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A. Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to A. Weiss.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Constraints on the High-l Power Spectrum of Millimeter-wave Anisotropies from APEX-SZ

We present measurements of the angular power spectrum of millimeter wave anisotropies with the APEX-SZ instrument. APEX-SZ has mapped 0.8 square degrees of sky at a frequency of 150 GHz with an angular resolution of 1'. These new measurements significantly improve the constraints on anisotropy power at 150 GHz over the range of angular multipoles 3000 < l < 10,000, limiting the total astronomical signal in a flat band power to be less than 105 microK^2 at 95% CL. We expect both submillimeter-bright, dusty galaxies and to a lesser extent secondary CMB anisotropies from the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) to significantly contribute to the observed power. Subtracting the SZE power spectrum expected for sigma_8=0.8 and masking bright sources, the best fit value for the remaining power is C_l = 1.1^{+0.9}_{-0.8} x 10^{-5} micro K^2 (1.7^{+1.4}_{-1.3} Jy^2 sr^{-1}). This agrees well with model predictions for power due to submillimeter-bright, dusty galaxies. Comparing this power to the power detected by BLAST at 600 GHz, we find the frequency dependence of the source fluxes to be S_nu ~ nu^{2.6^{+0.4}_{-0.2}} if both experiments measure the same population of sources. Simultaneously fitting for the amplitude of the SZE power spectrum and a Poisson distributed point source population, we place an upper limit on the matter fluctuation amplitude of sigma_8 < 1.18 at 95% confidence.

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Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect Observations of the Bullet Cluster (1E 0657-56) with APEX-SZ

We present observations of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) in the Bullet cluster (1E 0657--56) using the APEX-SZ instrument at 150 GHz with a resolution of 1 arcmin. The main results are maps of the SZE in this massive, merging galaxy cluster. The cluster is detected with 23 sigma significance within the central 1 arcmin radius of the source position. The SZE map has a broadly similar morphology to that in existing X-ray maps of this system, and we find no evidence for significant contamination of the SZE emission by radio or IR sources. In order to make simple quantitative comparisons with cluster gas models derived from X-ray observations, we fit our data to an isothermal elliptical beta model, despite the inadequacy of such a model for this complex merging system. With an X-ray derived prior on the power-law index, beta = 1.04 +0.16 -0.10, we find a core radius r_c =142 +/- 18 arcsec, an axial ratio of 0.889 +/- 0.072, and a central temperature decrement of -771 +/- 71 micro-K_CMB, including a +/-5.5% flux calibration uncertainty. Combining the APEX-SZ map with a map of projected electron surface density from Chandra X-ray observations, we determine the mass-weighted temperature of the cluster gas to be T_mg=10.8 +/- 0.9 keV, significantly lower than some previously reported X-ray spectroscopic temperatures. Under the assumption of an isothermal cluster gas distribution in hydrostatic equilibrium, we compute the gas mass fraction for prolate and oblate spheroidal geometries and find it to be consistent with previous results from X-ray and weak lensing observations. This work is the first result from the APEX-SZ experiment, and represents the first reported scientific result from observations with a large array of multiplexed superconducting transition-edge sensor bolometers.

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HERACLES: The HERA CO-Line Extragalactic Survey

We present the HERA CO-Line Extragalactic Survey (HERACLES), an atlas of CO emission from 18 nearby galaxies that are also part of The HI Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS) and the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS). We used the HERA multi-pixel receiver on the IRAM 30-m telescope to map the CO J=2-1 line over the full optical disk (defined by the isophotal radius r_25) of each target, at 13" angular resolution and 2.6 km/s velocity resolution. Here we describe the observations and reduction of the data and show channel maps, azimuthally averaged profiles, integrated intensity maps, and peak intensity maps. The implied H2 masses range from 7 \times 10^6 to 6 \times 10^9 M_sun, with four low metallicity dwarf irregular galaxies yielding only upper limits. In the cases where CO is detected, the integrated H2-to-HI ratios range from 0.02 - 1.13 and H2-to-stellar mass ratios from 0.01 to 0.25. Exponential scale lengths of the CO emission for our targets are in the range 0.8 - 3.2 kpc, or 0.2 \pm 0.05 r_25. The intensity-weighted mean velocity of CO matches that of HI very well, with a 1σscatter of only 6 km/s. The CO J=2-1 / J=1-0 line ratio varies over a range similar to that found in the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies, \sim 0.6 - 1.0, with higher values found in the centers of galaxies. The typical line ratio, \sim 0.8, could be produced by optically thick gas with an excitation temperature of \sim 10 K.

