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B. Müller

Publications and source records attributed to B. Müller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fallback onto Kicked Neutron Stars and its Effect on Spin-Kick Alignment

Fallback in core-collapse supernova explosions is potentially of significant importance for the birth spins of neutron stars and black holes. It has recently been pointed out that the angular momentum imparted onto a compact remnant by fallback material is subtly intertwined with its kick because fallback onto a moving neutron star or black hole will preferentially come for a conical region around its direction of travel. We show that contrary to earlier expectations such one-sided fallback accretion onto a neutron star will tend to produce spin-kick misalignment. Since the baroclinic driving term in the vorticity equation is perpendicular to the nearly radial pressure gradient, convective eddies in the progenitor as well as Rayleigh-Taylor plumes growing during the explosion primarily carry angular momentum perpendicular to the radial direction. Fallback material from the accretion volume of a moving neutron star therefore carries substantial angular momentum perpendicular to the kick velocity. We estimate the seed angular momentum fluctuations from convective motions in core-collapse supernova progenitors and argue that accreted fallback material will almost invariably be accreted with the maximum permissible specific angular momentum for reaching the Alfvén radius. This imposes a limit of $\mathord{\sim}10^{-2}M_\odot$ of fallback accretion for fast-spinning young neutron stars with periods of $\mathord{\sim}20\,\mathrm{ms}$ and less for longer birth spin periods.

astro-ph.HE

On the coupling of magnetic moments to superconducting quantum interference devices

We investigate the coupling factor $ϕ_μ$ that quantifies the magnetic flux $Φ$ per magnetic moment $μ$ of a point-like magnetic dipole that couples to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Representing the dipole by a current-carrying loop, the reciprocity of mutual inductances of SQUID and loop provides a way of calculating $ϕ_μ(\vec{r}, \vec{e}_μ)$ vs.~position $\vec{r}$ and orientation $\vec{e}_μ$ of the dipole anywhere in space from the magnetic field $B(\vec{r})$ produced by a supercurrent circulating in the SQUID loop. We use numerical simulations based on London and Ginzburg-Landau theory to calculate $ϕ_μ$ from the supercurrent density distributions in various SQUID geometries. We treat the far-field regime ($r\gtrsim a=$ inner size of the SQUID loop) with the dipole placed on the symmetry axis of circular or square shaped loops. We compare expressions for $ϕ_μ$ from filamentary loop models with simulation results for loops with finite width $w$ (outer size $A>a$), thickness $d$ and London penetration depth $λ_L$ and show that for thin ($d\ll a$) and narrow ($w < a$) loops the introduction of an effective loop size $a_{\rm eff}$ in the filamentary loop-model expressions results in agreement with simulations. For a dipole placed in the center of the loop, simulations provide an expression $ϕ_μ(a,A,d,λ_L)$ that covers a wide parameter range. In the near-field regime (dipole centered at small distance $z$ above one SQUID arm) only coupling to a single strip representing the SQUID arm has to be considered. Here, we compare simulations with an analytical expression derived for a homogeneous current density distribution, which yields excellent agreement for $λ_L>w,d$. Moreover, we analyze $ϕ_μ$ provided by the introduction of a constriction in the SQUID arm below the magnetic dipole.

cond-mat.supr-con

Laboratory spectroscopy of theoretical ices: Predictions for JWST and test for astrochemical models

Context. The gas and ice-grain chemistry of the pre-stellar core L1544 has been the subject of several observations and modelling studies conducted in the past years. The chemical composition of the ice mantles reflects the environmental physical changes along the temporal evolution. The investigation outcome hints at a layered structure of interstellar ices with mainly H$_2$O in the inner layers and an increasing amount of CO near the surface. The morphology of interstellar ice analogues can be investigated experimentally. Aims. This research presents a new approach of a three-dimensional fit where observational results are first fitted with a gas-grain chemical model. Then, based on the numerical results the laboratory IR spectra are recorded for interstellar ice analogues in a layered and in a mixed morphology. These results can then be compared with future James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations. Special attention is paid to the inclusion of the IR inactive species N$_2$ and O$_2$. Methods. Ice analogue spectra containing the most abundant predicted molecules were recorded at a temperature of 10 K using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. In the case of layered ice we deposited a H$_2$O-CO-N$_2$-O$_2$ mixture on top of a H2O-CH$_3$OH-N$_2$ ice, while in the case of mixed ice we examined a H$_2$O-CH$_3$OH-N$_2$-CO composition. Results. Following the changing composition and structure of the ice, we find differences in the absorption bands for most of the examined vibrational modes. The extent of observed changes in the IR band profiles will allow us to analyse the structure of ice mantles in L1544 from future observations by the JWST. Conclusions. The comparison of our spectroscopic measurements with upcoming JWST observations is crucial in order to put stringent constraints on the chemical and physical structure of dust icy mantles, and to explain surface chemistry.

