arXiv subjects

M. Kuss

Publications and source records attributed to M. Kuss.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

The radio/gamma-ray connection in Active Galactic Nuclei in the era of the Fermi Large Area Telescope

We present a detailed statistical analysis of the correlation between radio and gamma-ray emission of the Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) detected by Fermi during its first year of operation, with the largest datasets ever used for this purpose. We use both archival interferometric 8.4 GHz data (from the VLA and ATCA, for the full sample of 599 sources) and concurrent single-dish 15 GHz measurements from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO, for a sub sample of 199 objects). Our unprecedentedly large sample permits us to assess with high accuracy the statistical significance of the correlation, using a surrogate-data method designed to simultaneously account for common-distance bias and the effect of a limited dynamical range in the observed quantities. We find that the statistical significance of a positive correlation between the cm radio and the broad band (E>100 MeV) gamma-ray energy flux is very high for the whole AGN sample, with a probability <1e-7 for the correlation appearing by chance. Using the OVRO data, we find that concurrent data improve the significance of the correlation from 1.6e-6 to 9.0e-8. Our large sample size allows us to study the dependence of correlation strength and significance on specific source types and gamma-ray energy band. We find that the correlation is very significant (chance probability <1e-7) for both FSRQs and BL Lacs separately; a dependence of the correlation strength on the considered gamma-ray energy band is also present, but additional data will be necessary to constrain its significance.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Radio and Gamma-Ray Constraints on the Emission Geometry and Birthplace of PSR J2043+2740

We report on the first year of Fermi gamma-ray observations of pulsed high-energy emission from the old PSR J2043+2740. The study of the gamma-ray efficiency of such old pulsars gives us an insight into the evolution of pulsars' ability to emit in gammma rays as they age. The gamma-ray lightcurve of this pulsar above 0.1 GeV is clearly defined by two sharp peaks, 0.353+/-0.035 periods apart. We have combined the gamma-ray profile characteristics of PSR J2043+2740 with the geometrical properties of the pulsar's radio emission, derived from radio polarization data, and constrained the pulsar-beam geometry in the framework of a Two Pole Caustic and an Outer Gap model. The ranges of magnetic inclination and viewing angle were determined to be {alpha,zeta}~{52-57,61-68} for the Two Pole Caustic model, and {alpha,zeta}~{62-73,74-81} and {alpha,zeta}~{72-83,60-75} for the Outer Gap model. Based on this geometry, we assess possible birth locations for this pulsar and derive a likely proper motion, sufficiently high to be measurable with VLBI. At a characteristic age of 1.2 Myr, PSR J2043+2740 is the third oldest of all discovered, non-recycled, gamma-ray pulsars: it is twice as old as the next oldest, PSR J0357+32, and younger only than the recently discovered PSR J1836+5925 and PSR J2055+25, both of which are at least 5 and 10 times less energetic, respectively.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2010

Constraints on Cosmological Dark Matter Annihilation from the Fermi-LAT Isotropic Diffuse Gamma-Ray Measurement

The first published Fermi large area telescope (Fermi-LAT) measurement of the isotropic diffuse gamma-ray emission is in good agreement with a single power law, and is not showing any signature of a dominant contribution from dark matter sources in the energy range from 20 to 100 GeV. We use the absolute size and spectral shape of this measured flux to derive cross section limits on three types of generic dark matter candidates: annihilating into quarks, charged leptons and monochromatic photons. Predicted gamma-ray fluxes from annihilating dark matter are strongly affected by the underlying distribution of dark matter, and by using different available results of matter structure formation we assess these uncertainties. We also quantify how the dark matter constraints depend on the assumed conventional backgrounds and on the Universe's transparency to high-energy gamma-rays. In reasonable background and dark matter structure scenarios (but not in all scenarios we consider) it is possible to exclude models proposed to explain the excess of electrons and positrons measured by the Fermi-LAT and PAMELA experiments. Derived limits also start to probe cross sections expected from thermally produced relics (e.g. in minimal supersymmetry models) annihilating predominantly into quarks. For the monochromatic gamma-ray signature, the current measurement constrains only dark matter scenarios with very strong signals.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Fermi LAT Search for Photon Lines from 30 to 200 GeV and Dark Matter Implications

