arXiv subjects

K. Bennett

Publications and source records attributed to K. Bennett.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Modelling Gamma Ray Emission and Pair Production in High-Intensity Laser-Matter Interactions

In high-intensity (> 10^21W/cm^2) laser-matter interactions gamma-ray photon emission by the electrons can strongly affect the electron's dynamics and copious numbers of electron-positron pairs can be produced by the emitted photons. We show how these processes can be included in simulations by coupling a Monte-Carlo algorithm describing the emission to a particle-in-cell code. The Monte-Carlo algorithm includes quantum corrections to the photon emission, which we show must be included if the pair production rate is to be correctly determined. The accuracy, convergence and energy conservation properties of the Monte-Carlo algorithm are analysed in simple test problems.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2013

Dense electron-positron plasmas and bursts of gamma-rays from laser-generated QED plasmas

In simulations of a 12.5PW laser (focused intensity I = 4x10^23W/cm^2) striking a solid aluminium target 10% of the laser energy is converted to gamma-rays. A dense electron-positron plasma is generated with a maximum density of 10^26/m^3; seven orders of magnitude denser than pure e-e+ plasmas generated with 1PW lasers. When the laser power is increased to 320PW (I = 10^25W/cm^2) 40% of the laser energy is converted to gamma-ray photons and 10% to electron-positron pairs. In both cases there is strong feedback between the QED emission processes and the plasma physics; the defining feature of the new `QED-plasma' regime reached in these interactions.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2012

Dense Electron-Positron Plasmas and Ultra-Intense Bursts of Gamma-Rays from Laser-Irradiated Solids

In simulations of a 10PW laser striking a solid we demonstrate the possibility of producing a pure electron-positron plasma by the same processes as those thought to operate in high-energy astrophysical environments. A maximum positron density of 10^26/m^3 is achieved, seven orders of magnitude greater than achieved in previous experiments. Additionally, 35% of the laser energy is converted to a burst of gamma-rays of intensity 10^22W/cm^2, potentially the most intense gamma-ray source available in the laboratory. This absorption results in a strong feedback between both pair and gamma-ray production and classical plasma physics in the new `QED-plasma' regime.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Planck Early Results: The Planck mission

The European Space Agency's Planck satellite was launched on 14 May 2009, and has been surveying the sky stably and continuously since 13 August 2009. Its performance is well in line with expectations, and it will continue to gather scientific data until the end of its cryogenic lifetime. We give an overview of the history of Planck in its first year of operations, and describe some of the key performance aspects of the satellite. This paper is part of a package submitted in conjunction with Planck's Early Release Compact Source Catalogue, the first data product based on Planck to be released publicly. The package describes the scientific performance of the Planck payload, and presents results on a variety of astrophysical topics related to the sources included in the Catalogue, as well as selected topics on diffuse emission.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2011

Planck early results. III. First assessment of the Low Frequency Instrument in-flight performance

The scientific performance of the Planck Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) after one year of in-orbit operation is presented. We describe the main optical parameters and discuss photometric calibration, white noise sensitivity, and noise properties. A preliminary evaluation of the impact of the main systematic effects is presented. For each of the performance parameters, we outline the methods used to obtain them from the flight data and provide a comparison with pre-launch ground assessments, which are essentially confirmed in flight.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Planck Early Results. V. The Low Frequency Instrument data processing

We describe the processing of data from the Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) used in production of the Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue (ERCSC). In particular, we discuss the steps involved in reducing the data from telemetry packets to cleaned, calibrated, time-ordered data (TOD) and frequency maps. Data are continuously calibrated using the modulation of the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation induced by the motion of the spacecraft. Noise properties are estimated from TOD from which the sky signal has been removed using a generalized least square map-making algorithm. Measured 1/f noise knee-frequencies range from 100mHz at 30GHz to a few tens of mHz at 70GHz. A destriping code (Madam) is employed to combine radiometric data and pointing information into sky maps, minimizing the variance of correlated noise. Noise covariance matrices required to compute statistical uncertainties on LFI and Planck products are also produced. Main beams are estimated down to the approx -10dB level using Jupiter transits, which are also used for geometrical calibration of the focal plane.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

