup may contribute to the remaining part. The percentage fraction of cross section for CF, ICF, one neutron stripping, and NCBU over reaction cross section show the dominance of neutron transfer and NCBU at below barrier energies while CF and ICF processes have the major contribution at above barrier energies.

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The Nature of 500 Micron Risers II: Sub-mm Faint Dusty Star Forming Galaxies

We present SCUBA-2 and SMA follow-up observations of four candidate high redshift Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies, selected as sources with rising SEDs in the 250, 350 and 500$μ$m Herschel SPIRE bands. Previous SMA observations showed no counterparts to these sources, but in our deeper sub-mm observations we detect counterparts to all four 500$μ$m risers, with three resolving into multiple systems. For these three multiple systems, the SMA 345GHz ($\approx 870μ$m) observations recover $123 \pm 73\%$, $60 \pm 15\%$ and $19 \pm 4\%$ respectively of the integrated 850$μ$m flux density from SCUBA-2, indicating that there may be additional sources below our SMA detection limit making up a dense, protocluster core. The fourth 500$μ$m riser was observed at a lower frequency and so we cannot make a similar comparison. We estimate photometric redshifts based on FIR/sub-mm colours, finding that 3/4 likely lie at $z \geq 2$. This fits with the interpretation that the 500$μ$m riser selection criterion selects both intrinsically red, individual galaxies at $z > 4$, and multiple systems at more moderate redshifts, artificially reddened by the effects of blending. We use the SCUBA-2 850$μ$m maps to investigate the environments of these 500$μ$m risers. By constructing cumulative number counts and estimating photometric redshifts for surrounding SCUBA-2 detections, we find that one of our 500$μ$m risers could plausibly reside in a $z \geq 2$ protocluster. We infer that bright 500$μ$m risers with faint 850$μ$m flux densities are typically multiple systems at $z \geq 2$ that may reside in overdensities of bright sub-mm galaxies.

astro-ph.GA

Investigation of neutron transfer in $^{7}$Li+$^{124}$Sn reaction

The relative importance of neutron transfer and breakup process in reaction around Coulomb barrier energies have been studied for the $^{7}$Li+$^{124}$Sn system. Coupled channel calculations have been performed to understand the one neutron stripping and pickup cross sections along with the breakup in the $^{7}$Li+$^{124}$Sn system. The systematics of one and two neutron striping and pickup cross sections with $^7$Li projectile on several targets show an approximate universal behaviour that have been explained by a simple model. Complete reaction mechanism have been studied by comparing the reaction cross sections with cumulative cross sections of total fusion and one neutron transfer.

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XMM-Newton observations of GX 13+1: correlation between photoionised absorption and broad line emission

We analysed data from five XMM-Newton observations of GX 13+1 to investigate the variability of the photo-ionised absorber present in this source. We fitted EPIC and RGS spectra obtained from the "least-variable" intervals with a model consisting of disc-blackbody and blackbody components together with a Gaussian emission feature at ~6.55-6.7 keV modified by absorption due to cold and photo-ionised material. We found a significant correlation between the hard, ~6-10 keV, flux, the ionisation and column density of the absorber and the equivalent width of the broad iron line. We interpret the correlation in a scenario in which a disc wind is thermally driven at large, ~10^{10} cm, radii and the broad line results from reprocessed emission in the wind and/or hot atmosphere. The breadth of the emission line is naturally explained by a combination of scattering, recombination and fluorescence processes. We attribute the variations in the absorption and emission along the orbital period to the view of different parts of the wind, possibly located at slightly different inclination angles. We constrain the inclination of GX 13+1 to be between 60 and 80 degrees from the presence of strong absorption in the line of sight, that obscures up to 80% of the total emission in one observation, and the absence of eclipses. We conclude that the presence of a disc wind and/or a hot atmosphere can explain the current observations of narrow absorption and broad iron emission features in neutron star low mass X-ray binaries as a class.

astro-ph.HE

XMM-Newton observations of the low-mass X-ray binary EXO 0748-676 in quiescence

The neutron star low-mass X-ray binary EXO 0748-676 started a transition from outburst to quiescence in August 2008, after more than 24 years of continuous accretion. The return of the source to quiescence has been monitored extensively by several X-ray observatories. Here, we report on four XMM-Newton observations elapsing a period of more than 19 months and starting in November 2008. The X-ray spectra show a soft thermal component which we fit with a neutron star atmosphere model. Only in the first observation do we find a significant second component above ~ 3 keV accounting for ~ 7 % of the total flux, which could indicate residual accretion. The thermal bolometric flux and the temperature of the neutron star crust decrease steadily by 40 and 10 % respectively between the first and the fourth observation. At the time of the last observation, June 2010, we obtain a thermal bolometric luminosity of 5.6 x 10$^{33}$ (d/7.1 kpc)$^2$ erg s$^{-1}$ and a temperature of the neutron star crust of 109 eV. The cooling curve is consistent with a relatively hot, medium-mass neutron star, cooling by standard mechanisms. From the spectral fits to a neutron star atmosphere model we infer limits for the mass and the radius of the neutron star. We find that in order to achieve self-consistency for the NS mass between the different methods, the value of the distance is constrained to be <~6 kpc. For this value of the distance, the derived mass and radius contours are consistent with a number of EoSs with nucleons and hyperons.