Dark matter (DM) particle annihilation or decay can produce monochromatic $γ$-rays readily distinguishable from astrophysical sources. $γ$-ray line limits from 30 GeV to 200 GeV obtained from 11 months of Fermi Large Area Space Telescope data from 20-300 GeV are presented using a selection based on requirements for a $γ$-ray line analysis, and integrated over most of the sky. We obtain $γ$-ray line flux upper limits in the range $0.6-4.5\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\mathrm{s}^{-1}$, and give corresponding DM annihilation cross-section and decay lifetime limits. Theoretical implications are briefly discussed.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

Observations of Milky Way Dwarf Spheroidal galaxies with the Fermi-LAT detector and constraints on Dark Matter models

We report on the observations of 14 dwarf spheroidal galaxies with the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope taken during the first 11 months of survey mode operations. The Fermi telescope provides a new opportunity to test particle dark matter models through the expected gamma-ray emission produced by pair annihilation of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Local Group dwarf spheroidal galaxies, the largest galactic substructures predicted by the cold dark matter scenario, are attractive targets for such indirect searches for dark matter because they are nearby and among the most extreme dark matter dominated environments. No significant gamma-ray emission was detected above 100 MeV from the candidate dwarf galaxies. We determine upper limits to the gamma-ray flux assuming both power-law spectra and representative spectra from WIMP annihilation. The resulting integral flux above 100 MeV is constrained to be at a level below around 10^-9 photons cm^-2 s^-1. Using recent stellar kinematic data, the gamma-ray flux limits are combined with improved determinations of the dark matter density profile in 8 of the 14 candidate dwarfs to place limits on the pair annihilation cross-section of WIMPs in several widely studied extensions of the standard model. With the present data, we are able to rule out large parts of the parameter space where the thermal relic density is below the observed cosmological dark matter density and WIMPs (neutralinos here) are dominantly produced non-thermally, e.g. in models where supersymmetry breaking occurs via anomaly mediation. The gamma-ray limits presented here also constrain some WIMP models proposed to explain the Fermi and PAMELA e^+e^- data, including low-mass wino-like neutralinos and models with TeV masses pair-annihilating into muon-antimuon pairs. (Abridged)

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

The Spectral Energy Distribution of Fermi bright blazars

(Abridged) We have conducted a detailed investigation of the broad-band spectral properties of the γ-ray selected blazars of the Fermi LAT Bright AGN Sample (LBAS). By combining our accurately estimated Fermi gamma-ray spectra with Swift, radio, infra-red, optical and other hard X-ray/gamma-ray data, collected within three months of the LBAS data taking period, we were able to assemble high-quality and quasi-simultaneous Spectral Energy Distributions (SED) for 48 LBAS blazars.The SED of these gamma-ray sources is similar to that of blazars discovered at other wavelengths, clearly showing, in the usual Log $ν$ - Log $ν$ F$_ν$ representation, the typical broad-band spectral signatures normally attributed to a combination of low-energy synchrotron radiation followed by inverse Compton emission of one or more components. We have used these SEDs to characterize the peak intensity of both the low and the high-energy components. The results have been used to derive empirical relationships that estimate the position of the two peaks from the broad-band colors (i.e. the radio to optical and optical to X-ray spectral slopes) and from the gamma-ray spectral index. Our data show that the synchrotron peak frequency $ν_p^S$ is positioned between 10$^{12.5}$ and 10$^{14.5}$ Hz in broad-lined FSRQs and between $10^{13}$ and $10^{17}$ Hz in featureless BL Lacertae objects.We find that the gamma-ray spectral slope is strongly correlated with the synchrotron peak energy and with the X-ray spectral index, as expected at first order in synchrotron - inverse Compton scenarios. However, simple homogeneous, one-zone, Synchrotron Self Compton (SSC) models cannot explain most of our SEDs, especially in the case of FSRQs and low energy peaked (LBL) BL Lacs. (...)