Planck pre-launch status: the Planck-LFI programme

This paper provides an overview of the Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) programme within the ESA Planck mission. The LFI instrument has been developed to produce high precision maps of the microwave sky at frequencies in the range 27-77 GHz, below the peak of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation spectrum. The scientific goals are described, ranging from fundamental cosmology to Galactic and extragalactic astrophysics. The instrument design and development are outlined, together with the model philosophy and testing strategy. The instrument is presented in the context of the Planck mission. The LFI approach to ground and inflight calibration is described. We also describe the LFI ground segment. We present the results of a number of tests demonstrating the capability of the LFI data processing centre (DPC) to properly reduce and analyse LFI flight data, from telemetry information to calibrated and cleaned time ordered data, sky maps at each frequency (in temperature and polarization), component emission maps (CMB and diffuse foregrounds), catalogs for various classes of sources (the Early Release Compact Source Catalogue and the Final Compact Source Catalogue). The organization of the LFI consortium is briefly presented as well as the role of the core team in data analysis and scientific exploitation. All tests carried out on the LFI flight model demonstrate the excellent performance of the instrument and its various subunits. The data analysis pipeline has been tested and its main steps verified. In the first three months after launch, the commissioning, calibration, performance, and verification phases will be completed, after which Planck will begin its operational life, in which LFI will have an integral part.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2004

INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton Observations of GRB040106

On January 6th 2004, the IBAS burst alert system triggered the 8th gamma-ray burst (GRB) to be located by the INTEGRAL satellite. The position was determined and publicly distributed within 12s, prompting ESA's XMM-Newton to execute a ToO observation just 5 hours later, during which an X-ray afterglow was detected. The GRB had a duration ~52s with two distinct pulses separated by \~42s. Here we present the results of imaging and spectral analyses of the prompt emission from INTEGRAL data and the X-ray afterglow from XMM-Newton data. The gamma-ray spectrum is consistent with a single power-law of photon index -1.72 +/- 0.15. The fluence (20-200 keV) was 8.2 x 10^-7 erg cm^-2. The X-ray afterglow (F_nu (t) propto nu^-beta_X t^-delta) was extremely hard with beta_X = 0.47 +/- 0.01 and delta = 1.46 +/- 0.04. The 2-10 keV flux 11 hours after the burst was 1.1 x 10^-12 erg cm^-2 s^-1. The time profile of the GRB is consistent with the observed trends from previous analysis of BATSE GRBs. We find that the X-ray data are not well-fit by either a simple spherical fireball or by a speading jet, expanding into a homogeneous medium or a wind environment. Based on previously determined correlations between GRB spectra and redshift, we estimate a redshift of ~0.9^+0.5_-0.4 (1 sigma) and a lower limit on the isotropic radiated energy of ~5 x 10^51 erg in this burst.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Preliminary INTEGRAL Analysis of GRB040106

On January 6th 2004, the IBAS burst alert system triggered the 8th gamma-ray burst (GRB) to be detected by the INTEGRAL satellite. The position was determined and publicly distributed within 12s, enabling ESA's XMM-Newton to take advantage of a ToO observation just 5 hours later during which the x-ray afterglow was detected. Observations at optical wavelengths also revealed the existence of a fading optical source. The GRB is ~52s long with 2 distinct peaks separated by ~24s. At gamma-ray energies the burst was the weakest detected by INTEGRAL up to that time with a flux in the 20-200 keV band of 0.57 photons/cm^2/s. Nevertheless, it was possible to determine its position and extract spectra and fluxes. Here we present light curves and the results of imaging, spectral and temporal analyses of the prompt emission and the onset of the afterglow from INTEGRAL data.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