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MAXI J1659-152: the shortest orbital period black-hole binary

Following the detection of a bright new X-ray source, MAXI J1659-152, a series of observations was triggered with almost all currently flying high-energy missions. We report here on XMM-Newton, INTEGRAL and RXTE observations during the early phase of the X-ray outburst of this transient black-hole candidate. We confirm the dipping nature in the X-ray light curves. We find that the dips recur on a period of 2.4139+/-0.0005 hrs, and interpret this as the orbital period of the system. It is thus the shortest period black-hole X-ray binary known to date. Using the various observables, we derive the properties of the source. The inclination of the accretion disk with respect to the line of sight is estimated to be 60-75 degrees. The companion star to the black hole is possibly a M5 dwarf star, with a mass and radius of about 0.15 M_sun and 0.23 R_sun, respectively. The system is rather compact (orbital separation is about 1.35 R_sun) and is located at a distance of roughly 7 kpc. In quiescence, MAXI J1659-152 is expected to be optically faint, about 28 mag in the V-band.

astro-ph.HE

INTEGRAL observations of the cosmic X-ray background in the 5-100 keV range via occultation by the Earth

We study the spectrum of the cosmic X-ray background (CXB) in energy range $\sim$5-100 keV. Early in 2006 the INTEGRAL observatory performed a series of four 30ksec observations with the Earth disk crossing the field of view of the instruments. The modulation of the aperture flux due to occultation of extragalactic objects by the Earth disk was used to obtain the spectrum of the Cosmic X-ray Background(CXB). Various sources of contamination were evaluated, including compact sources, Galactic Ridge emission, CXB reflection by the Earth atmosphere, cosmic ray induced emission by the Earth atmosphere and the Earth auroral emission. The spectrum of the cosmic X-ray background in the energy band 5-100 keV is obtained. The shape of the spectrum is consistent with that obtained previously by the HEAO-1 observatory, while the normalization is $\sim$10% higher. This difference in normalization can (at least partly) be traced to the different assumptions on the absolute flux from the Crab Nebulae. The increase relative to the earlier adopted value of the absolute flux of the CXB near the energy of maximum luminosity (20-50 keV) has direct implications for the energy release of supermassive black holes in the Universe and their growth at the epoch of the CXB origin.

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XMM-Newton sets the record straight: No X-ray emission detected from PSR J0631+1036

The pulsar PSR J0631+1036 was discovered during a radio search of Einstein X-ray source error circles. A detection of a 288ms sinusoidal modulation in the ASCA lightcurve, the same period as the radio pulsar, appeared to confirm the association of the X-ray source and the pulsar. Its X-ray spectrum was said to be similar to that of middle aged gamma-ray pulsars such as Geminga. However, an XMM-Newton observation of the PSR J0631+1035 field, along with a re-analysis of VLA data confirming the timing position of the pulsar, show a 75'' discrepancy in location of the X-ray source and the pulsar, and therefore these cannot be the same object. The X-ray source appears to be the counterpart of an A0 star, detected by the XMM-Newton Optical Monitor. No 288ms period was detected from either the area around the pulsar or the bright X-ray source. The upper limit on the X-ray luminosity with relation to the empirically observed correlation between radio measured dE/dt and X-ray luminosity is discussed.

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In.XS: project for a future spaceborne hard X-ray all-sky survey

The latest all-sky survey in hard X-ray band was performed by the HEAO-1 satellite (13-80 keV) with an angular resolution of 24x48 arcmin. A diffuse hard X-Ray background (HXB) was detected between 3 and 50 keV. The main scientific goal of In.XS is to resolve a large fraction of this HXB into individual sources. As no distortion by Compton up-scattering is seen in the spectrum of the microwave background, the hard X-ray background is believed to be mainly due to point sources. Type I Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) have softer X-ray spectra than the hard X-ray background, so other sources must be considered, like faint Type II or absorbed AGN. These could be distinguished through hard X-ray spectroscopic or hardness ratio observations. Here we present In.XS - a mission concept designed to conduct the first imaging all-sky hard X-ray (2-80 keV) survey. The angular resolution of nearly 1 arcmin and good sensitivity at high energies is provided by the latest multilayer focussing mirrors, with semiconductor-based (GaAs) arrays of detectors. We also describe the mission operations, and how the all-sky survey will be complemented by follow-up pointed observations of selected fields. The good angular resolution will allow correlations and identification with objects seen at other wavelengths. In addition, since a large fraction of the Type II AGN luminosity is emitted in the hard X-ray band, this survey will provide a large unbiased sample of the AGN population. This may provide constraints on AGN evolution through the possible observation of a turnover in deep field source statistics.

