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Mariusz Tarnopolski

Publications and source records attributed to Mariusz Tarnopolski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in Gamma-Ray Bursts' Prompt Light Curves

I report on the discovery of 34 new quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the prompt light curves of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) from the Swift/BAT catalog: with one or more constant leading periods, as well as several chirping signals. This is the largest homogenously identified sample or GRB QPOs to date. The presence of QPOs suggests the existence of characteristic time scales that at least in some GRBs might be related to the dynamical properties of plasma trajectories in the accretion disks powering the relativistic jets. Several scenarios for their origin were examined. We identify non-planar orbits around Kerr black holes, the Lense-Thirring effect, and shock oscillations as plausible mechanisms for the QPO generation.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2025

Distance to M87 as the Mode of the Modulus Distribution

de Grijs and Bono (ApJS 2020, 246, 3) compiled a list of distances to M87 from the literature published in the last 100 years. They reported the arithmetic mean of the three most stable tracers (Cepheids, tip of the red giant branch, and surface brightness fluctuations). The arithmetic mean is one of the measures of central tendency of a distribution; others are the median and mode. The three do not align for asymmetric distributions, which is the case for the distance moduli $μ_0$ to M87. I construct a kernel density distribution of the set of $μ_0$ and estimate the recommended distance to M87 as its mode, obtaining $μ_0 = \left(31.06~\pm~0.001\,\textrm{(statistical)}\,^{+0.04}_{-0.06}\,\textrm{(systematic)}\right)$~mag, corresponding to \linebreak $D=16.29^{+0.30}_{-0.45}$~Mpc, which yields uncertainties smaller than those associated with the mean and median.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2023

Continuous Filament Network of the Local Universe

Simulated galaxy distributions are suitable for developing filament detection algorithms. However, samples of observed galaxies, being of limited size, cause difficulties that lead to a discontinuous distribution of filaments. We created a new galaxy filament catalog composed of a continuous cosmic web with no lone filaments. The core of our approach is a ridge filter used within the framework of image analysis. We considered galaxies from the HyperLeda database with redshifts $0.02\leqslant z\leqslant 0.1$, and in the solid angle $120^\circ\leqslant {\rm RA}\leqslant 240^\circ$, $0^\circ\leqslant {\rm DEC}\leqslant 60^\circ$. We divided the sample into 16 two-dimensional celestial projections with redshift bin $Δz=0.005$, and compared our continuous filament network with a similar recent catalog covering the same region of the sky. We tested our catalog on two application scenarios. First, we compared the distributions of distance to nearest filament of various astrophysical sources (Seyfert galaxies and other active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, low surface brightness galaxies, and dwarf galaxies), and found that all source types trace the filaments well, with no systematic differences. Next, among the HyperLeda galaxies, we investigated the dependence of $g-r$ color distribution on distance to nearest filament, and confirmed that early type galaxies are located on average further from the filaments than late type ones.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2021

Comprehensive power spectral density analysis of the Fermi-LAT $γ$-ray light curves of selected blazars

We present the results of the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) light curve (LC) modelling of selected blazars: six flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and five BL Lacertae (BL Lacs). All objects have densely sampled and long-term LCs, over 10 years. For each blazar we generated three LCs with 7, 10, and 14 days binning, using the latest LAT 8-year source catalog and binned analysis provided within the fermipy package. The LCs were modelled with several tools: the Fourier transform, the Lomb-Scargle periodogram (LSP), the autoregressive moving average (ARMA), the fractional autoregressive integrated moving average, the continuous-time autoregressive moving average (CARMA) processes, the Hurst exponents ($H$), the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane, and the wavelet scalogram. The power law indices $β$ calculated from the Fourier and LSP modelling are consistent with each other. Many objects yield $β\simeq 1$, with PKS 2155$-$304 even flatter, but some are significantly steeper, e.g. Mrk 501 and B2 1520+31. The power law PSD is indicative of a self-affine stochastic process characterised by $H$, underlying the observed variability. Several algorithms for the $H$ estimations are employed. For some objects we found $H>0.5$, indicating long-term memory. We confirm a quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the PKS 2155$-$304 data with the period of $612\pm 42$ days at a $3σ$ significance level, but do not detect any QPOs in other objects. The ARMA results give in general higher orders for 7 days binned LCs and lower orders for 10 and 14 days binned LCs, implying temporal variations in the LCs are consistently captured by the fitted models. CARMA modelling leads to featureless PSDs. The recently introduced $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane allows us to successfully classify the PSDs based on the LCs alone and clearly separates the FSRQ and BL Lac types of blazars.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2021