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ATLASGAL - The APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy at 870 microns

(Abridged) Studying continuum emission from interstellar dust is essential to locating and characterizing the highest density regions in the interstellar medium. In particular, the early stages of massive star formation remain poorly understood. Our goal is to produce a large-scale, systematic database of massive pre- and proto-stellar clumps in the Galaxy, to understand how and under what conditions star formation takes place. A well characterized sample of star-forming sites will deliver an evolutionary sequence and a mass function of high-mass, star-forming clumps. This systematic survey at submm wavelengths also represents a preparatory work for Herschel and ALMA. The APEX telescope is ideally located to observe the inner Milky Way. The Large APEX Bolometer Camera (LABOCA) is a 295-element bolometer array observing at 870 microns, with a beam size of 19". Taking advantage of its large field of view (11.4') and excellent sensitivity, we started an unbiased survey of the Galactic Plane, with a noise level of 50-70 mJy/beam: the APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy (ATLASGAL). As a first step, we covered 95 sq. deg. These data reveal 6000 compact sources brighter than 0.25 Jy, as well as extended structures, many of them filamentary. About two thirds of the compact sources have no bright infrared counterpart, and some of them are likely to correspond to the precursors of (high-mass) proto-stars or proto-clusters. Other compact sources harbor hot cores, compact HII regions or young embedded clusters. Assuming a typical distance of 5 kpc, most sources are clumps smaller than 1 pc with masses from a few 10 to a few 100 M_sun. In this introductory paper, we show preliminary results from these ongoing observations, and discuss the perspectives of the survey.

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Hydrodynamic simulations of the core helium flash

We describe and discuss hydrodynamic simulations of the core helium flash using an initial model of a 1.25 M_sol star with a metallicity of 0.02 near at its peak. Past research concerned with the dynamics of the core helium flash is inconclusive. Its results range from a confirmation of the standard picture, where the star remains in hydrostatic equilibrium during the flash (Deupree 1996), to a disruption or a significant mass loss of the star (Edwards 1969; Cole & Deupree 1980). However, the most recent multidimensional hydrodynamic study (Dearborn 2006) suggests a quiescent behavior of the core helium flash and seems to rule out an explosive scenario. Here we present partial results of a new comprehensive study of the core helium flash, which seem to confirm this qualitative behavior and give a better insight into operation of the convection zone powered by helium burning during the flash. The hydrodynamic evolution is followed on a computational grid in spherical coordinates using our new version of the multi-dimensional hydrodynamic code HERAKLES, which is based on a direct Eulerian implementation of the piecewise parabolic method.

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A LABOCA survey of the Extended Chandra Deep Field South - submillimeter properties of near-IR selected galaxies

Using the 330hr ESO-MPG 870-micron survey of the Extended Chandra Deep Field South (ECDF-S) obtained with the Large Apex BOlometer CAmera (LABOCA) on the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX), we have carried out a stacking analysis at submillimeter (submm) wavelengths of a sample of 8266 near-infra-red (near-IR) selected (K_vega <= 20) galaxies, including 893 BzK galaxies, 1253 extremely red objects (EROs) and 737 distant red galaxies (DRGs), selected from the Multi-wavelength Survey by Yale-Chile (MUSYC). We measure average 870-micron fluxes of 0.20+-0.01mJy (20.0sigma), 0.45+-0.04mJy (11.3sigma), 0.42+-0.03mJy (14.0sigma), and 0.41+-0.04mJy (10.3sigma) for the K_vega <= 20, BzK, ERO and DRG samples, respectively. For the BzK, ERO and DRG subsamples, which overlap to some degree and are like to be at z ~ 1-2, this implies an average far-IR luminosity of ~2-6x10^{11} Lsolar and star formation rate of ~40-100Msolar. Splitting the BzK galaxies up into star-forming (sBzK) and passive (pBzK) galaxies, the former is significantly detected (0.48+-0.04mJy, 12.0sigma) while the latter is only marginally detected (0.27+-0.10mJy, 2.7sigma), thus confirming that the sBzK/pBzK criteria do isolate obscured, star forming and truly passive galaxies. The K_vega <= 20 galaxies are found to contribute with 6.6+-0.3Jy deg^{-2} (~15%) to the 870-micron extragalactic background light (EBL). sBzK and pBzK galaxies contribute 1.7+-0.2Jy deg^{-2} (~4%) and 0.2+-0.1 Jy deg^{-2} (< 0.5%) to the EBL. [Abridged]

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The Large APEX Bolometer Camera LABOCA

The Large APEX Bolometer Camera, LABOCA, has been commissioned for operation as a new facility instrument t the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment 12m submillimeter telescope. This new 295-bolometer total power camera, operating in the 870 micron atmospheric window, combined with the high efficiency of APEX and the excellent atmospheric transmission at the site, offers unprecedented capability in mapping submillimeter continuum emission for a wide range of astronomical purposes.

