arXiv subjects

J. Martins

Publications and source records attributed to J. Martins.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Observational constraints on the spin/anisotropy of the CCOs of Cassiopeia A, Vela Jr. and G347.3-0.5 and a single surviving continuous gravitational wave candidate

We carry out the deepest and broadest search for continuous gravitational-wave signals from three neutron stars at the center of the supernova remnants Cassiopeia A, Vela Jr., and G347.3-0.5. This search was made possible by the computing power shared by thousands of Einstein@Home volunteers. After the initial Einstein@Home search, which used O3a data, we perform a multi-stage follow-up of the most promising $\approx$ 45 million signal candidates. In the last stages, we use independent data (O3b and O4a) to further investigate the remaining candidates from the previous stages. We set the most stringent constraints to date on the gravitational-wave amplitude, equatorial ellipticity, r-mode saturation amplitude, and -- for the first time -- the neutron-star crustal anisotropy. For spin periods lower than 2 ms we constrain the ellipticity to be smaller than $4\times 10^{-7}$ for all targets. We exclude crustal anisotropy values larger than $5\times 10^{-3}$ for spin periods between 1.3--100 ms. Only one candidate -- from the G347.3 search -- survives all follow-ups. We illustrate properties of this candidate. Investigations on new data will aid in clarifying its nature. Such ``new" data already exist, O4b and O4c, and would be optimal for this purpose, but they are not publicly accessible at the time of writing. In the appendix we provide our estimate of the candidate phase parameters, which are useful for others to carry out checks on the new data.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

A new framework to follow up candidates from continuous gravitational-wave searches

Searches for continuous gravitational waves from unknown neutron stars are limited in sensitivity due to their high computational cost. For this reason, developing new methods or improving existing ones can increase the probability of making a detection. In this paper we present a new framework that uses MCMC or nested sampling methods to follow-up candidates of continuous gravitational-wave searches. This framework aims to go beyond the capabilities of PYFSTAT (which is limited to the PTEMCEE sampler), by allowing a flexible choice of sampling algorithm (using BILBY as a wrapper) and multi-dimensional correlated prior distributions. We show that MCMC and nested sampling methods can recover the maximum posterior point for much bigger parameter-space regions than previously thought (including for sources in binary systems), and we present tests that examine the capabilities of the new framework: a comparison between the DYNESTY, NESSAI, and PTEMCEE samplers, the usage of correlated priors, and its improved computational cost.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Non-Markovianity, entropy production, and Jarzynski equality

We explore the role a non-Markovian memory kernel plays on information exchange and entropy production in the context of a external work protocol. The Jarzynski Equality is shown to hold for both the harmonic and the non-harmonic models. We observe the memory function acts as an information pump, recovering part of the information lost to the thermal reservoir as a consequence of the non-equilibrium work protocol. The pumping action occurs for both the harmonic and non-harmonic cases. Unexpectedly, we found that the harmonic model does not produce entropy, regardless of the work protocol. The presence of even a small amount of non-linearity recovers the more normal entropy producing behaviour, for out-of-equilibrium protocols.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2018

Magnetized Current Filaments as a Source of Circularly Polarized Light

We show that the Weibel or currente filamentation instability can lead to the emission of circularly polarized radiation. Using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and a radiation post-processing numerical algorithm, we demonstrate that the level of circular polarization increases with the initial plasma magnetization, saturating at ~13% when the magnetization, given by the ratio of magnetic energy density to the electron kinetic energy density, is larger than 0.05. Furthermore, we show that this effect requires an ion-electron mass ratio greater than unity. These findings, which could also be tested in currently available laboratory conditions, show that the recent observation of circular polarization in gamma ray burst afterglows could be attributed to the presence of magnetized current filaments driven by the Weibel or the current filamentation instability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Plasma based helical undulator for controlled emission of circularly and elliptically polarised betatron radiationJ. Vieira, J. Martins, U. Sinha

We explore a plasma based analogue of a helical undulator capable of providing circularly and elliptically polarised betatron radiation. We focus on ionisation injection configurations and in the conditions where the laser pulse driver can force collective betatron oscillations over the whole trapped electron bunch. With an analytical model and by employing three dimensional simulations and radiation calculations, we find that circularly or elliptically polarised laser drivers can force helical betatron oscillations, which produce circularly/elliptically polarised betatron x-rays. We assess the level of polarisation numerically and analytically, and find that the number of circularly polarised photons can be controlled by tuning the laser pulse driver polarisation. We show the production of betatron radiation that is circularly polarised up to < 40% close to regions of maximum photon flux. The total flux of circularly polarised betatron radiation drops for elliptically polarised drivers, and is negligible when using linear polarisation. Our results can be tested today in current experimental facilities.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

Does Dirac equation for a generalized Coulomb-like potential in D+1 dimensional flat spacetime admit any solution for $D\geq 4$?