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Prospects for GRB Science with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

The LAT instrument on the Fermi mission will reveal the rich spectral and temporal gamma-ray burst phenomena in the > 100 MeV band. The synergy with Fermi's GBM detectors will link these observations to those in the well explored 10-1000 keV range; the addition of the > 100 MeV band observations will resolve theoretical uncertainties about burst emission in both the prompt and afterglow phases. Trigger algorithms will be applied to the LAT data both onboard the spacecraft and on the ground. The sensitivity of these triggers will differ because of the available computing resources onboard and on the ground. Here we present the LAT's burst detection methodologies and the instrument's GRB capabilities.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2008

3He Spin-Dependent Cross Sections and Sum Rules

We present a measurement of the spin-dependent cross sections for the \vec{^3He}(\vec{e},e')X} reaction in the quasielastic and resonance regions at four-momentum transfer 0.1 < Q^2< 0.9 GeV^2. The spin-structure functions have been extracted and used to evaluate the nuclear Burkhardt--Cottingham and extended GDH sum rules for the first time. Impulse approximation and exact three-body Faddeev calculations are also compared to the data in the quasielastic region.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2008

The f_LT Response Function of D(e,e'p)n at Q^2=0.33(GeV/c)^2

The interference response function f_LT (R_LT) of the D(e,e'p)n reaction has been determined at squared four-momentum transfer Q^2 = 0.33 (GeV/c)^2 and for missing momenta up to p_miss= 0.29 (GeV/c). The results have been compared to calculations that reproduce f_LT quite well but overestimate the cross sections by 10 - 20% for missing momenta between 0.1 (GeV/c) and 0.2 (GeV/c) .

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2007

Imaging with the invisible light

We describe a UV photo-detector with single photon(electron) counting and imaging capability. It is based on a CsI photocathode, a GEM charge multiplier and a self triggering CMOS analog pixel chip with 105k pixels at 50 micron pitch. The single photoelectron produced by the absorption of a UV photon is drifted to and multiplied inside a single GEM hole. The coordinates of the GEM avalanche are reconstructed with high accuracy (4 micron rms) by the pixel chip. As a result the map of the GEM holes, arranged on a triangular pattern at 50micron pitch, is finely imaged.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2006

Gas Pixel Detectors for X-ray Polarimetry applications

We discuss a new class of Micro Pattern Gas Detectors, the Gas Pixel Detector (GPD), in which a complete integration between the gas amplification structure and the read-out electronics has been reached. An Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) built in deep sub-micron technology has been developed to realize a monolithic device that is, at the same time, the pixelized charge collecting electrode and the amplifying, shaping and charge measuring front-end electronics. The CMOS chip has the top metal layer patterned in a matrix of 80 micron pitch hexagonal pixels, each of them directly connected to the underneath electronics chain which has been realized in the remaining five layers of the 0.35 micron VLSI technology. Results from tests of a first prototype of such detector with 2k pixels and a full scale version with 22k pixels are presented. The application of this device for Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry is discussed. The experimental detector response to polarized and unpolarized X-ray radiation is shown. Results from a full MonteCarlo simulation for two astronomical sources, the Crab Nebula and the Hercules X1, are also reported.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Simulating the High Energy Gamma-ray sky seen by the GLAST Large Area Telescope

This paper presents the simulation of the GLAST high energy gamma-ray telescope. The simulation package, written in C++, is based on the Geant4 toolkit, and it is integrated into a general framework used to process events. A detailed simulation of the electronic signals inside Silicon detectors has been provided and it is used for the particle tracking, which is handled by a dedicated software. A unique repository for the geometrical description of the detector has been realized using the XML language and a C++ library to access this information has been designed and implemented. A new event display based on the HepRep protocol was implemented. The full simulation was used to simulate a full week of GLAST high energy gamma-ray observations. This paper outlines the contribution developed by the Italian GLAST software group.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Measurement of Rlt and Atl in the 4He(e,e'p)3H Reaction at pmiss of 130-300 MeV/c

