arXiv subjects

Caijin Xie

Publications and source records attributed to Caijin Xie.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Deciphering the IceCube Diffuse Neutrino Observations via AGN Variability

The physical origin of the diffuse neutrino background and its spectral break at $\sim$ 30 TeV remain a major puzzle in multi-messenger astrophysics. In this work, we demonstrate that this spectral feature is a natural consequence of AGN activity cycles and the resulting cosmic ray (CR) propagation. We present a unified model coupling the active and quiescent phases of AGNs, where CRs accelerated in the active core undergo subsequent diffusion and hadronic interactions in the host galaxy during the quiescent phase. The superposition of these distinct evolutionary phases yields dual spectral breaks, particularly the one at tens of TeV. Under realistic energetics, our model simultaneously accounts for the IceCube diffuse flux and fits the neutrino emissions of diverse sources, ranging from the blazar TXS 0506+056 to the Seyfert galaxies NGC 7469, CGCG 420-015, and the Circinus Galaxy. Our findings reveal that temporal variability is essential for deciphering the cosmic neutrino landscape and tracking high-energy CR escape.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

A proposed deep sea Neutrino Observatory in the Nanhai

Over the past ten years, several breakthroughs have been made in multi-messenger astronomy. Thanks to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the detection of astrophysical neutrinos was proved to be practical. However, due to the limited statistics and field of view, only a few sources have been associated with IceCube neutrinos, making new and larger neutrino telescopes necessary. We propose the NEutrino Observatory in the Nanhai (NEON), located in the South China Sea to be complementary for the global neutrino detectors. This proposal describes the design and layout of the array and reports on comprehensive simulations conducted to assess its performance. The NEON project, with a volume of 10 km$^3$, achieves an angular resolution of 0.1$^\circ$ at 100 TeV. With 10 years of operation, the project's 5$σ$ sensitivity is estimated as $E^2Φ\sim 2 \times 10^{-10}$ GeV cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ for a source spectrum index of -2. We found that the variation in depth from 1700 to 3500 meters does not significantly influence the sensitivity to steady sources.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

The traveling-PWN modeling attempt on the enigmatic LHAASO dumbbell-like structure

The first LHAASO catalog presents six enigmatic ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma-ray sources with lonely > 25 TeV emission being detected, which are indicated as 1LHAASO: J0007+5659u, J0206+4302u, J0212+4254u, J0216+4237u, J1740+0948u, and J1959+1129u. No counterparts of the six sources have been observed, except two energetic pulsars, PSR J0218+4232 and PSR J1740+1000. Among them, 1LHAASO: J0206+4302u, J0212+4254u, and J0216+4237u are connected on the significance map and constituted a dumbbell-like structure. They are close in position and show a similar spectral shape, suggesting a physical association among them. To explain the origin of the six LHAASO sources, especially the intriguing dumbbell-like structure, we conducted the leptonic and hadronic modeling research according to our multiwavelength and multimessenger study. For the dumbbell-like structure, models with traveling-PWNe were considered. The multiwavelength and multimessenger study was based on the Fermi-LAT, Swift-XRT, Planck, CfA 12CO survey, and IceCube neutrino datasets. In the traveling-PWN modeling research, we assumed an isotropic and homogeneous diffusion condition and discussed the influence of diffusion coefficient, distance, and proper motion velocity. No counterparts are discovered in our multiwavelength and multimessenger study, except the two known pulsars. The traveling-PWN modeling attempt with a single PWN appears implausible to explain the dumbbell-like structure, as the diffusion coefficient needs to be much lower than the Bohm limit. A double traveling-PWNe model is also explored and can account for the results of LHAASO-KM2A observation. However, the probability of occurrence of this explanation is significantly lower than that of a conventional triple PWNe explanation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

$T_2$-limited dc Quantum Magnetometry via Flux Modulation

High-sensitivity magnetometry is of critical importance to the fields of biomagnetism and geomagnetism. However, the magnetometry for the low-frequency signal detection meets the challenge of sensitivity improvement, due to multiple types of low-frequency noise sources. In particular, for the solid-state spin quantum magnetometry, the sensitivity of low frequency magnetic field has been limited by short $T_2^*$. Here, we demonstrate a $T_2$-limited dc quantum magnetometry based on the nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. The magnetometry, combining the flux modulation and the spin-echo protocol, promotes the sensitivity from being limited by $T_2^*$ to $T_2$ of orders of magnitude longer. The sensitivity of the dc magnetometry of 32 $\rm pT/Hz^{1/2}$ has been achieved, overwhelmingly improved by 100 folds over the Ramsey-type method result of 4.6 $\rm nT/Hz^{1/2}$. Further enhancement of the sensitivity have been systematically analyzed, although challenging but plenty of room is achievable. Our result sheds light on realization of room temperature dc quantum magnetomerty with femtotesla-sensitivity in the future.

quant-ph↗