astro-ph.GA

Broadband spectroscopy of astrophysical ice analogues: II. Optical constants of CO and CO$_2$ ices in the terahertz and infrared ranges

Context: Broadband optical constants of astrophysical ice analogues in the infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) ranges are required for modeling the dust continuum emission and radiative transfer in dense and cold regions, where thick icy mantles are formed on the surface of dust grains. Aims: In this paper, the THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) and the Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) are combined to study optical constants of CO and CO$_2$ ices in the broad THz-IR spectral range. Methods: The measured ices are grown at cryogenic temperatures by gas deposition on a cold Si window. A method to quantify the broadband THz-IR optical constants of ices is developed based on the direct reconstruction of the complex refractive index of ices in the THz range from the TDS data, and the use of the Kramers-Kronig relation in the IR range for the reconstruction from the FTIR data. Uncertainties of the Kramers-Kronig relation are eliminated by merging the THz and IR spectra. The reconstructed THz-IR response is then analyzed using classical models of complex dielectric permittivity. Results: The complex refractive index of CO and CO$_2$ ices deposited at the temperature of $28$ K is obtained in the range of 0.3--12.0 THz. Based on the measured dielectric constants, opacities of the astrophysical dust with CO and CO$_2$ icy mantles are computed. Conclusions: The developed method can be used for a model-independent reconstruction of optical constants of various astrophysical ice analogs in a broad THz-IR range. Such data can provide important benchmarks to interpret the broadband observations from the existing and future ground-based facilities and space telescopes. The reported results will be useful to model sources that show a drastic molecular freeze-out, such as central regions of prestellar cores and mid-planes of protoplanetary disks, as well as CO and CO$_2$ snow lines in disks.

astro-ph.SR

Spectroscopic measurements of CH$_3$OH in layered and mixed interstellar ice analogues

Context. The molecular composition of interstellar ice mantles is defined by gas-grain processes in molecular clouds, with the main components being $H_2O$, $CO$, and $CO_2$. $CH_3OH$ ice is detected towards the denser regions, where large amounts of $CO$ freeze out and get hydrogenated. Heating from nearby protostars can further change the ice structure and composition. Despite the several observations of icy features towards molecular clouds and along the line of site of protostars, it is not yet clear if interstellar ices are mixed or if they have a layered structure. Aims. We aim to examine the effect of mixed and layered ice growth in ice mantle analogues, with focus on the position and shape of methanol infrared bands, so future observations could shed light on the structure of interstellar ices in different environments. Methods. Mixed and layered ice samples were deposited on a cold substrate kept at T = 10 K using a closed-cycle cryostat placed in a vacuum chamber. The spectroscopic features were analysed by FTIR spectroscopy. Different proportions of the most abundant four molecules in ice mantles, namely $H_2O$, $CO$, $CO_2$, and $CH_3OH$, were investigated, with special attention on the analysis of the $CH_3OH$ bands. Results. We measure changes in the position and shape of the CH and CO stretching bands of $CH_3OH$ depending on the mixed or layered nature of the ice sample. Spectroscopic features of methanol are also found to change due to heating. Conclusions. A layered ice structure best reproduces the $CH_3OH$ band position recently observed towards a pre-stellar core and in star-forming regions. Based on our experimental results, we conclude that observations of $CH_3OH$ ices can provide information about the structure of interstellar ices, and we expect JWST to put stringent constraints on the layered or mixed nature of ices in different interstellar environments.