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A Kiloparsec-Scale Hyper-Starburst in a Quasar Host Less than 1 Gigayear after the Big Bang

The host galaxy of the quasar SDSS J114816.64+525150.3 (at redshift z=6.42, when the Universe was <1 billion years old) has an infrared luminosity of 2.2x10^13 L_sun, presumably significantly powered by a massive burst of star formation. In local examples of extremely luminous galaxies such as Arp220, the burst of star formation is concentrated in the relatively small central region of <100pc radius. It is unknown on which scales stars are forming in active galaxies in the early Universe, which are likely undergoing their initial burst of star formation. We do know that at some early point structures comparable to the spheroidal bulge of the Milky Way must have formed. Here we report a spatially resolved image of [CII] emission of the host galaxy of J114816.64+525150.3 that demonstrates that its star forming gas is distributed over a radius of ~750pc around the centre. The surface density of the star formation rate averaged over this region is ~1000 M_sun/yr/kpc^2. This surface density is comparable to the peak in Arp220, though ~2 orders of magnitudes larger in area. This vigorous star forming event will likely give rise to a massive spheroidal component in this system.

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Why did Comet 17P/Holmes burst out?

Based on millimeter-wavelength continuum observations we suggest that the recent 'spectacle' of comet 17P/Holmes can be explained by a thick, air-tight dust cover and the effects of H2O sublimation, which started when the comet arrived at the heliocentric distance <= 2.5 AU. The porous structure inside the nucleus provided enough surface for additional sublimation, which eventually led to the break up of the dust cover and to the observed outburst. The magnitude of the particle burst can be explained by the energy provided by insolation, stored in the dust cover and the nucleus within the months before the outburst: the subliming surface within the nucleus is more than one order of magnitude larger than the geometric surface of the nucleus -- possibly an indication of the latter's porous structure. Another surprise is that the abundance ratios of several molecular species with respect to H2O are variable. During this apparition, comet Holmes lost about 3% of its mass, corresponding to a 'dirty ice' layer of 20m.

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A Sensitive Search For [NII] Emission in a z=6.4 Quasar Host Galaxy

We present a sensitive search for the ^3P_1->^3P_0 ground state fine structure line at 205 microns of ionized nitrogen ([NII]) in one of the highest redshift quasars (J1148+5251 at z=6.42) using the IRAM 30m telescope. The line is not detected at a (3 sigma) depth of 0.47 Jy km s^-1, corresponding to a [NII] luminosity limit of L_[NII] < 4.0x10^8 L_sun and a L_[NII]/L$_FIR ratio of <2x10^-5. In parallel, we have observed the CO(J=6-5) line in J1148+5251, which is detected at a flux level consistent with earlier interferometric observations. Using our earlier measurements of the [CII] 158 micron line strength, we derive an upper limit for the [NII]/[CII] line luminosity ratio of ~1/10 in J1148+5251. Our upper limit for the [CII]/[NII] ratio is similar to the value found for our Galaxy and M82 (the only extragalactic system where the [NII] line has been detected to date). Given the non-detection of the [NII] line we can only speculate whether or not high-z detections are within reach of currently operating observatories. However, [NII] and other fine strucure lines will play a critical role in characterizing the interstellar medium at the highest redshifts (z>7) using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), for which the highly excited rotational transitions of CO will be shifted outside the accessible (sub-)millimeter bands.

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The core helium flash revisited: II. Two and three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations

We study turbulent convection during the core helium flash close to its peak by comparing the results of two and three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations. We use a multidimensional Eulerian hydrodynamics code based on state-of-the-art numerical techniques to simulate the evolution of the helium core of a $1.25 M_{\odot}$ Pop I star. Our three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of the evolution of a star during the peak of the core helium flash do not show any explosive behavior. The convective flow patterns developing in the three-dimensional models are structurally different from those of the corresponding two-dimensional models, and the typical convective velocities are smaller than those found in their two-dimensional counterparts. Three-dimensional models also tend to agree better with the predictions of mixing length theory. Our hydrodynamic simulations show the presence of turbulent entrainment that results in a growth of the convection zone on a dynamic time scale. Contrary to mixing length theory, the outer part of the convection zone is characterized by a sub-adiabatic temperature gradient.