INTEGRAL Spectrometer Analysis of GRB030227 & GRB030131

The spectrometer SPI on board INTEGRAL is capable of high-resolution spectroscopic studies in the energy range 20keV to 8MeV for GRBs which occur within the fully coded field of view (16 degrees corner to corner). Six GRBs occurred within the SPI field of view between October 2002 and November 2003. We present results of the analysis of the first two GRBs detected by SPI after the payload performance and verification phase of INTEGRAL.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

INTEGRAL Spectrometer SPI's GRB detection capabilities. GRBs detected inside SPI's FoV and with the anticoincidence system ACS

The spectrometer SPI, one of the two main instruments of the INTEGRAL spacecraft, offers significant gamma-ray burst detection capabilities. In its 35 deg (full width) field of view SPI is able to localise gamma-ray bursts at a mean rate of ~ 0.8/month. With its large anticoincidence shield of 512 kg of BGO crystals SPI is able to detect gamma-ray bursts quasi omni-directionally with a very high sensitivity. Burst alerts of the anticoincidence shield are distributed by the INTEGRAL Burst Alert System. In the first 8 months of the mission about 0.8/day gamma-ray burst candidates and 0.3/day gamma-ray burst positions were obtained with the anticoincidence shield by interplanetary network triangulations with other spacecrafts.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

COMPTEL upper limits for the 56Co gamma-ray emission from SN1998bu

Supernova 1998bu in the galaxy M96 was observed by COMPTEL for a total of 88 days starting 17 days after the explosion. We searched for a signal in the 847 keV and 1238 keV lines of radioactive 56Co from this type Ia supernova. Using several different analysis methods, we did not detect SN1998bu. Our measurements should have been sensitive enough to detect 60Co gamma-rays as predicted from supernova models. Our 2-sigma flux limit is 2.3 10^{-5} photons cm^{-2} s^{-1}; this would correspond to 0.35 solar mass of ejected 56Ni, if SN1998bu were at a distance of 11.3 Mpc and transparent to MeV gamma rays for the period of our measurements. We discuss our measurements in the context of common supernova models, and conclude disfavoring a supernova event with large mixing and major parts of the freshly-generated radioactivity in outer layers.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

COMPTEL Observations of the Gamma-Ray Blazar PKS 1622-297

We report results of observations and analyses on the gamma-ray blazar PKS 1622-297, with emphasis on the COMPTEL data (0.75 - 30 MeV) collected between April 1991 and November 1997. PKS 1622-297 was detected as a source of gamma-rays by the EGRET experiment aboard CGRO in 1995 during a gamma-ray outburst at energies above 100 MeV lasting for five weeks. In this time period the blazar was significantly (~ 5.9 sigma) detected by COMPTEL at 10-30 MeV. At lower COMPTEL energies the detection is marginal, resulting in a hard MeV spectrum. The combined COMPTEL/EGRET energy spectrum shows a break at MeV energies. The broad-band spectrum (radio - gamma-rays) shows that the gamma-ray emission dominates the overall power output. On top of the 5-week gamma-ray outburst, EGRET detected a huge flare lasting for > 1 day. Enhanced MeV emission (10 - 30 MeV) is found near the time of this flare, suggesting a possible time delay with respect to the emission above 100 MeV. Outside the 5-week flaring period in 1995, we do not detect MeV emission from PKS 1622-297.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Towards a model of full-sky Galactic synchrotron intensity and linear polarisation: a re-analysis of the Parkes data

We have analysed the angular power spectra of the Parkes radio continuum and polarisation survey of the Southern galactic plane at 2.4 GHz. We have found that in the multipole range l=40-250 the angular power spectrum of the polarised intensity is well described by a power-law spectrum with fitted spectral index alpha_L = 2.37 +- 0.21. In the same multipole range the angular power spectra of the E and B components of the polarised signal are significantly flatter, with fitted spectral indices respectively of alpha_E = 1.57 +- 0.12 and alpha_B = 1.45 +- 0.12. Temperature fluctuations in the E and B components are mostly determined by variations in polarisation angle. We have combined these results with other data from available radio surveys in order to produce a full-sky toy model of Galactic synchrotron intensity and linear polarisation at high frequencies (> 10 GHz). This can be used to study the feasibility of measuring the Cosmic Microwave Background polarisation with forthcoming experiments and satellite missions.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