Graph-based clustering of gamma-ray bursts

Aims. An attempt to classify gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with a low level of supervision using the state-of-the-start approaches stemming from graph theory was undertaken. Methods. Graph-based classification methods, relying on different variants of the $k$-nearest neighbour graph, were applied to various GRB samples in the duration-hardness ratio parameter space to infer the optimal partitioning. Results. In most cases it is found that both two and three groups are feasible, with the outcome being more ambiguous with an increasing sample size. Conclusions. There is no clear indication of the presence of a third GRB class; however, such a possibility cannot be ruled out with the employed methodology. There are no hints at more than three classes though.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2021

How does the shape of gamma-ray bursts' pulses affect the duration distribution?

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) come in two types, short and long. The distribution of logarithmic durations of long GRBs is asymmetric rather than Gaussian. Such an asymmetry, when modelled with a mixture of Gaussian distributions, requires an introduction of an additional component, often associated with another class of GRBs. However, when modelled with inherently asymmetric distributions, there is no need for such a component. The cosmological dilation was already ruled out as a source of the asymmetry, hence its origin resides in the progenitors. GRB light curves (LCs) are usually well described by a series of fast-rise-exponential-decay pulses. A statistical analysis of ensembles of simulated LCs shows that the asymmetry is a natural consequence of the pulse shape and the multi-pulse character of the LCs.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2021

A Comprehensive Power Spectral Density Analysis of Astronomical Time Series. II. The Swift/BAT Long Gamma-Ray Bursts

We investigated the prompt light curves (LCs) of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) from the Swift/BAT catalog. We aimed to characterize their power spectral densities (PSDs), search for quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs), and conduct novel analyses directly in the time domain. We analyzed the PSDs using Lomb-Scargle periodograms, and searched for QPOs using wavelet scalograms. We also attempted to classify the GRBs using the Hurst exponent, $H$, and the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane. The PSDs fall into three categories: power law (PL; $P(f)\propto 1/f^β$) with index $β\in(0,2)$, PL with a non-negligible Poisson noise level (PLC) with $β\in(1,3)$, and a smoothly broken PL (SBPL; with Poisson noise level) yielding high-frequency index $β_2\in(2,6)$. The latter yields break time scales on the order of 1--100\,seconds. The PL and PLC models are broadly consistent with a fully developed turbulence, $β=5/3$. For an overwhelming majority of GRBs (93\%), $H>0.5$, implying ubiquity of the long-term memory. We find no convincing substructure in the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane. Finally, we report on 34 new QPOs: with one or more constant leading periods, as well as several chirping signals. The presence of breaks and QPOs suggests the existence of characteristic time scales that in at least some GRBs might be related to the dynamical properties of plasma trajectories in the accretion disks powering the relativistic jets.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2020

A comprehensive power spectral density analysis of astronomical time series I: the Fermi-LAT gamma-ray light curves of selected blazars

We present the results of the \textit{Fermi}-LAT 10-years-long light curves (LCs) modeling of selected blazars: six flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and five BL Lacertae (BL Lacs), examined in 7-, 10-, and 14-day binning. The LCs and power spectral densities (PSDs) were investigated with various methods: Fourier transform, Lomb-Scargle periodogram (LSP), wavelet scalogram, autoregressive moving average (ARMA) process, continuous-time ARMA (CARMA), Hurst exponent ($H$), and the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane. First, with extensive simulations we showed that parametric modeling returns unreliable parameters, with a high dispersion for different realizations of the same stochastic model. Hence any such analysis should be supported with Monte Carlo simulations. For our blazar sample, we find that the power law indices $β$ calculated from the Fourier and LSP modeling mostly fall in the range $1\lesssimβ\lesssim 2$. Using the wavelet scalograms, we confirm a quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in PKS~2155$-$304 at a $3σ$ significance level, but do not detect any QPOs in other objects. The ARMA fits reached higher orders for 7-day binned LCs and lower orders for 10- and 14-days binned LCs for the majority of blazars, suggesting there might exist a characteristic timescale for the perturbations in the jet and/or accretion disk to die out. ARMA and CARMA modeling revealed breaks in their PSDs at timescales of few hundred days. The estimation of $H$ was performed with several methods. We find that most blazars exhibit $H > 0.5$, indicating long-term memory. Finally, the FSRQ and BL Lac subclasses are clearly separated in the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2020

Can the Cosmological Dilation Explain the Skewness in the Gamma-Ray Burst Duration Distribution?