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Simultaneous NIR/sub-mm observation of flare emission from SgrA*

We report on a successful, simultaneous observation and modeling of the sub-millimeter to near-infrared flare emission of the Sgr A* counterpart associated with the super-massive black hole at the Galactic center. Our modeling is based on simultaneous observations that have been carried out on 03 June, 2008 using the NACO adaptive optics (AO) instrument at the ESO VLT and the LABOCA bolometer at the APEX telescope. Inspection and modeling of the light curves show that the sub-mm follows the NIR emission with a delay of 1.5+/-0.5 hours. We explain the flare emission delay by an adiabatic expansion of the source components.

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Modeling He-rich subdwarfs through the hot-flasher Scenario

We present 1D numerical simulations aimed at studying the hot-flasher scenario for the formation of He-rich subdwarf stars. Sequences were calculated for a wide range of metallicities and physical assumptions, such as the stellar mass at the moment of the helium core flash. This allows us to study the two previously proposed flavors of the hot-flasher scenario ("deep" and "shallow" mixing cases) and to identify a third transition type. Our sequences are calculated by solving simultaneously the mixing and burning equations within a diffusive convection picture, and in the context of standard mixing length theory. We are able to follow chemical evolution during deep-mixing events in which hydrogen is burned violently, and therefore able to present a homogeneous set of abundances for different metallicities and varieties of hot-flashers. We extend the scope of our work by analyzing the effects of non-standard assumptions, such as the effect of chemical gradients, extra-mixing at convective boundaries, possible reduction in convective velocities, or the interplay between difussion and mass loss. Particular emphasis is placed on the predicted surface properties of the models. We find that the hot-flasher scenario is a viable explanation for the formation and surface properties of He-sdO stars. Our results also show that, during the early He-core burning stage, element diffusion may produce the transformation of (post hot-flasher) He-rich atmospheres into He-deficient ones. If this is so, then we find that He-sdO stars should be the progenitors of some of the hottest sdB stars.

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Modeling He-rich subdwarfs through the hot-flasher scenario (brief version)

We present 1D numerical simulations aimed at studying the hot-flasher scenario for the formation of He-rich subdwarf stars. Sequences were calculated for a wide range of metallicities and with the He core flash at different points of the post-RGB evolution (i.e. different remnant masses). We followed the complete evolution from the ZAMS, through the hot-flasher event, and to the subdwarf stage for all kinds of hot-flashers. This allows us to present a homogeneous set of abundances for different metallicities and all flavors of hot-flashers. We extend the scope of our work by analyzing the effects in the predicted surface abundances of some standard assumptions in convective mixing and the effects of element diffusion. We find that the hot-flasher scenario is a viable explanation for the formation of He-sdO stars. Our results also show that element diffusion may produce the transformation of (post hot-flasher) He-rich atmospheres into He-deficient ones. If this is so, then the hot-flasher scenario is able to reproduce both the observed properties and distribution of He-sdO stars.

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The CO line SED and atomic carbon in IRAS F10214+4724

Using the IRAM 30m telescope and the Plateau de Bure interferometer we have detected the \ctwo and the CO 3$-$2, 4$-$3, 6$-$5, 7$-$6 transitions as well as the dust continuum at 3 and 1.2 mm towards the distant luminous infrared galaxy IRAS F10214+4724 at $z=2.286$. The \ctwo line is detected for the first time towards this source and IRAS F10214+4724 now belongs to a sample of only 3 extragalactic sources at any redshift where both of the carbon fine structure lines have been detected. The source is spatially resolved by our \ctwo\ observation and we detect a velocity gradient along the east-west direction. The CI line ratio allows us to derive a carbon excitation temperature of 42$^{+12}_{-9}$ K. The carbon excitation in conjunction with the CO ladder and the dust continuum constrain the gas density to $n(\hh)$ = $10^{3.6-4.0}$ cm$^{-3}$ and the kinetic temperature to $T\rm_{kin}$ = 45--80 K, similar to the excitation conditions found in nearby starburst galaxies. The rest-frame 360 $μ$m dust continuum morphology is more compact than the line emitting region, which supports previous findings that the far infrared luminosity arises from regions closer to the active galactic nucleus at the center of this system.