astro-ph.GA

Pre-supernova evolution, compact object masses and explosion properties of stripped binary stars

Most massive stars are born in binary or higher-order multiple systems and exchange mass with a companion during their lives. In particular, the progenitors of a large fraction of compact object mergers, and Galactic neutron stars (NSs) and black holes (BHs) have been stripped off their envelopes by a binary companion. Here, we study the evolution of single and stripped binary stars up to core collapse with the stellar evolution code MESA and their final fates with a parametric supernova (SN) model. We find that stripped binary stars can have systematically different pre-SN structures compared to genuine single stars and thus also different SN outcomes. The bases of these differences are already established by the end of core helium burning and are preserved up to core collapse. We find a non-monotonic pattern of NS and BH formation as a function of CO core mass that is different in single and stripped binary stars. In terms of initial masses, single stars of >35 Msun all form BHs, while this transition is only at 70 Msun in stripped stars. On average, stripped stars give rise to lower NS and BH masses, higher explosion energies, higher kick velocities and higher nickel yields. Within a simplified population synthesis model, we show that our results lead to a significant reduction of the rates of BH-NS and BH-BH mergers with respect to typical assumptions made on NS and BH formation. Therefore, we predict lower detection rates of such merger events by, e.g., advanced LIGO than is often considered. We further show how features in the NS-BH mass distribution of single and stripped stars relate to the chirp-mass distribution of compact object mergers. Further implications of our findings are discussed with respect to the missing red-supergiant problem, a possible mass gap between NSs and BHs, X-ray binaries and observationally inferred nickel masses from Type Ib/c and IIP Sne. [abridged]

astro-ph.SR

Stochastic Core Spin-Up in Massive Stars -- Implications of 3D Simulations of Oxygen Shell Burning

It has been suggested based on analytic theory that even in non-rotating supernova progenitors stochastic spin-up by internal gravity waves (IGWs) during the late burning stages can impart enough angular momentum to the core to result in neutron star birth spin periods below 100ms, and a relatively firm upper limit of 500ms for the spin period. We here investigate this process using a 3D simulation of oxygen shell burning in a $3M_\odot$ He star. Our model indicates that stochastic spin-up by IGWs is less efficient than previously thought. We find that the stochastic angular momentum flux carried by waves excited at the shell boundary is significantly smaller for a given convective luminosity and turnover time than would be expected from simple dimensional analysis. This can be explained by noting that the waves launched by overshooting convective plumes contain modes of opposite angular wave number with similar amplitudes, so that the net angular momentum of excited wave packets almost cancels. We find that the wave-mediated angular momentum flux from the oxygen shell follows a random walk, but again dimensional analysis overestimates the random walk amplitudes since the correlation time is only a fraction of the convective turnover time. Extrapolating our findings over the entire life time of the last burning stages prior to collapse, we predict that the core angular momentum from stochastic spin-up would translate into long birth spin periods of several seconds for low-mass progenitors and no less than 100ms even for high-mass progenitors.

astro-ph.SR

Searching for Electromagnetic Counterparts to Gravitational-wave Merger Events with the Prototype Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO-4)

We report the results of optical follow-up observations of 29 gravitational-wave triggers during the first half of the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration (LVC) O3 run with the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) in its prototype 4-telescope configuration (GOTO-4). While no viable electromagnetic counterpart candidate was identified, we estimate our 3D (volumetric) coverage using test light curves of on- and off-axis gamma-ray bursts and kilonovae. In cases where the source region was observable immediately, GOTO-4 was able to respond to a GW alert in less than a minute. The average time of first observation was $8.79$ hours after receiving an alert ($9.90$ hours after trigger). A mean of $732.3$ square degrees were tiled per event, representing on average $45.3$ per cent of the LVC probability map, or $70.3$ per cent of the observable probability. This coverage will further improve as the facility scales up alongside the localisation performance of the evolving gravitational-wave detector network. Even in its 4-telescope prototype configuration, GOTO is capable of detecting AT2017gfo-like kilonovae beyond 200~Mpc in favourable observing conditions. We cannot currently place meaningful electromagnetic limits on the population of distant ($\hat{D}_L = 1.3$~Gpc) binary black hole mergers because our test models are too faint to recover at this distance. However, as GOTO is upgraded towards its full 32-telescope, 2 node (La Palma \& Australia) configuration, it is expected to be sufficiently sensitive to cover the predicted O4 binary neutron star merger volume, and will be able to respond to both northern and southern triggers.

