arXiv subjects

Imre Bartos

Publications and source records attributed to Imre Bartos.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Radio Forensics Could Unmask Nearby Off-axis Gamma-ray Bursts

The multi-messenger observation of gamma-ray burst (GRB)\,170817A from the nearby binary neutron-star merger GW170817 demonstrated that low-energy $γ$-ray emission can be observed at relatively large angles from GRB jet axes. If such structured emission is typical, then the currently known sample of short GRBs with no distance measurements may contain multiple nearby off-axis events whose delayed afterglows could have gone undetected. These nearby neutron star mergers may produce telltale radio flares peaking years after the prompt GRB emission that could still be observable. Here, we show that several short GRBs observed by the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on the Neil Gehrels \textit{Swift} satellite, with no identified afterglow and no distance measurement, could potentially be associated with radio flares detectable by sensitive cm-wavelength radio facilities such as the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. We also examine optical follow-up observations that have been carried out for these events, and find that a nearby GW170817-like kilonova is ruled out for only a third of them.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Low-Latency Algorithm for Multi-messenger Astrophysics (LLAMA) with Gravitational-Wave and High-Energy Neutrino Candidates

We describe in detail the online data analysis pipeline that was used in the multi-messenger search for common sources of gravitational waves (GWs) and high-energy neutrinos (HENs) during the second observing period (O2) of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. Beyond providing added scientific insight into source events, low-latency coincident HENs can offer better localization than GWs alone, allowing for faster electromagnetic follow-up. Transitioning GW+HEN analyses to low-latency, automated pipelines is therefore mission-critical for future multi-messenger efforts. The O2 Low-Latency Algorithm for Multi-messenger Astrophysics (\pipeline) also served as a proof-of-concept for future online GW+HEN searches and led to a codebase that can handle other messengers as well. During O2, the pipeline was used to take LIGO/Virgo GW candidates as triggers and search in realtime for temporally coincident HEN candidates provided by the IceCube Collaboration that fell within the \ninetyCR of the reconstructed GW skymaps. The algorithm used NASA's Gamma-ray Coordinates Network to report coincident alerts to LIGO/Virgo's electromagnetic follow-up partners.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Observational consequences of structured jets from neutron star mergers in the local Universe

The recent multi-messenger discovery of binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817 showed that $γ$-ray emission in short GRBs is wider than the central energetic narrow cone, and weakly expands out to tens of degrees. Here we explore some of the observational consequences of this structured emission, taking the reconstructed angular emission profile of gamma-ray burst GRB170817A to be typical. We calculate the expected fraction of gravitational-wave observations from BNS mergers that will have an observed GRB counterpart to be $\sim30\%$, implying that joint gravitational-wave and GRB observations will be common. Further, we find that $\sim10\%$ of observed short GRBs occur within 200 Mpc. Finally, we estimate a BNS merger rate of $\sim500$ Gpc$^{-3}$yr$^{-1}$.

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arXiv2018

Trans-Ejecta High-Energy Neutrino Emission from Binary Neutron Star Mergers

The observations of a macronova/kilonova accompanied by gravitational waves from a binary neutron star merger (GW170817) confirmed that neutron star coalescences produce copious ejecta. The coincident gamma-ray detection implies the existence of a relativistic jet in this system. During the jet's propagation within the ejecta, high-energy photons and neutrinos can be produced. The photons are absorbed by the ejecta, while the neutrinos escape and can be detected. Here, we estimate such trans-ejecta neutrino emission, and discuss how neutrino observations could be used to differentiate between gamma-ray burst emission scenarios. We find that neutrinos from the internal shocks inside the ejecta may be detectable by IceCube within a few years of operation, and will likely be detected with IceCube-Gen2. The neutrino signals coincident with gravitational waves would enable us to reveal the physical quantities of the choked jets even without electromagnetic signals.

