arXiv subjects

Andrea Santangelo

Publications and source records attributed to Andrea Santangelo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

The Wide Field Monitor (WFM) of the China-Europe eXTP (enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry) mission

The eXTP mission is a major project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), with a large involvement of Europe. Its scientific payload includes four instruments: SFA, PFA, LAD and WFM. They offer an unprecedented simultaneous wide-band Xray timing and polarimetry sensitivity. A large European consortium is contributing to the eXTP study, both for the science and the instrumentation. Europe is expected to provide two of the four instruments: LAD and WFM; the LAD is led by Italy and the WFM by Spain. The WFM for eXTP is based on the design originally proposed for the LOFT ESA M3 mission, that underwent a Phase A feasibility study. It will be a wide field of view X-ray monitor instrument working in the 2-50 keV energy range, achieved with large-area Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs), similar to the ones used for the LAD but with better spatial resolution. The WFM will consist of 3 pairs of coded mask cameras with a total combined field of view (FoV) of 90x180 degrees at zero response and a source localisation accuracy of ~1 arc min. The main goal of the WFM is to provide triggers for the target of opportunity observations of the SFA, PFA and LAD, in order to perform the core science programme, dedicated to the study of matter under extreme conditions of density, gravity and magnetism. In addition, the unprecedented combination of large field of view and imaging capability, down to 2 keV, of the WFM will allow eXTP to make important discoveries of the variable and transient X-ray sky, and provide X-ray coverage of a broad range of astrophysical objects covered under 'observatory science', such as gamma-ray bursts, fast radio bursts, gravitational wave electromagnetic counterparts. In this paper we provide an overview of the WFM instrument, explaining its design, configuration, and anticipated performance.

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arXiv2024

Searching for orbital period modulation in X-ray observations of the symbiotic X-ray binary GX 1+4

The symbiotic X-ray binary GX 1+4 possesses a number of peculiar properties that have been studied since the early 1970s. In particular, the orbital period has been a point of debate for many years, until radial velocity measurements were able to settle the debate. These radial velocity findings have so far not been confirmed using X-ray data, even though multiple factors would cause a periodic variation on the same timescale as the orbital period at these energies. Because the orbit of GX 1+4 is eccentric and not seen face-on, changes in the accretion rate and column density along the line of sight could cause a periodic variation in the spin-frequency measurements, X-ray light curves, and hardness ratios of the source. Furthermore, for a high inclination of the orbital plane, the neutron star could be eclipsed by the companion, which would lead to periodic decreases in brightness. We used data from a number of different X-ray telescopes to search directly for periodicity by applying the Lomb-Scargle and epoch-folding approaches to long-term light-curve and spin-frequency measurement data of the source. We support our findings using folded light curves, hardness ratios, and images. We find that our results agree with the radial velocity findings, and we form a self-consistent model that is supported by folded hardness-ratios and light curves. We find that the source is clearly detected in X-rays during the predicted eclipse. Motivated by this absence of an eclipse in the system, we constrain the inclination of the system to $\sim 76^\circ-84^\circ$ and the mass of the neutron star in the system to $\sim1.23M_\odot - 1.45M_\odot$ using the constraints on the red giant mass and surface gravity provided in the literature. Furthermore, we constrain the radius of the red giant to $\sim 60R_\odot - 150R_\odot$.

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arXiv2024

Multiwavelength study of 1eRASS J085039.9-421151 with eROSITA NuSTAR and X-shooter

The eROSITA instrument on board Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma has completed four scans of the X-ray sky, leading to the detection of almost one million X-ray sources in eRASS1 only, including multiple new X-ray binary candidates. We report on analysis of the X-ray binary 1eRASS J085039.9-421151, using a ~55\,ks long NuSTAR observation, following its detection in each eROSITA scan. Analysis of the eROSITA and NuSTAR X-ray spectra in combination with X-shooter data of the optical counterpart provide evidence of an X-ray binary with a red supergiant (RSG) companion, confirming previous results, although we determine a cooler spectral type of M2-3, owing to the presence of TiO bands in the optical and near infrared spectra. The X-ray spectrum is well-described by an absorbed power law with a high energy cutoff typically applied for accreting high mass X-ray binaries. In addition, we detect a strong fluorescent neutral iron line with an equivalent width of ~700\,eV and an absorption edge, the latter indicating strong absorption by a partial covering component. It is unclear if the partial absorber is ionised. There is no significant evidence of a cyclotron resonant scattering feature. We do not detect any pulsations in the NuSTAR lightcurves, possibly on account of a large spin period that goes undetected due to insufficient statistics at low frequencies or potentially large absorption that causes pulsations to be smeared out. Even so, the low persistent luminosity, the spectral parameters observed (photon index, $Γ<1.0$), and the minuscule likelihood of detection of RSG-black hole systems, suggest that the compact object is a neutron star.