astro-ph.HE

Hydrodynamics of core-collapse supernovae and their progenitors

Multi-dimensional fluid flow plays a paramount role in the explosions of massive stars as core-collapse supernovae. In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) simulations of these phenomena have matured significantly. Considerable progress has been made towards identifying the ingredients for shock revival by the neutrino-driven mechanism, and successful explosions have already been obtained in a number of self-consistent 3D models. These advances also bring new challenges, however. Prompted by a need for increased physical realism and meaningful model validation, supernova theory is now moving towards a more integrated view that connects multi-dimensional phenomena in the late convective burning stages prior to collapse, the explosion engine, and mixing instabilities in the supernova envelope. Here we review our current understanding of multi-D fluid flow in core-collapse supernovae and their progenitors. We start by outlining specific challenges faced by hydrodynamic simulations of core-collapse supernovae and of the late convective burning stages. We then discuss recent advances and open questions in theory and simulations.

astro-ph.SR

Gravitational waves from dynamical tides in white dwarf binaries

We study the effect of tidal forcing on gravitational wave signals from tidally relaxed white dwarf pairs in the LISA, DECIGO and BBO frequency band ($0.1-100\,{\rm mHz}$). We show that for stars not in hydrostatic equilibrium (in their own rotating frames), tidal forcing will result in energy and angular momentum exchange between the orbit and the stars, thereby deforming the orbit and producing gravitational wave power in harmonics not excited in perfectly circular synchronous binaries. This effect is not present in the usual orbit-averaged treatment of the equilibrium tide, and is analogous to transit timing variations in multiplanet systems. It should be present for all LISA white dwarf pairs since gravitational waves carry away angular momentum faster than tidal torques can act to synchronize the spins, and when mass transfer occurs as it does for at least eight LISA verification binaries. With the strain amplitudes of the excited harmonics depending directly on the density profiles of the stars, gravitational wave astronomy offers the possibility of studying the internal structure of white dwarfs, complimenting information obtained from asteroseismology of pulsating white dwarfs. Since the vast majority of white-dwarf pairs in this frequency band are expected to be in the quasi-circular state, we focus here on these binaries, providing general analytic expressions for the dependence of the induced eccentricity and strain amplitudes on the stellar apsidal motion constants and their radius and mass ratios. Tidal dissipation and gravitation wave damping will affect the results presented here and will be considered elsewhere.

astro-ph.HE

Broadband spectroscopy of astrophysical ice analogs. I. Direct measurement of complex refractive index of CO ice using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

Context: Reliable, directly measured optical properties of astrophysical ice analogs in the infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) range are missing. These parameters are of great importance to model the dust continuum radiative transfer in dense and cold regions, here thick ice mantles are present, and are necessary for the interpretation of future observations planned in the far-IR region. Aims: Coherent THz radiation allows direct measurement of the complex dielectric function (refractive index) of astrophysically relevant ice species in the THz range. Methods: The time-domain waveforms and the frequency-domain spectra of reference samples of CO ice, deposited at a temperature of 28.5 K and annealed to 33 K at different thicknesses, have been recorded. A new algorithm is developed to reconstruct the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index from the time-domain THz data. Results: The complex refractive index in the wavelength range of 1 mm - 150 $μ$m (0.3 - 2.0 THz) has been determined for the studied ice samples, and compared with available data found in the literature. Conclusions: The developed algorithm of reconstructing the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index from the time-domain THz data enables, for the first time, the determination of optical properties of astrophysical ice analogs without using the Kramers-Kronig relations. The obtained data provide a benchmark to interpret the observational data from current ground based facilities as well as future space telescope missions, and have been used to estimate the opacities of the dust grains in presence of CO ice mantles.