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arXiv2018

Infused Ice can Multiply IceCube's Sensitivity

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is the world's largest neutrino detector with a cubic-kilometer instrumented volume at the South Pole. It is preparing for a major upgrade that will significantly increase its sensitivity. A promising technological innovation investigated for this upgrade is wavelength shifting optics. Augmenting sensors with such optics could increase the photo-collection area of IceCube's digital optical modules, and shift the incoming photons' wavelength to where these modules are the most sensitive. Here we investigate the use of IceCube's drill holes themselves as wavelength shifting optics. We calculate the sensitivity enhancement due to increasing the ice's refractive index in the holes, and infusing wavelength-shifting substrate into the ice. We find that, with adequate wavelength-shifter infusion, every ~0.05 increase in the ice's refractive index will increase IceCube's photon sensitivity by 100%, opening the possibility for the substantial, cost effective expansion of IceCube's reach.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Strategies for the Follow-up of Gravitational Wave Transients with the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The observation of the electromagnetic counterpart of gravitational-wave (GW) transient GW170817 demonstrated the potential in extracting astrophysical information from multimessenger discoveries. The forthcoming deployment of the first telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory will coincide with Advanced LIGO/Virgo's next observing run, O3, enabling the monitoring of gamma-ray emission at E > 20 GeV, and thus particle acceleration, from GW sources. CTA will not be greatly limited by the precision of GW localization as it will be be capable of rapidly covering the GW error region with sufficient sensitivity. We examine the current status of GW searches and their follow-up effort, as well as the status of CTA, in order to identify some of the general strategies that will enhance CTA's contribution to multimessenger discoveries.

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arXiv2016

Rapid and Bright Stellar-mass Binary Black Hole Mergers in Active Galactic Nuclei

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, LIGO, found direct evidence for double black hole binaries emitting gravitational waves. Galactic nuclei are expected to harbor the densest population of stellar-mass black holes. A significant fraction ($\sim30\%$) of these black holes can reside in binaries. We examine the fate of the black hole binaries in active galactic nuclei, which get trapped in the inner region of the accretion disk around the central supermassive black hole. We show that binary black holes can migrate into and then rapidly merge within the disk well within a Salpeter time. The binaries may also accrete a significant amount of gas from the disk, well above the Eddington rate. This could lead to detectable X-ray or gamma-ray emission, but would require hyper-Eddington accretion with a few percent radiative efficiency, comparable to thin disks. We discuss implications for gravitational wave observations and black hole population studies. We estimate that Advanced LIGO may detect $\sim20$ such, gas-induced binary mergers per year.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Multi-Messenger Tests for Fast-Spinning Newborn Pulsars Embedded in Stripped-Envelope Supernovae

Fast-spinning strongly magnetized newborn neutron stars, including nascent magnetars, are popularly implemented as the engine of luminous stellar explosions. Here, we consider the scenario that they power various stripped-envelope supernovae, not only super-luminous supernovae Ic but also broad-line supernovae Ibc and possibly some ordinary supernovae Ibc. This scenario is also motivated by the hypothesis that Galactic magnetars largely originate from fast-spinning neutron stars as remnants of stripped-envelope supernovae. By consistently modeling the energy injection from magnetized wind and Ni decay, we show that proto-neutron stars with >~ 10 ms rotation and B_dip >~ 5 x 10^14 G can be harbored in ordinary supernovae Ibc. On the other hand, millisecond proto-neuton stars can solely power broad-line supernovae Ibc if they are born with poloidal magnetic field of B_dip >~ 5 x 10^14 G, and superluminous supernovae Ic with B_dip >~ 10^13 G. Then, we study how multi-messenger emission can be used to discriminate such pulsar-driven supernova models from other competitive scenarios. First, high-energy x-ray and gamma-ray emission from embryonic pulsar wind nebulae is a promising smoking gun of the underlying newborn pulsar wind. Follow-up observations of stripped-envelope supernovae using NuSTAR ~ 50-100 days after the explosion is strongly encouraged for nearby objects. We also discuss possible effects of gravitational-waves on the spin-down of proto-neutron stars. If millisecond proto-neutron stars with B_dip <~ a few x 10^13 G emit gravitational waves through e.g., non-axisymmetric rotation deformed by the inner toroidal fields of B_t >~ 10^16 G, the gravitational wave signal can be detectable from ordinary supernova Ibc in the Virgo cluster by Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo, and KAGRA.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