We have measured the 4He(e,e'p)3H reaction at missing momenta of 130-300 MeV/c using the three-spectrometer facility at the Mainz microtron MAMI. Data were taken in perpendicular kinematics to allow us to determine the response function Rlt and the asymmetry term Atl. The data are compared to both relativistic and non-relativistic calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2003

Gleam: the GLAST Large Area Telescope Simulation Framework

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) Balloon Flight Data Handling Overview

The GLAST Balloon Flight Engineering Model (BFEM) represents one of 16 towers that constitute the Large Area Telescope (LAT), a high-energy (>20 MeV) gamma-ray pair-production telescope being built by an international partnership of astrophysicists and particle physicists for a satellite launch in 2006. The prototype tower consists of a Pb/Si pair-conversion tracker (TKR), a CsI hodoscopic calorimeter (CAL), an anti-coincidence detector (ACD) and an autonomous data acquisition system (DAQ). The self-triggering capabilities and performance of the detector elements have been previously characterized using positron, photon and hadron beams. External target scintillators were placed above the instrument to act as sources of hadronic showers. This paper provides a comprehensive description of the BFEM data-reduction process, from receipt of the flight data from telemetry through event reconstruction and background rejection cuts. The goals of the ground analysis presented here are to verify the functioning of the instrument and to validate the reconstruction software and the background-rejection scheme.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Self energies of the pion and the delta isobar from the ^3He(e,e'pi^+)^3H reaction

In a kinematically complete experiment at the Mainz microtron MAMI, pion angular distributions of the $^3$He(e,e'$π^+)^3$H reaction have been measured in the excitation region of the $Δ$ resonance to determine the longitudinal ($L$), transverse ($T$), and the $LT$ interference part of the differential cross section. The data are described only after introducing self-energy modifications of the pion and $Δ$-isobar propagators. Using Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) to extrapolate the pion self energy as inferred from the measurement on the mass shell, we deduce a reduction of the $π^+$ mass of $Δm_{π^+} = (-1.7^{+ 1.7}_{- 2.1})$ MeV/c$^2$ in the neutron-rich nuclear medium at a density of $ρ= (0.057^{+ 0.085}_{- 0.057})$ fm$^{-3}$. Our data are consistent with the $Δ$ self energy determined from measurements of $π^0$ photoproduction from $^4$He and heavier nuclei.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2001

The quasielastic 2H(e,e'p)n reaction at high recoil momenta

The 2H(e,e'p)n cross section was measured in Hall A of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) in quasielastic kinematics (x=0.96) at a four-momentum transfer squared, Q^2=0.67 (GeV/c)^2. The experiment was performed in fixed electron kinematics for recoil momenta from zero to 550 MeV/c. Though the measured cross section deviates by 1-2 sigma from a state-of-the-art calculation at low recoil momenta, it agrees at high recoil momenta where final state interactions (FSI) are predicted to be large.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv1999

High-precision Studies of the $^{\bf{3}}$He(e,e$^{\bf{\prime}}$p) Reaction at the Quasielastic Peak

Precision studies of the reaction $^{3}$He(e,e$^\prime$p) using the three-spectrometer facility at the Mainz microtron MAMI are presented. All data are for quasielastic kinematics at $|\vec{q} | =685$ MeV/c. Absolute cross sections were measured at three electron kinematics. For the measured missing momenta range from 10 to 165 MeV/c, no strength is observed for missing energies higher than 20 MeV. Distorted momentum distributions were extracted for the two-body breakup and the continuum. The longitudinal and transverse behavior was studied by measuring the cross section for three photon polarizations. The longitudinal and transverse nature of the cross sections is well described by a currently accepted and widely used prescription of the off-shell electron-nucleon cross-section. The results are compared to modern three-body calculations and to previous data.

nucl-ex↗