arXiv subjects

Marco Roncadelli

Publications and source records attributed to Marco Roncadelli.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Determining all gas properties in galaxy clusters from the dark matter distribution alone

We demonstrate that all properties of the hot X-ray emitting gas in galaxy clusters are completely determined by the underlying dark matter (DM) structure. Apart from the standard conditions of spherical symmetry and hydrostatic equilibrium for the gas, our proof is based on the Jeans equation for the DM and two simple relations which have recently emerged from numerical simulations: the equality of the gas and DM temperatures, and the almost linear relation between the DM velocity anisotropy profile and its density slope. For DM distributions described by the NFW or the Sersic profiles, the resulting gas density profile, the gas-to-total-mass ratio profile, and the entropy profile are all in good agreement with X-ray observations. All these profiles are derived using zero free parameters. Our result allows us to predict the X-ray luminosity profile of a cluster in terms of its DM content alone. As a consequence, a new strategy becomes available to constrain the DM morphology in galaxy clusters from X-ray observations. Our results can also be used as a practical tool for creating initial conditions for realistic cosmological structures to be used in numerical simulations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Photon-axion conversion in Active Galactic Nuclei?

Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) are the focus of intense current research. We analyze photon-ALP conversion in the context of relativistic jet models of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) for more than 100 sources. Contrary to previous claims, we find that this process cannot occur above 100 GeV regardless of the actual AGN model and the values of ALP parameters. This result rules out a proposed strategy to bypass the cosmic opacity above 100 GeV, as apparently required by observations. We also show that for some AGN an observable effect can show up in the X and soft gamma-ray bands.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Primordial black holes are again on the limelight

We derive a strong upper bound on the amount of Primordial Black Holes (PBHs) that can still be present in the Universe. Gravitational capture of PBHs by the Milky Way stars during their formation and subsequent accretion would produce a dramatic depletion of disk stars and especially of white dwarfs, unless the average cosmic density and mass of PBHs are severely constrained. Our finding also helps to discriminate among the various production mechanisms of PBHs. Moreover, we show that a star becomes overluminous before its disappearance into a PBH for a time span independent of its mass, thereby providing a characteristic observational signature of the considered scenario. We stress that our result allows for the existence of stellar-mass black holes in a mass range that is forbidden by standard stellar evolution.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Evidence for a New Light Boson from Cosmological Gamma-Ray Propagation?

An anomalously large transparency of the Universe to gamma rays has recently been discovered by the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) H.E.S.S. and MAGIC. We show that observations can be reconciled with standard blazar emission models provided photon oscillations into a very light Axion-Like Particle occur in extragalactic magnetic fields. A quantitative estimate of this effect is successfully applied to the blazar 3C279. Our prediction can be tested with the satellite-borne Fermi/LAT detector as well as with the ground-based IACTs H.E.S.S., MAGIC, CANGAROOIII, VERITAS and the Extensive Air Shower arrays ARGO-YBJ andMILAGRO. Our result also offers an important observational test for models of dark energy wherein quintessence is coupled to the photon through an effective dimension-five operator.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Constraints on Large-Scale Magnetic Fields from the Auger Results

A recent article from the Pierre Auger Collaboration links the direction of charged cosmic rays to possible extragalactic sites of emission. The correlation of the direction of such particles with the direction of the emitter allows constraining the value of large-scale magnetic fields B. Assuming for B a coherence length in the range between 1 Mpc and 10 Mpc, we find values of B between 0.3 and 0.9 nG.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Evidence for a new light spin-zero boson from cosmological gamma-ray propagation?

Recent findings by Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes indicate a large transparency of the Universe to gamma rays, which can be hardly explained within the current models of extragalactic background light. We show that the observed transparency is naturally produced by an oscillation mechanism -- which can occur inside intergalactic magnetic fields -- whereby a photon can become a new spin-zero boson with mass m << 10^(-10) eV. Because the latter particle travels unimpeded throughout the Universe, photons can reach the observer even if the distance from the source considerably exceeds their mean free path. We compute the expected flux of gamma rays from blazar 3C279 at different energies. Our predictions can be tested in the near future by the gamma-ray telescopes H.E.S.S., MAGIC, CANGAROO and VERITAS. Moreover, our result provides an important observational test for models of dark energy wherein quintessence is coupled to the photon through an effective dimension-five operator.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Axion-Like Particles, Cosmic Magnetic Fields and Gamma-Ray Astrophysics

Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) are predicted by many extensions of the Standard Model and give rise to characteristic dimming and polarization effects in a light beam travelling in a magnetic field. In this Letter, we demonstrate that photon-ALP mixing in cosmic magnetic fields produces an observable distortion in the energy spectra of distant gamma-ray sources (like AGN) for ranges of the ALP parameters allowed by all available constraints. The resulting effect is expected to show up in the energy band 100 MeV - 100 GeV, and so it can be serched with the upcoming GLAST mission.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Quantum Hamilton-Jacobi Theory

Quantum canonical transformations have attracted interest since the beginning of quantum theory. Based on their classical analogues, one would expect them to provide a powerful quantum tool. However, the difficulty of solving a nonlinear operator partial differential equation such as the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi equation (QHJE) has hindered progress along this otherwise promising avenue. We overcome this difficulty. We show that solutions to the QHJE can be constructed by a simple prescription starting from the propagator of the associated Schroedinger equation. Our result opens the possibility of practical use of quantum Hamilton-Jacobi theory. As an application we develop a surprising relation between operator ordering and the density of paths around a semiclassical trajectory.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Behind Pvlas

We offer a detailed review of the physics behind the PVLAS experiment. We also address some laboratory and astrophysical cross-checks for the recent claim concerning a signal consistent with an Axion-Like Particle. Our aim is that the leading role played by Emilio (Mimmo) Zavattini in this field of research will become apparent.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Light Pseudoscalar Bosons, PVLAS and the Double Pulsar J0737-3039

Light Pseudoscalar Bosons (LPBs) coupled to two photons are predicted by many realistic extensions of the Standard Model and give rise to birefringence and dichroism in a light beam travelling in an external magnetic field. These effects have recently been detected by the PVLAS collaboration, thereby strongly suggesting the existence of a LPB. We provide an astrophysical cross-check for such a claim. Actually, we show that in the double pulsar J0737-3039 photon-LPB conversion can give rise to a characteristic attenuation pattern of the light beam emitted by one of the pulsars when it goes through the magnetosphere of the companion. The effect under consideration shows up in the $γ$-ray band and can be detected by the upcoming GLAST mission.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Discovering Light Pseudoscalar Bosons in Double-Pulsar Observations

The axion is just one from a general class of new particles -- called Light Pseudoscalar Bosons (LPBs) -- predicted by many realistic extensions of the Standard Model. We offer a somewhat pedagogical review of their main properties, with particular emphasis on the effects they induce in a light beam travelling in an external magnetic field, like photon-LPB oscillations, birefringence and dichroism. Moreover, we discuss a new strategy whereby LPBs can be discovered by high-precision observations of certain binary neutron-star systems. Basically, in a double pulsar seen almost edge-on, photon-LPB oscillations can give rise to a characteristic attenuation pattern of the light beam emitted by one of the pulsars when it goes through the magnetosphere of the companion. Depending on the actual values of the LPB mass and its two-photon coupling constant, the effect can be seen in the $γ$-ray band with the upcoming GLAST mission. We also shown that this method provides a remarkable cross-check for the recent claim by the PVLAS collaboration about the existence of a new LPB.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Looking for Light Pseudoscalar Bosons in the Binary Pulsar System J0737-3039

We present numerical calculations of the photon-light-pseudoscalar-boson conversion in the recently discovered binary pulsar system J0737-3039. Light pseudoscalar bosons (LPBs) oscillate into photons in the presence of strong magnetic fields. In the context of this binary pulsar system, this phenomenon attenuates the light beam emitted by one of the pulsars, when the light ray goes through the magnetosphere of the companion pulsar. We show that such an effect is observable in the gamma-ray band since the binary pulsar is seen almost edge-on, depending on the value of the LPB mass and on the strenght of its two-photon coupling. Our results are surprising in that they show a very sharp and significant (up to 50%) transition probability in the gamma-ray ($>$ tens of MeV) domain. The observations can be performed by the upcoming NASA GLAST mission.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Dark Baryons in Galactic Halos

As is well known, most of the baryons are observationally unaccounted. Moreover, certain recent developments suggest that dark baryons are mostly locked up in galactic halos - which are anyway dominated by nonbaryonic dark matter - and a sizable fraction of them consists of gas clouds. While a priori various forms of baryonic dark matter in galaxies can be conceived, observational constraints rule out most of the possibilities, leaving brown dwarfs and cold gas clouds mostly made of H_2 as the only viable candidates. So, it looks natural to suppose that baryonic dark matter in galaxies is accounted for by dark clusters made of brown dwarfs and cold H_2 clouds. We discuss a realistic dark cluster formation mechanism. We also discuss various ramifications of the dark cluster scenario in question, paying particular attention to its observational implications.

astro-ph↗