James Webb Space Telescope can Detect Kilonovae in Gravitational Wave Follow-up Search

Kilonovae represent an important electromagnetic counterpart for compact binary mergers, which could become the most commonly detected gravitational wave (GW) source. Follow-up observations, triggered by GW events, of kilonovae are nevertheless difficult due to poor localization by GW detectors and due to their faint near-infrared peak emission that has limited observational capability. We show that the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be able to detect kilonovae within the relevant GW-detection range of $\sim$ 200 Mpc in short ($\lesssim$ 12-second) exposure times for a week following the merger. Despite this sensitivity, a kilonova search fully covering a fiducial localized area of $10$ $\mbox{deg}^2$ will not be viable with NIRCam due to its limited field of view. However, targeted surveys may be developed to optimize the likelihood of discovering kilonovae efficiently within limited observing time. We estimate that a survey of $10$ $\mbox{deg}^2$ focused on galaxies within 200 Mpc would require about 13 hours, dominated by overhead times; a survey further focused on galaxies exhibiting high star-formation rates would require $\sim$ 5 hours. The characteristic time may be reduced to as little as $\sim$4 hours, without compromising the likelihood of detecting kilonovae, by surveying sky areas associated with 50%, rather than 90%, confidence regions of 3 GW events, rather than a single event. On detection and identification of a kilonova, a limited number of NIRCam follow-up observations could constrain the properties of matter ejected by the binary and the equation of state of dense nuclear matter.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Beyond the Horizon Distance: LIGO-Virgo can Boost Gravitational Wave Detection Rates by Exploiting the Mass Distribution of Neutron Stars

The masses of neutron stars in neutron star binaries are observed to fall in a narrow mass range around $\sim 1.33$ M$_{\odot}$. We explore the advantage of focusing on this region of the parameter space in gravitational wave searches. We find that an all-sky (externally triggered) search with optimally reduced template bank is expected to detect $14\%$ ($61\%$) more binary mergers than without the reduction. A reduced template bank can also represent significant improvement in technical cost. We also develop a more detailed search method using binary mass distribution, and find similar sensitivity increase to that due to the reduced template bank.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Novae as Tevatrons: Prospects for CTA and IceCube

The discovery of novae as sources of ~GeV gamma-rays highlights the key role of shocks and relativistic particle acceleration in these transient systems. Although there is evidence for a spectral cut-off above energies ~1-100 GeV at particular epochs in some novae, the maximum particle energy achieved in these accelerators has remained an open question. The high densities of the nova ejecta (~10 orders of magnitude larger than in supernova remnants) render the gas far upstream of the shock neutral and shielded from ionizing radiation. The amplification of the magnetic field needed for diffusive shock acceleration requires ionized gas, thus confining the acceleration process to a narrow photo-ionized layer immediately ahead of the shock. Based on the growth rate in this layer of the hybrid non-resonant cosmic ray current-driven instability (considering also ion-neutral damping), we quantify the maximum particle energy, Emax, across the range of shock velocities and upstream densities of interest. We find values of Emax ~ 10 GeV - 10 TeV, which are broadly consistent with the inferred spectral cut-offs, but which could also in principle lead to emission extending to higher energies >100 GeV accessible to atmosphere Cherenkov telescopes, such as the planned Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). Detecting TeV neutrinos with IceCube in hadronic scenarios appears to be more challenging, although the prospects are improved if the shock power during the earliest, densest phases of the nova outburst is higher than is implied by the observed GeV light curves, due to downscattering of the gamma-rays by electrons within the ejecta. Novae provide ideal nearby laboratories to study magnetic field amplification and the onset of cosmic ray acceleration, because other time-dependent sources (e.g. radio supernovae) typically occur too distant to detect as gamma-ray sources.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Gamma-Ray and Hard X-Ray Emission from Pulsar-Aided Supernovae as a Probe of Particle Acceleration in Embryonic Pulsar Wind Nebulae