In order to explain the origin of skewness in the gamma-ray burst (GRB) duration distribution, a statistical model, based on the cosmological time dilation and taking into account the GRB formation rate and instrumental effects, is examined. It is concluded that the considered effects are able to account for only a small fraction of the observed skewness. Therefore, its origin needs to be searched for in the processes governing the progenitors of GRBs.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2019

Analytical representation of Gaussian processes in the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane

Closed-form expressions, parametrized by the Hurst exponent $H$ and the length $n$ of a time series, are derived for paths of fractional Brownian motion (fBm) and fractional Gaussian noise (fGn) in the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane, composed of the fraction of turning points $\mathcal{T}$ and the Abbe value $\mathcal{A}$. The exact formula for $\mathcal{A}_{\rm fBm}$ is expressed via Riemann $ζ$ and Hurwitz $ζ$ functions. A very accurate approximation, yielding a simple exponential form, is obtained. Finite-size effects, introduced by the deviation of fGn's variance from unity, and asymptotic cases are discussed. Expressions for $\mathcal{T}$ for fBm, fGn, and differentiated fGn are also presented. The same methodology, valid for any Gaussian process, is applied to autoregressive moving average processes, for which regions of availability of the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane are derived and given in analytic form. Locations in the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane of some real-world examples as well as generated data are discussed for illustration.

physics.data-an↗
arXiv2019

Optical variability modeling of newly identified blazar candidates behind Magellanic Clouds

We present an optical variability study of 44 newly identified blazar candidates behind the Magellanic Clouds, including 27 flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and 17 BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs). All objects in the sample possess high photometric accuracy and irregularly sampled optical light curves (LCs) in I filter from the long-term monitoring conducted by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. We investigated the variability properties to look for blazar-like characteristics and to analyze the long-term behaviour. We analyzed the LCs with the Lomb-Scargle periodogram to construct power spectral densities (PSDs), found breaks for several objects, and linked them with accretion disk properties. In this way we constrained the black hole (BH) masses of 18 FSRQs to lie within the range $8.18\leq\log (M_{\rm BH}/M_\odot)\leq 10.84$, assuming a wide range of possible BH spins. By estimating the bolometric luminosities, we applied the fundamental plane of active galactic nuclei variability as an independent estimate, resulting in $8.4\leq\log (M_{\rm BH}/M_\odot)\leq 9.6$, with a mean error of 0.3. Many of the objects have very steep PSDs, with high frequency spectral index in the range $3-7$. An alternative attempt to classify the LCs was made using the Hurst exponent, $H$, and the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane. Two FSRQs and four BL Lacs yielded $H>0.5$, indicating presence of long-term memory in the underlying process governing the variability. Additionally, two FSRQs with exceptional PSDs, stand out also in the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2019

Optical variability modelling of newly identified blazar candidates behind Magellanic Clouds

We present results of a variability study in the optical band of 44 newly identified blazar candidates behind the Magellanic Clouds. Our sample contains 27 flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and 17 BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs). However, only nine of them are considered as secure blazar candidates, while the classification of the remaining 35 objects is still uncertain. All studied blazar candidates possess infrequently sampled optical light curves (LCs) in I filter provided by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment group. The LCs were analysed with the Lomb-Scargle periodogram, the Hurst exponent $H$, and the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane, to look for blazar-like characteristic features and to study the long-term behaviour of the optical fluxes. The power law (PL) indices of the Lomb-Scargle power spectral density (PSD) of the FSRQ blazar candidates mostly lie in the range (1,2). In case of the BL Lacs they are located in the range (1,1.8). The PL PSD is indicative of a self-affine stochastic process characterised by $H$, underlying the observed variability. We find that the majority of analysed objects have $H\leq 0.5$, indicating short-term memory, whereas four BL Lacs and two FSRQs have $H>0.5$, implying long-term memory. 41 blazar candidates are located in the $\mathcal{A}-\mathcal{T}$ plane in the region available to PL plus Poisson noise processes. Interestingly, one FSRQ is located marginally below this region, while two FSRQs lie above the line $\mathcal{T}=2/3$, i.e. they are even more noisy than white noise. The BL Lac candidates are characterised by higher $\mathcal{A}$ values than FSRQs, i.e. $0.71\pm 0.06$ and $0.29\pm 0.05$, respectively.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2019

Multivariate analysis of BATSE gamma-ray burst properties using skewed distributions