astro-ph.IM

Josephson junctions and SQUIDs created by focused helium ion beam irradiation of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$

By scanning with a $30\, \mathrm{keV}$ focused He ion beam (He-FIB) across YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$ (YBCO) thin film microbridges, we create Josephson barriers with critical current density $j_\mathrm{c}$ adjustable by irradiation dose $D$. The dependence $j_\mathrm{c} (D)$ yields an exponential decay. At $4.2\, \mathrm{K}$, a transition from flux-flow to Josephson behavior occurs when $j_\mathrm{c}$ decreases below $\approx 2\, \mathrm{MA/cm^2}$. The Josephson junctions exhibit current-voltage characteristics (IVCs) that are well described by the resistively and capacitively shunted junction model, without excess current for characteristic voltages $V_\mathrm{c} \lesssim 1\, \mathrm{mV}$. Devices on MgO and LSAT substrates show non-hysteretic IVCs, while devices on SrTiO$_3$ show a small hysteresis. For all junctions an approximate scaling $V_\mathrm{c} \propto j_\mathrm{c}^{1/2}$ is found. He-FIB irradiation with high dose produces barriers with $j_\mathrm{c}=0$ and high resistances of $10\, \mathrm{kΩ} \ldots 1\, \mathrm{GΩ}$. This provides the possibility to write highly resistive walls or areas into YBCO using a He-FIB. Transmission electron microscopy reveals an amorphous phase within the walls, whereas for lower doses the YBCO stays crystalline. We have also ``drawn'' superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) by using a He-FIB for definition of the SQUID hole and the junctions. The SQUIDs show high performance, with flux noise $< 500\, \mathrm{n Φ_0/Hz^{1/2}}$ in the thermal white noise limit for a device with $19\, \mathrm{pH}$ inductance.

cond-mat.supr-con

Neutrino Emission as Diagnostics of Core-Collapse Supernovae

With myriads of detection events from a prospective Galactic core-collapse supernova, current and future neutrino detectors will be able to sample detailed, time-dependent neutrino fluxes and spectra. This offers enormous possibilities for inferring supernova physics from the various phases of the neutrino signal from the neutronization burst through the accretion and early explosion phase to the cooling phase. The signal will constrain the time evolution of bulk parameters of the young proto-neutron star like its mass and radius as well as the structure of the progenitor, probe multi-dimensional phenomena in the supernova core, and constrain thedynamics of the early explosion phase. Aside from further astrophysical implications, supernova neutrinos may also shed further light on the properties of matter at supranuclear densities and on open problems in particle physics.

astro-ph.HE

Three-Dimensional Simulations of Neutrino-Driven Core-Collapse Supernovae from Low-Mass Single and Binary Star Progenitors

We present a suite of seven 3D supernova simulations of non-rotating low-mass progenitors using multi-group neutrino transport. Our simulations cover single star progenitors with zero-age main sequence masses between $9.6 M_\odot$ and $12.5 M_\odot$ and (ultra)stripped-envelope progenitors with initial helium core masses between $2.8 M_\odot$ and $3.5 M_\odot$. We find explosion energies between $0.1\,\mathrm{Bethe}$ and $0.4\,\mathrm{Bethe}$, which are still rising by the end of the simulations. Although less energetic than typical events, our models are compatible with observations of less energetic explosions of low-mass progenitors. In six of our models, the mass outflow rate already exceeds the accretion rate onto the proto-neutron star, and the mass and angular momentum of the compact remnant have closely approached their final value, barring the possibility of later fallback. While the proto-neutron star is still accelerated by the gravitational tug of the asymmetric ejecta, the acceleration can be extrapolated to obtain estimates for the final kick velocity. We obtain gravitational neutron star masses between $1.22 M_\odot$ and $1.44 M_\odot$, kick velocities between $11\, \mathrm{km}\, \mathrm{s}^{-1}$ and $695\, \mathrm{km}\, \mathrm{s}^{-1}$, and spin periods from $20\, \mathrm{ms}$ to $2.7\,\mathrm{s}$, which suggests that typical neutron star birth properties can be naturally obtained in the neutrino-driven paradigm. We find a loose correlation between the explosion energy and the kick velocity. There is no indication of spin-kick alignment, but a correlation between the kick velocity and the neutron star angular momentum, which needs to be investigated further as a potential point of tension between models and observations.

