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J. Martí

Publications and source records attributed to J. Martí.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Infrared and radio study of the W43 cluster: resolved binaries and non-thermal emission

Context: The recent detection of very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from the direction of the W43 star-forming region prompted us to investigate its stellar population in detail in an attempt to see wether or not it is possible an association. Aims: We search for the possible counterpart(s) of the gamma-ray source or any hints of them, such as non-thermal synchrotron emission as a tracer of relativistic particles often involved in plausible physical scenarios for VHE emission. Methods: We data-mined several archival databases with different degrees of success. The most significant results came from radio and near-infrared archival data. Results: The previously known Wolf-Rayet star in the W43 central cluster and another cluster member appear to be resolved into two components,suggesting a likely binary nature. In addition, extended radio emission with a clearly negative spectral index is detected in coincidence with the W43 cluster. These findings could have important implications for possible gamma-ray emitting scenarios, which we also briefly discuss.

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Polarization and photometric observations of the gamma-ray blazar PG 1553+113

We present the results of an observational photo-polarimetry campaign of the blazar PG 1553+113 at optical wavelengths. The blazar was recently detected at very high energies (> 100 GeV) by the H.E.S.S and MAGIC gamma-ray Cherenkov telescopes. Our high-temporal resolution data show significant variations in the linear polarization percentage and position angle at inter-night time-scales, while at shorter (intra-night) time-scales both parameters varied less significantly, if at all. Changes in the polarization angle seem to be common in gamma-ray emitting blazars. Simultaneous differential photometry (through the B and R bands) shows no significant variability in the total optical flux. We provide B and R magnitudes, along with a finding chart, for a set of field stars suitable for differential photometry.

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Identification of the optical and near-infrared counterpart of GRS 1758-258

Context. Understood to be a microquasar in the Galactic center region, GRS 1758-258 has not yet been unambiguously identified to have an optical/near-infrared counterpart, mainly because of the high absorption and the historic lack of suitable astrometric stars, which led to the use of secondary astrometric solutions. Although it is considered with 1E 1740.7-2942 as the prototypical microquasar in the Galactic center region, the Galactic origin of both sources has not yet been confirmed. Aims. We attempt to improve previous astrometry to identify a candidate counterpart to GRS 1758-258. We present observations with the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GTC), in which we try to detect any powerful emission lines that would infer an extragalactic origin of this source. Methods. We use modern star catalogues to reanalyze archival images of the GRS 1758-258 field in the optical and near-infrared wavelengths, and compute a new astrometric solution. We also reanalyzed archival radio data of GRS 1758-258 to determine a new and more accurate radio position. Results. Our improved astrometric solution for the GRS 1758-258 field represents a significant advancement on previous works and allows us to identify a single optical/near-infrared source, which we propose as the counterpart of GRS 1758-258. The GTC spectrum of this source is however of low signal-to-noise ratio and does not rule out a Galactic origin. Hence, new spectral observations are required to confirm or discard a Galactic nature.

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Simultaneous Observations of GRS 1758-258 in 1997 by VLA, IRAM, SEST, RXTE and OSSE: Spectroscopy and Timing

We report the results of our multi-wavelength observations of GRS 1758-258 made in August 1997. The energy bands include radio, millimeter, X-ray, and gamma-ray. The observations enable us to obtain a complete spectrum of the source over an energy range of 2 - 500 keV. The spectrum shows that GRS 1758-258 was in its hard state. It is well fitted by the Sunyaev-Titarchuk (ST) Compton scattering model. The spectrum is also fit by a power law with an exponential cutoff (PLE) plus a soft black-body component. The temperature of the soft component is about 1.2 keV, and the energy flux is less than 1.5% of the total X- and gamma-ray flux. The deduced hydrogen column density is in the range of (0.93 - 2.0) 10^{22} cm^{-2}. No significant iron lines are detected. The radio emission has a flat energy spectrum. The daily radio, X-ray and gamma-ray light curves show that GRS 1758-258 was stable during the observation period, but was highly variable on smaller time scales in X- and gamma-rays. The power density spectra are typical for the low-state, but we find the photon flux for the 5 to 10 keV band to be more variable than that in the other two energy bands (2 - 5 keV and 10 - 40 keV). Harmonically spaced quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are observed in the power spectra. The phase lags between the hard photons and the soft photons have a flat distribution over a wide range of frequencies. A high coherence of about 1.0 (0.01 - 1 Hz) between the hard photons and the soft photons is also obtained in our observations. We compare these results with two variation models. Our millimeter observations did not reveal any conclusive signatures of an interaction between the jet from GRS 1758-258 and the molecular cloud that lies in the direction of GRS 1758-258.

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