The number of classes of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), besides the well-established short and long ones, remains a debatable issue. It was already shown, however, that when invoking skewed distributions, the $\log T_{90}$ and $\log T_{90} - \log H_{32}$ spaces are adequately modeled with mixtures of only two such components, implying two GRB types. Herein, a comprehensive multivariate analysis of several multi-dimensional parameter spaces is conducted for the BATSE sample of GRBs, with the usage of skewed distributions. It is found that the number of extracted components varies between the examined parameter sets, and ranges from 2 to 4, with higher-dimensional spaces allowing for more classes. A Monte Carlo testing implies that these additional components are likely to be artifacts owing to the finiteness of the data and be a result of examining a particular realization of the data as a random sample, resulting in spurious identifications.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2019

Testing the anisotropy in the angular distribution of $Fermi$/GBM gamma-ray bursts

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) were confirmed to be of extragalactic origin due to their isotropic angular distribution, combined with the fact that they exhibited an intensity distribution that deviated strongly from the $-3/2$ power law. This finding was later confirmed with the first redshift, equal to at least $z=0.835$, measured for GRB970508. Despite this result, the data from $CGRO$/BATSE and $Swift$/BAT indicate that long GRBs are indeed distributed isotropically, but the distribution of short GRBs is anisotropic. $Fermi$/GBM has detected 1669 GRBs up to date, and their sky distribution is examined in this paper. A number of statistical tests is applied: nearest neighbour analysis, fractal dimension, dipole and quadrupole moments of the distribution function decomposed into spherical harmonics, binomial test, and the two point angular correlation function. Monte Carlo benchmark testing of each test is performed in order to evaluate its reliability. It is found that short GRBs are distributed anisotropically on the sky, and long ones have an isotropic distribution. The probability that these results are not a chance occurence is equal to at least 99.98\% and 30.68\% for short and long GRBs, respectively. The cosmological context of this finding and its relation to large-scale structures is discussed.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2018

Analysis of the duration--hardness ratio plane of gamma-ray bursts using skewed distributions

The two widely accepted classes of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), short and long, are with confidence ascribed to mergers of compact objects and collapse of massive stars, respectively. A third, intermediate/soft class, remains putative. Its existence was claimed based on univariate and bivariate analyses of GRB observables modeled with Gaussian distributions. This, however, may not be the appropriate approach, as it has been already shown that the univariate distributions of durations are better described by mixtures of two skewed components rather than three Gaussian ones. This paper investigates whether data in the duration--hardness ratio plane is better modeled by mixtures of skewed bivariate distributions than by normal ones. The archival data set of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory/BATSE and Fermi/GBM data from the most recent catalogue release are examined. The preferred model is chosen based on two information criteria, Akaike ($AIC$) and Bayesian ($BIC$). It is found that the best description is given by a two-component mixture of skewed Student-$t$ distributions, which outperforms any other model considered. This implies that the distribution of the studied parameters is intrinsically skewed, introducing spurious Gaussian components, and hence the third class is unlikely to be a real phenomenon. Its existence, based on statistical inference, is therefore rejected as unnecessary to explain the observations.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2018

Gamma Ray Burst Prompt correlations

The mechanism responsible for the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is still a debated issue. The prompt phase-related GRB correlations can allow to discriminate among the most plausible theoretical models explaining this emission. We present an overview of the observational two-parameter correlations, their physical interpretations, their use as redshift estimators and possibly as cosmological tools. The nowadays challenge is to make GRBs, the farthest stellar-scaled objects observed (up to redshift $z=9.4$), standard candles through well established and robust correlations. However, GRBs spanning several orders of magnitude in their energetics are far from being standard candles. We describe the advances in the prompt correlation research in the past decades, with particular focus paid to the discoveries in the last 20 years.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2017

Correlation between the Hurst exponent and the maximal Lyapunov exponent: examining some low-dimensional conservative maps

The Chirikov standard map and the 2D Froeschlé map are investigated. A few thousand values of the Hurst exponent (HE) and the maximal Lyapunov exponent (mLE) are plotted in a mixed space of the nonlinear parameter versus the initial condition. Both characteristic exponents reveal remarkably similar structures in this space. A tight correlation between the HEs and mLEs is found, with the Spearman rank $ρ=0.83$ and $ρ=0.75$ for the Chirikov and 2D Froeschlé maps, respectively. Based on this relation, a machine learning (ML) procedure, using the nearest neighbor algorithm, is performed to reproduce the HE distribution based on the mLE distribution alone. A few thousand HE and mLE values from the mixed spaces were used for training, and then using $2-2.4\times 10^5$ mLEs, the HEs were retrieved. The ML procedure allowed to reproduce the structure of the mixed spaces in great detail.

nlin.CD↗