arXiv subjects

Matthew Walker

Publications and source records attributed to Matthew Walker.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Insights from the Outskirts: Chemical and Dynamical Properties in the outer Parts of the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

We present radial velocities and [Fe/H] abundances for 340 stars in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal from R~16,000 spectra. The targets have been obtained in the outer parts of the galaxy, a region which has been poorly studied before. Our sample shows a wide range in [Fe/H], between -0.5 and -3.0 dex, in which we detect three subgroups. Removal of stars belonging to the most metal-rich population produces a truncated metallicity distribution function that is identical to Sculptor, indicating that these systems have shared a similar early evolution, only that Fornax experienced a late, intense period of star formation (SF). The derived age-metallicity relation shows a fast increase in [Fe/H] at early ages, after which the enrichment flattens significantly for stars younger than ~8 Gyr. Additionally, the data indicate a strong population of stars around 4 Gyr, followed by a second rapid enrichment in [Fe/H]. A leaky-box chemical enrichment model generally matches the observed relation but does not predict a significant population of young stars nor the strong enrichment at late times. The young population in Fornax may therefore originate from an externally triggered SF event. Our dynamical analysis reveals an increasing velocity dispersion with decreasing [Fe/H] from sigma_sys 7.5 km/s to >14 km/s, indicating an outside-in star formation history in a dark matter dominated halo. The large velocity dispersion at low metallicities is possibly the result of a non-Gaussian velocity distribution amongst stars older than ~8 Gyr. Our sample also includes members from the Fornax GCs H2 and H5. In agreement with past studies we find [Fe/H]=-2.04+-0.04 and a mean radial velocity RV=59.36+-0.31 km/s for H2 and [Fe/H]=-2.02+-0.11 and RV=59.39+-0.44 km/s for H5. Overall, we find large complexity in the chemical and dynamical properties, with signatures that additionally vary with galactocentric distance.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

Sensitivity of an Upgraded LHC to R-Parity Violating Signatures of the MSSM

We present a sensitivity study for the pair-production of supersymmetric particles which decay through R-parity violating channels. As the scope of possible RPV signatures is very broad, the reach of several selected signatures spanning a representative variety of possible final states is considered. Preference in representation is given to spectra motivated by naturalness, i.e. light higgsinos, stops and gluinos. The sensitivity studies are presented for proton-proton collisions at 14 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 300 and 3000 fb^-1, as well as at 33 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 3000 fb^-1.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

The metal-poor Knee in the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

We present alpha-element abundances of Mg, Si, and Ti for a large sample of field stars in two outer fields of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph), obtained with VLT/GIRAFFE (R~16,000). Due to the large fraction of metal-poor stars in our sample, we are able to follow the alpha-element evolution from [Fe/H]=-2.5 continuously to [Fe/H]=-0.7 dex. For the first time we are able to resolve the turnover from the Type II supernovae (SNe) dominated, alpha-enhanced plateau down to subsolar [alpha/Fe] values due to the onset of SNe Ia, and thus to trace the chemical enrichment efficiency of the galaxy. Our data support the general concept of an alpha-enhanced plateau at early epochs, followed by a well-defined "knee", caused by the onset of SNe Ia, and finally a second plateau with sub-solar [alpha/Fe] values. We find the position of this knee to be at [Fe/H]=-1.9 and therefore significantly more metal-poor than expected from comparison with other dSphs and standard evolutionary models. Surprisingly, this value is rather comparable to the knee in Sculptor, a dSph about 10 times less luminous than Fornax. Using chemical evolution models, we find that both the position of the knee as well as the subsequent plateau at sub-solar level can hardly be explained unless the galaxy experienced several discrete star formation events with a drastic variation in star formation efficiency, while a uniform star formation can be ruled out. One possible evolutionary scenario is that Fornax experienced one or several major accretion events from gas-rich systems in the past, so that its current stellar mass is not indicative of the chemical evolution environment at ancient times. If Fornax is the product of several smaller building blocks, this may also have implications of the understanding on the formation process of dSphs in general.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Bigraphical Nets

Interaction nets are a graphical model of computation, which has been used to define efficient evaluators for functional calculi, and specifically lambda calculi with patterns. However, the flat structure of interaction nets forces pattern matching and functional behaviour to be encoded at the same level, losing some potential parallelism. In this paper, we introduce bigraphical nets, or binets for short, as a generalisation of interaction nets using ideas from bigraphs and port graphs, and we present a formal notation and operational semantics for binets. We illustrate their expressive power by examples of applications.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2012

Searching for $t \to c h$ with Multi-Leptons

The results of a multi-lepton search conducted by the CMS collaboration with 5 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected from 7 TeV $pp$ collisions are used to place the first bound on the rare flavor-changing decay of the top quark to a Higgs boson and charm quark. Combining results from a number of exclusive three- and four-lepton search channels yields an estimated upper limit of ${\rm Br}(t \to ch) < 2.7%$ for a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV. The sensitivity of future dedicated searches for $t \to c h$ could be improved by adding exclusive same sign di-lepton channels, as well as by sub-dividing channels based on $b$-quark tagging and partial kinematic top quark and Higgs boson tagging. This bound may be interpreted more widely within a range of new physics processes that yield final states with a $W$-boson in association with a Higgs boson. For such processes with kinematics that are similar to top--anti-top production and decay, the estimated limit on cross section times branching ratio corresponds to roughly $σ\cdot {\rm Br}(pp \to WhX) < 9$ pb.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Gluon Polarization Measurements from Correlated Probes

These proceedings show the preliminary results of the dijet longitudinal double spin asymmetry $A_{LL}$ in polarized proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV for the pseudorapidity range $|η| \le 0.8$. The integrated luminosity of 10.6 pb$^{-1}$ used in this analysis was collected during RHIC Run-9. This result is presented as a function of the dijet invariant mass in multiple pseudorapidity acceptances. The division into different pseudorapidity regions allows the kinematics of the hard interaction to be constrained and information about the shape of $Δg(x)$ to be extracted for the first time. Comparisons are made with expectations from various different theoretical scenarios of polarized parton distributions of the proton.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2010

Dijet Cross Section and Longitudinal Double Spin Asymmetry Measurements in Polarized Proton-proton Collisions at \sqrt{s}=200 GeV at STAR

These proceedings show the preliminary results of the dijet cross sections and the dijet longitudinal double spin asymmetries A_LL in polarized proton-proton collisions at \sqrt{s} = 200 GeV at the mid-rapidity |eta| < 0.8. The integrated luminosity of 5.39 pb^{-1} collected during RHIC Run-6 was used in the measurements. The preliminary results are presented as functions of the dijet invariant mass M_jj. The dijet cross sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order pQCD predictions. The A_LL is compared with theoretical predictions based on various parameterizations of polarized parton distributions of the proton. Projected precision of data analyzed to date from Run-9 are shown.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2009

Streaming motion in Leo I

Whether a dwarf spheroidal galaxy is in equilibrium or being tidally disrupted by the Milky Way is an important question for the study of its dark matter content and distribution. This question is investigated using 328 recent observations from the dwarf spheroidal Leo I. For Leo I, tidal disruption is detected, at least for stars sufficiently far from the center, but the effect appears to be quite modest. Statistical tools include isotonic and split point estimators, asymptotic theory, and resampling methods.

stat.AP↗