The relativistic hydrogen atom in an Euclidean space-time of arbitrary number of space dimensions ($D$) plus one time dimension is revisited. In particular, numerical solutions of the radial Dirac equation for a generalized Coulombian potential proportional to $1/r^{(D-2)}$ are investigated. It is argued that one could not find any physical solution for $D\geq 4$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

The PLATO 2.0 Mission

PLATO 2.0 has recently been selected for ESA's M3 launch opportunity (2022/24). Providing accurate key planet parameters (radius, mass, density and age) in statistical numbers, it addresses fundamental questions such as: How do planetary systems form and evolve? Are there other systems with planets like ours, including potentially habitable planets? The PLATO 2.0 instrument consists of 34 small aperture telescopes (32 with 25 sec readout cadence and 2 with 2.5 sec candence) providing a wide field-of-view (2232 deg2) and a large photometric magnitude range (4-16 mag). It focusses on bright (4-11 mag) stars in wide fields to detect and characterize planets down to Earth-size by photometric transits, whose masses can then be determined by ground-based radial-velocity follow-up measurements. Asteroseismology will be performed for these bright stars to obtain highly accurate stellar parameters, including masses and ages. The combination of bright targets and asteroseismology results in high accuracy for the bulk planet parameters: 2%, 4-10% and 10% for planet radii, masses and ages, respectively. The planned baseline observing strategy includes two long pointings (2-3 years) to detect and bulk characterize planets reaching into the habitable zone (HZ) of solar-like stars and an additional step-and-stare phase to cover in total about 50% of the sky. PLATO 2.0 will observe up to 1,000,000 stars and detect and characterize hundreds of small planets, and thousands of planets in the Neptune to gas giant regime out to the HZ. It will therefore provide the first large-scale catalogue of bulk characterized planets with accurate radii, masses, mean densities and ages. This catalogue will include terrestrial planets at intermediate orbital distances, where surface temperatures are moderate. Coverage of this parameter range with statistical numbers of bulk characterized planets is unique to PLATO 2.0.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2013

Solving a two-electron quantum dot model in terms of polynomial solutions of a Biconfluent Heun Equation

The effects on the non-relativistic dynamics of a system compound by two electrons interacting by a Coulomb potential and with an external harmonic oscillator potential, confined to move in a two dimensional Euclidean space, are investigated. In particular, it is shown that it is possible to determine exactly and in a closed form a finite portion of the energy spectrum and the associated eigeinfunctions for the Schrödinger equation describing the relative motion of the electrons, by putting it into the form of a biconfluent Heun equation. In the same framework, another set of solutions of this type can be straightforwardly obtained for the case when the two electrons are submitted also to an external constant magnetic field.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Effects on the Non-Relativistic Dynamics of a Charged Particle Interacting with a Chern-Simons Potential

The hydrogen atom in two dimensions, described by a Schrödinger equation with a Chern-Simons potential, is numerically solved. Both its wave functions and eigenvalues were determined for small values of the principal quantum number $n$. The only possible states correspond to $l=0$. How the result depends on the topological mass of the photon is also discussed. In the case $n=1$, the energy of the fundamental state corresponding to different choice for the photon mass scale are found to be comprehended in the interval $-3,5 \times 10^{-3} eV \leq E \leq -9,0 \times 10^{-2} eV$, corresponding to a mean radius of the electron in the range $ (5.637 \pm 0.005) \times 10^{-8}$~cm $\leq \leq (48.87 \pm 0.03) \times 10^{-8}$~cm. In any case, the planar atom is found to be very weekly bounded showing some features similar to the Rydberg atoms in three dimensions with a Coulombian interaction.

quant-ph↗