It has been suggested that some classes of luminous supernovae (SNe) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are driven by newborn magnetars. Fast-rotating proto-neutron stars have also been of interest as potential sources of gravitational waves (GWs). We show that for a range of rotation periods and magnetic fields, hard X rays and GeV gamma rays provide us with a promising probe of pulsar-aided SNe. It is observationally known that young pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) in the Milky Way are very efficient lepton accelerators. We argue that, if embryonic PWNe satisfy similar conditions at early stages of SNe (in ~1-10 months after the explosion), external inverse-Compton emission via upscatterings of SN photons is naturally expected in the GeV range as well as broadband synchrotron emission. To fully take into account the Klein-Nishina effect and two-photon annihilation process that are important at early times, we perform detailed calculations including electromagnetic cascades. Our results suggest that hard X-ray telescopes such as NuSTAR can observe such early PWN emission by followup observations in months-to-years. GeV gamma rays may also be detected by Fermi for nearby SNe, which serve as counterparts of these GW sources. Detecting the signals will give us an interesting probe of particle acceleration at early times of PWNe, as well as clues to driving mechanisms of luminous SNe and GRBs. Since the Bethe-Heitler cross section is lower than the Thomson cross section, gamma rays would allow us to study subphotospheric dissipation. We encourage searches for high-energy emission from nearby SNe, especially Type Ibc SNe including super-luminous objects.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Multiple periods in the variability of the supermassive black hole binary candidate quasar PG1302-102?

Graham et al. (2015) discovered a supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) candidate and identified the detected 5.2 yr period of the optical variability as the orbital period of the binary. Hydrodynamical simulations predict multiple periodic components for the variability of SMBHBs, thus raising the possibility that the true period of the binary is different from 5.2 yr. We analyse the periodogram of PG1302 and find no compelling evidence for additional peaks. We derive upper limits on any additional periodic modulations in the available data, by modeling the light-curve as the sum of red noise and the known 5.2 yr periodic component, and injecting additional sinusoidal signals. We find that, with the current data, we would be able to detect with high significance (false alarm probability <1%) secondary periodic terms with periods in the range predicted by the simulations, if the amplitude of the variability was at least ~0.07 mag (compared to 0.14 mag for the main peak). A three-year follow-up monitoring campaign with weekly observations can increase the sensitivity for detecting secondary peaks ~50%, and would allow a more robust test of predictions from hydrodynamical simulations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Galaxy Survey On The Fly: Prospects of Rapid Galaxy Cataloging to Aid the Electromagnetic Follow-up of Gravitational-wave Observations

Galaxy catalogs are essential for efficient searches of the electromagnetic counterparts of extragalactic gravitational-wave (GW) signals with highly uncertain localization. We show that one can efficiently catalog galaxies within a short period of time with 1-2 meter-class telescopes such as the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) or MDM, in response to an observed GW signal from a compact binary coalescence. We find that a rapid galaxy survey is feasible on the relevant time scale of $\lesssim 1$ week, maximum source distance of $>200$ Mpc and sky area of 100 deg$^2$. With PTF-like telescopes, even 1 day is sufficient for such a survey. This catalog can then be provided to other telescopes to aid electromagnetic follow-up observations to find kilonovae from binary coalescences, as well as other sources. We consider H$α$ observations, which track the star formation rate and are therefore correlated with the rate of compact binary mergers. H$α$ surveys are also able to filter out galaxies that are farther away than the maximum GW source distance. Rapid galaxy surveys that follow GW triggers could achieve $\sim90\%$ completeness with respect to star formation rate, which is currently unavailable. This will significantly reduce the required effort and enhance the immediate availability of catalogs compared to possible future all-sky surveys.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Can a Single High-energy Neutrino from Gamma-ray Bursts be a Discovery?

