arXiv subjects

Anjana K. Talluri

Publications and source records attributed to Anjana K. Talluri.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

VERITAS and multiwavelength observations of the Blazar B3 2247+381 in response to an IceCube neutrino alert

While the sources of the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory are still largely unknown, one of the promising methods used towards understanding this is investigating the potential temporal and spatial correlations between neutrino alerts and the electromagnetic radiation from blazars. We report on the multiwavelength target-of-opportunity observations of the blazar B3 2247+381, taken in response to an IceCube multiplet alert for a cluster of muon neutrino events compatible with the source location between May 20, 2022 and November 10, 2022. B3 2247+381 was not detected with VERITAS during this time period. The source was found to be in a low-flux state in the optical, ultraviolet and gamma-ray bands for the time interval corresponding to the neutrino event, but was detected in the hard X-ray band with NuSTAR during this period. We find the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution is well described using a simple one-zone leptonic synchrotron self-Compton radiation model. Moreover, assuming the neutrinos originate from hadronic processes within the jet, the neutrino flux would be accompanied by a photon flux from the cascade emission, and the integrated photon flux required in such a case would significantly exceed the total multiwavelength fluxes and the VERITAS upper limits presented here. The lack of flaring activity observed with VERITAS, combined with the low multiwavelength flux levels, and given the significance of the neutrino excess is at 3$σ$ level (uncorrected for trials), makes B3 2247+381 an unlikely source of the IceCube multiplet. We conclude that the neutrino excess is likely a background fluctuation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

An in-depth study of Gamma rays from the Starburst Galaxy M 82 with VERITAS

Assuming Galactic cosmic rays originate in supernovae and the winds of massive stars, starburst galaxies should produce very-high-energy (VHE; E$>$100 GeV) gamma-ray emission via the interaction of their copious quantities of cosmic rays with the large reservoirs of dense gas within the galaxies. Such VHE emission was detected by VERITAS from the starburst galaxy M 82 in 2008-09. An extensive, multi-year campaign followed these initial observations, yielding a total of 254 h of good quality VERITAS data on M 82. Leveraging modern analysis techniques and the larger exposure, these VERITAS data show a more statistically significant VHE signal ($\sim$6.5 standard deviations ($σ$)). The corresponding photon spectrum is well fit by a power law ($Γ= 2.3 \pm 0.3_{stat} \pm0.2_{sys}$) and the observed integral flux is F($>$450 GeV) = $(3.2 \pm0.6_{stat} \pm 0.6_{sys}) \times 10^{-13}~\mathrm{cm^{-2}~s}^{-1}$, or $\sim$0.4\% of the Crab Nebula flux above the same energy threshold. The improved VERITAS measurements, when combined with various multi-wavelength data, enable modeling of the underlying emission and transport processes. A purely leptonic scenario is found to be a poor representation of the gamma-ray spectral energy distribution (SED). A lepto-hadronic scenario with cosmic rays following a power-law spectrum in momentum (index $s\simeq 2.25$), and with significant bremsstrahlung below $1$~GeV, provides a good match to the observed SED. The synchrotron emission from the secondary electrons indicates that efficient non-radiative losses of cosmic-ray electrons may be related to advective escape from the starburst core.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

The Turn-Down of the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation and Changing Baryon Fractions at Low Galaxy Masses

The ratio of baryonic-to-dark matter in present-day galaxies constrains galaxy formation theories and can be determined empirically via the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation (BTFR), which compares a galaxy's baryonic mass (Mbary) to its maximum rotation velocity (Vmax). The BTFR is well-determined at Mbary >10^8 Msun, but poorly constrained at lower masses due to small samples and the challenges of measuring rotation velocities in this regime. For 25 galaxies with high-quality data and Mbary <~10^8 Msun, we estimate Mbary from infrared and HI observations and Vmax from the HI gas rotation. Many of the Vmax values are lower limits because the velocities are still rising at the edge of the detected HI disks (Rmax); consequently, most of our sample has lower velocities than expected from extrapolations of the BTFR at higher masses. To estimate Vmax, we map each galaxy to a dark matter halo assuming density profiles with and without cores. In contrast to non-cored profiles, we find the cored profile rotation curves are still rising at Rmax values, similar to the data. When we compare the Vmax values derived from the cored density profiles to our Mbary measurements, we find a turndown of the BTFR at low masses that is consistent with LCDM predictions and implying baryon fractions of 1-10% of the cosmic value. Although we are limited by the sample size and assumptions inherent in mapping measured rotational velocities to theoretical rotation curves, our results suggest that galaxy formation efficiency drops at masses below Mbary~10^8 Msun, corresponding to Mhalo~10^10 Msun.

astro-ph.GA↗