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arXiv2024

Temporal and spectral variations of the X-ray pulsar Cen X-3 observed by NuSTAR

We report a time-resolved analysis of the accreting X-ray pulsar Cen X-3 using observations carried out by NuSTAR, which cover approximately two binary orbits in different intensity states. The pulse profile is relatively stable over the orbital phase and shows energy dependence. It has an obvious double-peaked shape in the energy band below 15 keV -- with the second pulse peak decreasing as energy increases -- and is gradually dominated by a single peak in higher energy bands. We find that the pulse profile in the energy band of 3-5 keV at high-intensity states shows a subtle triple-peaked shape, with the main peak divided into two subpeaks. We also find a positive correlation between the pulse fraction and both energy and flux. Our spectral analysis reveals that the spectra can be well described by the continuum of Fermi-Dirac cutoff and NPEX models, and the cyclotron line is detected with the centroid energies varying from 26 keV to 29 keV, along with the iron emission line around 6.4 keV. We investigated the dependence between the cyclotron resonant scattering feature (CRSF) centroid energy and luminosity and discuss the theoretical critical luminosity. Although the variation of $E_{\rm cyc}- L_X$ is not distinct, there is a possibility that the critical luminosity lies within the range of $\sim (0.5-4)\times 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$ in the band of $4-78$ keV. The photon index shows a strong positive correlation with luminosity. Our orbital-phase analysis reveals that the spectral parameters show orbital variability, and the highly variable photoelectric absorption may indicate the existence of clumpy stellar winds.

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arXiv2024

The STROBE-X Wide Field Monitor Instrument

The Wide Field Monitor (WFM) is one of the three instruments on the Spectroscopic Time-Resolving Observatory for Broadband Energy X-rays (STROBE-X) mission, which was proposed in response to the NASA 2023 call for a probe class mission. The WFM is a coded-mask camera system that would be the most scientifically capable wide-angle monitor ever flown. The field of view covers one third of the sky, to 50 percent mask coding, and the energy sensitivity is 2 to 50 keV. The WFM is designed to identify new X-ray transients and to capture spectral and timing changes in known sources with data of unprecedented quality. Science applications cover diverse classes, in including X-ray bursts that coincide with gravitational wave detections, gamma ray bursts and their transition from prompt emission to afterglow, subluminous GRBs that may signal shock breakout in supernovae, state transitions in accreting compact objects and their jets, bright flares in fast X-ray transients, accretion onset in transitional pulsars, and coronal flares from many types of active stars.

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arXiv2024

STROBE-X Mission Overview

We give an overview of the science objectives and mission design of the Spectroscopic Time-Resolving Observatory for Broadband Energy X-rays (STROBE-X) observatory, which has been proposed as a NASA probe-class (~$1.5B) mission in response to the Astro2020 recommendation for an X-ray probe.

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arXiv2024

STROBE-X High Energy Modular Array (HEMA)

The High Energy Modular Array (HEMA) is one of three instruments that compose the STROBE-X mission concept. The HEMA is a large-area, high-throughput non-imaging pointed instrument based on the Large Area Detector developed as part of the LOFT mission concept. It is designed for spectral timing measurements of a broad range of sources and provides a transformative increase in sensitivity to X-rays in the energy range of 2--30 keV compared to previous instruments, with an effective area of 3.4 m$^{2}$ at 8.5 keV and an energy resolution of better than 300 eV at 6 keV in its nominal field of regard.