Current emission models of GeV-PeV neutrinos from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) predict a neutrino flux with $\ll 1$ detected neutrinos per GRB with kilometer-scale neutrino observatories. The detection of this flux will require the stacking of data from a large number of GRBs, leading to an increased background rate, decreasing the significance of a single neutrino detection. We show that utilizing the temporal correlation between the expected gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes, one can significantly improve the neutrino signal-to-noise ratio. We describe how this temporal correlation can be used. Using realistic GRB and atmospheric neutrino fluxes and incorporating temporal, spectral and directional information, we estimate the probability of a single detected GRB-neutrino being a 5$σ$ discovery.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Catalog of Isolated Emission Episodes in Gamma-ray Bursts from Fermi, Swift and BATSE

We report a comprehensive catalog of emission episodes within long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that are separated by a quiescent period during which gamma-ray emission falls below the background level. We use a fully automated identification method for an unbiased, large scale and expandable search. We examine a comprehensive sample of long GRBs from the BATSE, Swift and Fermi missions, assembling a total searched set of 2710 GRBs, the largest catalog of isolated emission episodes so far. Our search extends out to [-1000s,750s] around the burst trigger, expanding the covered time interval beyond previous studies and far beyond the nominal durations (T90) of most bursts. We compare our results to previous works by identifying pre-peak emission (or precursors), defined as isolated emission periods prior to the episode with the highest peak luminosity of the burst. We also systematically search for similarly defined periods after the burst's peak emission. We find that the pre-peak and post-peak emission periods are statistically similar, possibly indicating a common origin. For the analyzed GRBs, we identify 24% to have more than one isolated emission episode, with 11% having at least one pre-peak event and 15% having at least one post-peak event. We identify GRB activity significantly beyond their T90, which can be important for understanding the central engine activity as well as, e.g., gravitational-wave searches.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Cherenkov Telescope Array is Well Suited to Follow Up Gravitational Wave Transients

The first gravitational-wave (GW) observations will greatly benefit from the detection of coincident electromagnetic counterparts. Electromagnetic follow-ups will nevertheless be challenging for GWs with poorly reconstructed directions. GW source localization can be inefficient (i) if only two GW observatories are in operation; (ii) if the detectors' sensitivities are highly non-uniform; (iii) for events near the detectors' horizon distance. For these events, follow-up observations will need to cover 100-1000 square degrees of the sky over a limited period of time, reducing the list of suitable telescopes. We demonstrate that the Cherenkov Telescope Array will be capable of following up GW event candidates over the required large sky area with sufficient sensitivity to detect short gamma-ray bursts, which are thought to originate from compact binary mergers, out to the horizon distance of advanced LIGO/Virgo. CTA can therefore be invaluable starting with the first multimessenger detections, even with poorly reconstructed GW source directions. This scenario also provides a further scientific incentive for GW observatories to further decrease the delay of their event reconstruction.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Detection Prospects for GeV Neutrinos from Collisionally Heated Gamma-ray Bursts with IceCube/DeepCore

Jet heating via nuclear collisions may be the main mechanism for gamma-ray burst (GRB) emission. Besides producing the observed gamma-rays, collisional heating must generate 10-100 GeV neutrinos, implying a close relation between the neutrino and gamma-ray luminosities. We exploit this theoretical relation to make predictions for possible GRB detections by IceCube+DeepCore. To estimate the expected neutrino signal, we use the largest sample of bursts observed by BATSE in 1991-2000. A GRB neutrino could have been detected if IceCube+DeepCore operated at that time. Detection of 10-100 GeV neutrinos would have significant implications, shedding light on the composition of GRB jets and their Lorentz factors. This could be an important target in designing future upgrades of the IceCube+DeepCore observatory.

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