The Soft Gamma-Ray Spectral Variability of Cygnus X-1

We have used observations of Cygnus X-1 from the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) and BeppoSAX to study the variation in the MeV gamma-ray emission between the hard and soft spectral states, using spectra that cover the energy range 20 keV up to 10 MeV. These data provide evidence for significant spectral variability at energies above 1 MeV. In particular, whereas the hard X-ray flux decreases during the soft state, the flux at energies above 1 MeV increases, resulting in a significantly harder gamma-ray spectrum at energies above 1 MeV. This behavior is consistent with the general picture of galactic black hole candidates having two distinct spectral forms at soft gamma-ray energies. These data extend this picture, for the first time, to energies above 1 MeV. We have used two different hybrid thermal/non-thermal Comptonization models to fit broad band spectral data obtained in both the hard and soft spectral states. These fits provide a quantitative estimate of the electron distribution and allow us to probe the physical changes that take place during transitions between the low and high X-ray states. We find that there is a significant increase (by a factor of ~4) in the bolometric luminosity as the source moves from the hard state to the soft state. Furthermore, the presence of a non-thermal tail in the Comptonizing electron distribution provides significant constraints on the magnetic field in the source region.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

The Crab pulsar in the 0.75-30 MeV range as seen by CGRO COMPTEL

We present the time-averaged characteristics of the Crab pulsar in the 0.75-30 MeV energy window using data from the imaging Compton Telescope COMPTEL aboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) collected over its 9 year mission. Exploiting the exceptionally long COMPTEL exposure on the Crab allowed us to derive significantly improved COMPTEL spectra for the Crab nebula and pulsar emissions, and for the first time to accurately determine at low-energy gamma-rays the pulse profile as a function of energy. These timing data, showing the well-known main pulse and second pulse at a phase separation of 0.4 with strong bridge emission, are studied together with data obtained at soft/hard X-ray energies from the ROSAT HRI, BeppoSAX LECS, MECS and PDS, at soft gamma-rays from CGRO BATSE and at high-energy gamma-rays from CGRO EGRET in order to obtain a coherent high-energy picture of the Crab pulsar from 0.1 keV up to 10 GeV.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

COMPTEL Observations of the Blazars 3C 454.3 and CTA 102

We have analyzed the two blazars of 3C 454.3 and CTA 102 using all available COMPTEL data from 1991 to 1999. In the 10-30 MeV band, emission from the general direction of the sources is found at the 4$\sigma$-level, being consistent with contributions from both sources. Below 10 MeV only 3C 454.3 is significantly detected, with the strongest evidence (5.6 $\sigma$) in the 3-10 MeV band. Significant flux variability is not observed for both sources, while a low emission is seen most of the years in the 3-10 MeV light curve for 3C 454.3. Its time-averaged MeV spectrum suggests a power maximum between 3 to 10 MeV.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Gamma-Ray Spectral Variability of Cygnus X-1

We have used observations from CGRO to study the variation in the MeV emission of Cygnus X-1 between its low and high X-ray states. These data provide a measurement of the spectral variability above 1 MeV. The high state MeV spectrum is found to be much harder than that of the low state MeV spectrum. In particular, the power-law emission seen at hard X-ray energies in the high state spectrum (with a photon spectral index of 2.6) is found to extend out to at least 5 MeV, with no evidence for any cutoff. Here we present the data and describe our efforts to model both the low state and high state spectra using a hybrid thermal/nonthermal model in which the emission results from the Comptonization of an electron population that consists of both a thermal and nonthermal component.

astro-ph↗