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arXiv2024

Search of extended emission from HESS J1702-420 with eROSITA

HESS J1702-420 is a peculiar TeV complex with a morphology changing from a diffuse (HESS J1702-420B source) at $\lesssim 2$ TeV to point-like (HESS J1702-420A) at $\gtrsim 10$ TeV energies. The morphology and the spectral properties of HESS J1702-420 could be understood in terms of a (diffusive) hadronic or leptonic models in which the observed TeV emission arises correpondingly from proton-proton or IC-radiation of relativistic particles present in the region. In this work we perform searches of the X-ray counterpart of HESS J1702-420B source originated from the synchrotron emission of the primary or secondary relativistic electrons produced within leptonic or hadronic models. Such an emission can be extended and remain beyond the detection capabilities of a narrow-FoV instruments such as XMM-Newton. We utilise the publicly available first 6-months eROSITA dataset (DR1) fully covering selected for the analysis region of $> 5^\circ$-radius around HESS J1702-420. We discuss biases connected to variable plasma temperature/neutral hydrogen column density in the region and present results based on background modelling approach. The performed analysis does not allow us to detect the extended X-ray counterpart of HESS J1702-420 of $0.07^\circ - 3^\circ$-radii sizes. The derived upper limits are significantly higher than the expected hadronic model flux of the X-ray counterpart. For the leptonic model the derived limits indicate the magnetic field in the region $B\lesssim 2μ$G. We argue, that the further advances in the diffuse X-ray counterpart searches could be achieved either with next generation missions or Msec-long observational campaigns with currently operating instruments.

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arXiv2024

Revisiting the dead time effects of Insight-HXMT/ME on timing analysis

Dead time is a common instrumental effect of X-ray detectors which would alter the behavior of timing properties of astronomical signals, such as distorting the shape of power density spectra (PDS), affecting the root-mean-square of potential quasi-periodic oscillation signals, etc. We revisit the effects of the dead time of Medium Energy X-ray telescope (ME) onboard Insight-HXMT, based on the simulation of electronic read-out mechanism that causes the dead time, and the real data. We investigate dead time effects on the pulse profile as well as the Quasi-Periodic Oscillation (QPO) signals. The dead time coefficient suggests a linear correlation with the observed count rate in each phase bin of the pulse profile according to the simulation of periodic signal as well as the real data observed on Swift J0243.6+6124. The Fourier-amplitude-difference (FAD) method could well recover the intrinsic shape of the observed PDS in the case that the PDS is from two identical detectors. We apply this technique on ME, by splitting the 9 FPGA modules into 2 groups. The results indicate that the FAD technique suits the case when two groups of detectors are not largely different; and the recovered PDS of Sco X-1 observed by ME slightly enhances the significance of the previously known QPO signal, meanwhile the root-mean-square of QPO is significantly improved. We provide the FAD correction tool implemented in HXMTDAS for users in the future to better analyze QPO signals.

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arXiv2024

Pulse frequency variations and timing noise of MXB 0656-072 during the 2007-2008 type I outbursts and implications for its magnetic field

We aim to explore the properties of the Be/X-ray binary system MXB 0656-072 from a timing analysis perspective through an investigation of the RXTE/PCA and Fermi/GBM data during its 2007-2008 type I outbursts. We applied two new techniques, for the first time, along with the conventional Deeter method to produce higher-resolution power density spectra (PDS) of the torque fluctuations. We also investigated the spin frequency evolution of the source by utilising a pulse timing technique. The PDSs show a red noise pattern, with a steepness of $Γ\sim -2$ and a saturation timescale of $\sim$150 d, indicating that MXB 0656-072 is a disc-fed source. With the obtained long term spin frequency evolution, we reveal the torque-luminosity correlation of MXB 0656-072 for the first time. We also demonstrate that the frequency evolution is largely consistent with the Ghosh-Lamb model. In the RXTE/PCA observations, the pulsed emission disappears below $\sim$5$\times 10^{35}$ erg s$^{-1}$, while the profiles remain stable above this value in our analysis time frame. We show that the magnetic field strength deduced from the torque model is compatible with the field strength of the pulsar derived from the cyclotron resonance scattering feature. Utilising the new distance of MXB 0656-072 measured by Gaia, we show that the spectral transition of MXB 0656-072 occurs at a luminosity that matches the expected theoretical transition from the subcritical to supercritical accretion regime.

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arXiv2024

Study of X-ray emission from the S147 nebula with SRG/eROSITA: X-ray imaging, spectral characterization, and a multiwavelength picture