astro-ph.SR

O2 signature in thin and thick O2-H2O ices

Aims. In this paper we investigate the detectability of the molecular oxygen in icy dust grain mantles towards astronomical objects. Methods. We present a systematic set of experiments with O2-H2O ice mixtures designed to disentangle how the molecular ratio affects the O2 signature in the mid- and near-infrared spectral regions. All the experiments were conducted in a closed-cycle helium cryostat coupled to a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The ice mixtures comprise varying thicknesses from 8 $\times$ 10$^{-3}$ to 3 $μ$m. The absorption spectra of the O2-H2O mixtures are also compared to the one of pure water. In addition, the possibility to detect the O2 in icy bodies and in the interstellar medium is discussed. Results. We are able to see the O2 feature at 1551 cm$^{-1}$ even for the most diluted mixture of H2O : O2 = 9 : 1, comparable to a ratio of O2/H2O = 10 % which has already been detected in situ in the coma of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We provide an estimate for the detection of O2 with the future mission of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

astro-ph.IM

Real-space probing of the local magnetic response of thin-film superconductors using single spin magnetometry

We report on direct, real-space imaging of the stray magnetic field above a micro-scale disc of a thin film of the high-temperature superconductor YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$ (YBCO) using scanning single spin magnetometry. Our experiments yield a direct measurement of the sample's local London penetration depth and allow for a quantitative reconstruction of the supercurrents flowing in the sample as a result of Meissner screening. These results show the potential of scanning single spin magnetometry for studies of the nanoscale magnetic properties of thin-film superconductors, which could be readily extended to elevated temperatures or magnetic fields.

cond-mat.supr-con

Multi-D Simulations of Ultra-Stripped Supernovae to Shock Breakout

The recent discoveries of many double neutron star systems and their detection as LIGO-Virgo merger events call for a detailed understanding of their origin. Explosions of ultra-stripped stars in binary systems have been shown to play a key role in this context and have also generated interest as a potential explanation for rapidly evolving hydrogen-free transients. Here we present the first attempt to model such explosions based on binary evolution calculations that follow the mass transfer to the companion to obtain a consistent core-envelope structure as needed for reliable predictions of the supernova transient. We simulate the explosion in 2D and 3D, and confirm the modest explosion energies ~10^50erg and small kick velocities reported earlier in 2D models based on bare carbon-oxygen cores. The spin-up of the neutron star by asymmetric accretion is small in 3D with no indication of spin-kick alignment. Simulations up to shock breakout show the mixing of sizeable amounts of iron group material into the helium envelope. In view of recent ideas for a mixing-length treatment (MLT) of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in supernovae, we perform a detailed analysis of the mixing, which reveals evidence for buoyancy-drag balance, but otherwise does not support the MLT approximation. The mixing may have implications for the spectroscopic signatures of ultra-stripped supernovae that need to be investigated in the future. Our stellar evolution calculation also predicts presupernova mass loss due to an off-centre silicon deflagration flash, which suggests that supernovae from extremely stripped cores may show signs of interactions with circumstellar material.

astro-ph.SR

Simulations of Electron Capture and Low-Mass Iron Core Supernovae

The evolutionary pathways of core-collapse supernova progenitors at the low-mass end of the spectrum are beset with major uncertainties. In recent years, a variety of evolutionary channels has been discovered in addition to the classical electron capture supernova channel of super-AGB stars. The few available progenitor models at the low-mass end have been studied with great success in supernova simulations as the peculiar density structure makes for robust neutrino-driven explosions in this mass range. Detailed nucleosynthesis calculations have been conducted both for models of electron capture supernovae and low-mass iron core supernovae and revealed an interesting production of the lighter trans-iron elements (such as Zn, Sr, Y, Zr) as well as rare isotopes like Ca-48 and Fe-60. We stress the need to explore the low-mass end of the supernova spectrum further and link various observables to understand the diversity of explosions in this regime.

astro-ph.SR