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LABOCA observations of nearby, active galaxies

We present large scale 870 micron maps of the nearby starburst galaxies NGC253, NGC4945 and the nearest giant elliptical radio galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) obtained with the newly commissioned Large Apex Bolometer Camera (LABOCA) operated at the APEX telescope. Our continuum images reveal for the first time the distribution of cold dust at a angular resolution of 20" across the entire optical disks of NGC253 and NGC4945 out to a radial distance of 10' (7.5 kpc). In NGC5128 our LABOCA image also shows, for the first time at submillimeter wavelengths, the synchrotron emission associated with the radio jet and the inner radio lobes. From an analysis of the 870 micron emission in conjunction with ISO-LWS, IRAS and long wavelengths radio data we find temperatures for the cold dust in the disks of all three galaxies of 17-20 K, comparable to the dust temperatures in the disk of the Milky Way. The total gas mass in the three galaxies is determined to be 2.1, 4.2 and 2.8 x 10^9 solar masses for NGC253, NGC4945 and NGC5128, respectively. A detailed comparison between the gas masses derived from the dust continuum and the integrated CO(1-0) intensity in NGC253 suggests that changes of the CO luminosity to molecular mass conversion factor are mainly driven by a metallicity gradient and only to a lesser degree by variations of the CO excitation. An analysis of the synchrotron spectrum in the northern radio lobe of NGC5128 shows that the synchrotron emission from radio to the ultraviolet wavelengths is well described by a broken power law and that the break frequency is a function of the distance from the radio core as expected for aging electrons. We derive an outflow speed of ~0.5c at a distance of 2.6kpc from the center, consistent with the speed derived in the vicinity of the nucleus.

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The impact of type Ia supernovae on main sequence binary companions

The nature of Type Ia supernova progenitors is still unclear. The outstanding characteristic of the single-degenerate scenario is that it contains hydrogen in the binary companion of the exploding white dwarf star, which, if mixed into the ejecta of the supernova in large amounts may lead to conflicts with the observations thus ruling out the scenario. We investigate the effect of the impact of Type Ia supernova ejecta on a main sequence companion star of the progenitor system. With a series of simulations we investigate how different parameters of this system affect the amount of hydrogen stripped from the companion by the impact. The stellar evolution code GARSTEC is used to set up the structure of the companion stars mimicking the effect of a binary evolution phase. The impact itself is simulated with the smoothed particle hydrodynamics code GADGET2. We reproduce and confirm the results of earlier grid-based hydrodynamical simulation. Parameter studies of the progenitor system are extended to include the results of recent binary evolution studies. The more compact structure of the companion star found here significantly reduces the stripped hydrogen mass. The low hydrogen masses resulting from a more realistic companion structure are consistent with current observational constraints. Therefore, the single-degenerate scenario remains a valid possibility for Type Ia supernova progenitors. These new results are not a numerical effect, but the outcome of different initial conditions.

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Stellar Evolution and Variability in the Pre-ZAHB Phase

One of the most dramatic events in the life of a low-mass star is the He flash, which takes place at the tip of the RGB and is followed by a series of secondary flashes before the star settles on the zero-age HB (ZAHB). Yet, no stars have ever been positively identified in this key phase in the life of a low-mass star (hereafter the "pre-ZAHB" phase). We investigate the possibility that some pre-ZAHB stars may cross the instability strip (IS), thus becoming variable. In particular, it has been suggested that some RR Lyrae stars (RRL) with high period change rates (P-dot) may in fact be pre-ZAHB stars. We present the first theoretical effort devoted to interpreting some of the high-P-dot stars as pre-ZAHB pulsators. We constructed a grid of evolutionary tracks using the Garching Stellar Evolution Code for a chemical composition appropriate to the case of the globular cluster M3, where a number of stars with high P-dot values are found. We follow each star's pre-ZAHB evolution in detail, compute periods and P-dot values for the stars lying inside the IS, and produce pre-ZAHB Monte Carlo simulations for the case of M3. Our results indicate that one should expect of order 1 pre-ZAHB star for every 60 or so bona-fide HB stars in M3. Among the pre-ZAHB stars, ~22% are expected to fall within the IS boundaries, presenting RRL-like pulsations. On average, the pre-ZAHB pulsators are expected to have longer periods than the bona-fide HB pulsators, and 76% of them are predicted to show negative P-dot values. The most likely P-dot value for the pre-ZAHB variables is ~-0.3 d/Myr, but more extreme P-dot values are also possible: 38% of the variables are predicted to have P-dot < -0.8 d/Myr. It appears likely, therefore, that some RRL stars in M3 with high (absolute) P-dot values are pre-ZAHB pulsators in disguise. (abridged)

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