Simeis 147 (S147, G180.0-01.7, "Spaghetti nebula") is a supernova remnant (SNR) extensively studied across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to giga-electronvolt $γ$-rays, except in X-rays. Here, we report the first detection of significant X-ray emission from the entire SNR using data of the extended ROentgen Survey Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA) onboard the Russian-German Spektrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG). The object is located at the Galactic anticenter, and its 3 deg size classifies it among the largest SNRs ever detected in X-rays. By employing $\sim$15 years of Fermi-LAT data, our study confirms the association of the remnant with a spatially coincident diffuse giga-electronvolt excess, namely 4FGL J0540.3+2756e or FGES J0537.6+2751. The X-ray emission is purely thermal, exhibiting strong O, Ne, and Mg lines; whereas it lacks heavier-Z elements. The emission is mainly confined to the 0.5-1.0 keV band; no significant emission is detected above 2.0 keV. Both a collisional plasma model in equilibrium and a model of nonequilibrium collisional plasma can fit the total spectrum. While the equilibrium model -- though statistically disfavored -- cannot be excluded by X-ray fitting, only the absorption column of the nonequilibrium model is consistent with expectations derived from optical extinction data. Adopting an expansion in a homogeneous medium of typical interstellar medium (ISM) density, the general SNR properties are broadly consistent with an expansion model that yields an estimated age of $\sim0.66-2\times10^{5}$ yr, that is a rather old age. The preference for an X-ray-emitting plasma in nonequilibrium, however, adds to the observational evidence that favors a substantially younger age. In a companion paper, we explore an SNR-in-cavity scenario, resulting in a much younger age that alleviates some of the inconsistencies of the old-age scenario.

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arXiv2024

A look at the high energy aspects of the supernova remnant G309.8+00.0 with eROSITA and Fermi-LAT

Supernova remnant (SNR) detection along the Galactic plane poses a number of challenges. The SNR G309.8+00.0 lies exactly on the Galactic plane, with its center coinciding with galactic latitude (b)=0 deg. In this paper we report the first detection of the SNR G309.8+00.0 in X-rays and $γ$ rays, using stacked data from the first four consecutive extended ROentgen Survey Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA) -- on board the Russian-German Spektrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG) -- all-sky surveys (eRASS:4) and $\sim15.5$ yr of Pass 8 data recorded from Fermi-LAT, respectively. The SNR appears to have an elliptical shape of 0.43 x 0.32 deg in size in both radio synchrotron and X-ray data. The SNR's emission exhibits a shell-like morphology and good spatial correlation in both energy bands. The X-ray emission was solely detected in the 1-2 keV energy band (subject to strong absorption at soft X-rays) and the spectral analysis results of eRASS:4 data present a purely thermal SNR with a high absorption column density $3.1_{-0.5}^{+0.7}\cdot10^{22}~\mathrm{cm^{-2}}$ and a temperature of $0.34\pm0.1$ keV. In combination with optical extinction data, the absorption column density values derived from the remnant's spectral analysis support a remnant's distance greater than 6 kpc, rather than a 3.12 kpc distance as reported in the literature, and yield an age of $1-3.5\cdot10^5$ yr. Employing $\sim15.5$ yr of Fermi-LAT $γ$-ray data at and around the remnant's vicinity, we confirm the detection of the to-date unidentified 4FGL J1349.5-6206c source that can either be modeled as a single source or a conglomerate of multiple distinct source components and we argue that the SNR G309.8+00.0 likely represents at least a significant portion (if not all) of the emission from the 4FGL J1349.5-6206c $γ$-ray source.

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arXiv2024

Quality assurance of actuators for the Medium-Sized Telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a future ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy providing unparalleled sensitivity in the energy range from 20 GeV up to 300 TeV. CTA will consist of telescopes with three different sizes. The Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs) will have 12 m reflectors with a tessellated mirror design of 86 mirror facets each. Each mirror facet is mounted on the mirror support structure with two actuators that are adjustable in length to align the mirrors, and a freely rotating fixpoint. Image resolution and pointing accuracy constraints impose limits on the backlash and deformation of the actuators and the fixpoint under various weight and wind loads. In this contribution, the test stand to measure the backlash and deformation behaviour of actuators and fixpoints is described and the measurement procedure is explained.

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arXiv2024

Discovery of the first anti-glitch event in the rotation-powered pulsar PSR B0540-69

Using data from the Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) observatory, we identified a permanent spin frequency decrease of $Δν=-(1.04\pm0.07)\times 10^{-7}\,\mathrm{Hz}$ around MJD 60132 in the rotation-powered pulsar PSR B0540-69, which exhibits a periodic signal at a frequency of $ν\sim 19.6\,\mathrm{Hz}$. This points to an anti-glitch event, a sudden decrease of the pulsar's rotational frequency without any major alteration in the pulse profile or any significant increase of the pulsed flux. Additionally, no burst activity was observed in association with the anti-glitch. To date, observations of the few known anti-glitches have been made in magnetars or accreting pulsars. This is the first anti-glitch detected in a rotation-powered pulsar. Given its radiatively quiet nature, this anti-glitch is possibly of internal origin. Therefore, we tentatively frame this event within a proposed mechanism for anti-glitches where the partial `evaporation' of the superfluid component leads to an increase of the normal component's moment of inertia and a decrease of the superfluid one.