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The X-ray emission from Nova V382 Velorum: I. The hard component observed with BeppoSAX

We present BeppoSAX observations of Nova Velorum 1999 (V382 Vel), done in a broad X-ray band covering 0.1-300 keV only 15 days after the discovery and again after 6 months. The nova was detected at day 15 with the BeppoSAX instruments in the energy range 1.8-10 keV and we attribute the emission to shocks in the ejecta. The plasma temperature was kT~6 keV and the unabsorbed flux was F(x)~4.3 x 10(-11) erg/cm**2/s. The nebular material was affected by high intrinsic absorption of the ejecta. 6 months after after the outburst, the intrinsic absorption did not play a role, the nova had turned into a bright supersoft source, and the hot nebular component previously detected had cooled to a plasma temperature kT<=1 keV. No emission was detected in either observation above 20 keV.

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ASCA and BeppoSAX observations of the peculiar X-ray source 4U1700+24/HD154791

The X-ray source 4U1700+24/HD154791 is one of the few galactic sources whose counterpart is an evolved M star. In X-rays the source shows extreme erratic variability and a complex and variable spectrum. While this strongly suggests accretion onto a compact object, no clear diagnosis of binarity was done up to now. We report on ASCA and BeppoSAX X-ray broad band observations of this source and on ground optical observations from the Loiano 1.5 m telescope.

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BeppoSAX spectrum of GRB971214: evidence of a substantial energy output during afterglow

We report the X/gamma-ray spectrum of GRB971214 and of its afterglow. The afterglow was measured few hours after the main event and for an elapsed time of more than two days. The measure of this GRB and afterglow is relevant due to its extreme, cosmological distance (z=3.42). The prompt event shows a hard photon spectrum, consistent with a broken power law with photon indices Gamma_X~0.1 below ~20 keV and Gamma_g~1.3 above 60 keV. The afterglow spectrum, measured with the MECS and LECS BeppoSAX telescopes, is consistent with a power law with spectral photon index Gamma=1.6. Within the statistical accuracy of our measure no spectral evolution is detected during the observation of the afterglow. When integrated during the time span covered by BeppoSAX observations, the power in the afterglow emission, even with very conservative assumptions, is at least comparable with the power in the main event. The IR-to-X rays broad band spectrum is also presented, collecting data from the literature and adding them to the BeppoSAX measure. It shows that the predictions from synchrotron emission models is qualitatively confirmed. The BeppoSAX measurement of the X and gamma ray spectrum of this GRB/afterglow is discussed in the framework of current theoretical models.

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BeppoSAX Observations of GRB980425: Detection of the Prompt Event and Monitoring of the Error Box

We present BeppoSAX follow-up observations of GRB980425 obtained with the Narrow Field Instruments (NFI) in April, May, and November 1998. The first NFI observation has detected within the 8' radius error box of the GRB an X-ray source positionally consistent with the supernova 1998bw, which exploded within a day of GRB980425, and a fainter X-ray source, not consistent with the position of the supernova. The former source is detected in the following NFI pointings and exhibits a decline of a factor of two in six months. If it is associated with SN 1998bw, this is the first detection of X-ray emission from a Type I supernova above 2 keV. The latter source exhibits only marginally significant variability. The X-ray spectra and variability of the supernova are compared with thermal and non-thermal models of supernova high energy emission. Based on the BeppoSAX data, it is not possible to firmly establish which of the two detected sources is the GRB X-ray counterpart, although probability considerations favor the supernova.

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BeppoSAX Detection and Follow-up of GRB980425

We present BeppoSAX GRBM and WFC light curves of GRB980425 and NFI follow-up data taken in 1998 April, May, and November. The first NFI observation has detected within the 8' radius error box of the GRB an X-ray source positionally consistent with the supernova SN 1998bw, exploded within a day of GRB980425, and a fainter X-ray source, not consistent with the position of the supernova. The former source is detected in the following NFI pointings and exhibits a decline of a factor of two in six months. If it is associated with SN 1998bw, this is the first detection of hard X-ray emission from a Type I supernova. The latter source exhibits only marginally significant variability. Based on these data, it is not possible to select either source as a firm candidate for the GRB counterpart.

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The broad band spectral properties of galactic X-ray binary pulsars

BeppoSAX observed several galactic binary X-ray pulsars during the Science Verification Phase and in the first year of the regular program. The complex emission spectra of these sources are an ideal target for the BeppoSAX instrumentation, that can measure the emission spectra in an unprecedented broad energy band. Using this capability of BeppoSAX a detailed observational work can be done on the galactic X-ray pulsars. In particular the 0.1-200 keV energy band allows the shape of the continuum emission to be tightly constrained. A better determination of the underlying continuum allows an easier detection of features superimposed onto it, both at low energy (Fe K and L, Ne lines) and at high energies (cyclotron features). We report on the spectral properties of a sample of X-ray pulsars observed with BeppoSAX comparing the obtained results. Some ideas of common properties are also discussed and compared with our present understanding of the emission mechanisms and processes.

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