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arXiv2024

Future Perspectives for Gamma-ray Burst Detection from Space

Since their first discovery in the late 1960s, Gamma-ray bursts have attracted an exponentially growing interest from the international community due to their central role in the most highly debated open questions of the modern research of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics. These range from the intimate nuclear composition of high density material within the core of ultra-dense neuron stars, to stellar evolution via the collapse of massive stars, the production and propagation of gravitational waves, as well as the exploration of the early Universe by unveiling first stars and galaxies (assessing also their evolution and cosmic re-ionization). GRBs have stimulated in the past $\sim$50 years the development of cutting-edge technological instruments for observations of high energy celestial sources from space, leading to the launch and successful operations of many different scientific missions (several of them still in data taking mode nowadays). In this review, we provide a brief description of the GRB-dedicated missions from space being designed and developed for the future. The list of these projects, not meant to be exhaustive, shall serve as a reference to interested readers to understand what is likely to come next to lead the further development of GRB research and associated phenomenology.

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arXiv2024

Timing and Spectral Analysis of HMXB 4U 1700-37 Observed with Insight-HXMT

We report timing and spectral studies of the high mass X-ray binary 4U 1700-37 using Insight-HXMT observations carried out in 2020 during its out-of-eclipse state. We found significant variations in flux on a time-scale of kilo-seconds, while the hardness (count rate ratio between 10-30 keV and 2-10 keV) remains relatively stable. No evident pulsations were found over a frequency range of $10^{-3}$-2000 Hz. During the spectral analysis, for the first time we took the configuration of different Insight-HXMT detectors' orientations into account, which allows us obtaining reliable results even if a stable contamination exists in the field-of-view. We found that the spectrum could be well described by some phenomenological models that commonly used in accreting pulsars (e.g., a power law with a high energy cutoff) in the energy range of 2-100 keV. We found hints of cyclotron absorption features around ~ 16 keV or/and ~ 50 keV.

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arXiv2024

Timing analysis of the newly discovered black hole candidate Swift J1727.8-1613 with Insight-HXMT

We present the results obtained from an X-ray timing study of the new black hole candidate (BHC) Swift J1727.8-1613. The work is based on Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT) observations carried out during the 2023 outburst. Prominent type-C low-frequency Quasi-periodic Oscillations (LFQPOs) are detected throughout the observations. With the substantial effective area of the Insight-HXMT at high energies, we examine the energy dependence of various parameters, including the centroid frequency, fractional rms, and phase lags of the type-C QPOs. Our findings align closely with those observed in high-inclination systems. During the initial stage of the outburst, a peaked noise component is also detected, the frequency of which is highly correlated with the LFQPO frequency, aligning with the Psaltis-Belloni-van der Klis (PBK) relation. By assuming that the peaked noise originates from the precession of the accretion disc, the spin of this source can be constrained. Our results suggest that this source may possess a high spin.

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arXiv2024

Cyclotron line evolution revealed with pulse-to-pulse analysis in the 2020 outburst of 1A 0535+262

We present a detailed analysis of the X-ray luminosity (Lx) dependence of the cyclotron absorption line energy (Ecyc) for the X-ray binary pulsar 1A 0535+262 during its 2020 giant outburst based on pulse-to-pulse analysis. By applying this technique to high cadence observations of Insight-HXMT, we reveal the most comprehensive Ecyc-Lx correlation across a broad luminosity range of ~(0.03-1.3)*10^38 erg/s. Apart from the positive and negative correlations between cyclotron line energy and luminosity at Lx~(1-3)*10^37 erg/s and ~(7-13)*10^37 erg/s, which are expected from the typical subcritical and supercritical accretion regimes, respectively, a plateau in the correlation is also detected at ~(3-7)*10^37 erg/s^-1. Moreover, at the lowest luminosity level (Lx<10^37 erg/s), the positive Ecyc-Lx correlation seems to be broken, and the pulse profile also occurs a significant transition. These discoveries provide the first complete view on the correlation between luminosity and the centriod energy of the cyclotron line, and therefore are relevant for understanding how accretion onto magnetized neutron stars depends on luminosity.

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