arXiv subjects

Michele Doro

Publications and source records attributed to Michele Doro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

A study on Performance Boost of a 17~m class Cherenkov telescope with a SiPM-based camera

The current generation of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs), comprised of major installations such as the MAGIC telescopes, H.E.S.S. and VERITAS, is classified as the 3$^{\mathrm{rd}}$ generation of suchs instruments. These telescopes use multipixel cameras composed of thousands of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The total light throughput of such instruments depends, besides the PMT photon detection efficiency (PDE), on the mirror dish reflectivity, and the light absorption by the camera window. The supremacy of PMTs is currently being challenged by photon sensors rapidly spreading in popularity, the silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), that are becoming a valid alternative thanks to their high PDE, low operating voltage and flexibility in installation. In this report, we investigate the performance of an existing 3$^{\mathrm{rd}}$-generation IACT array (taking as an example MAGIC) in which PMTs would be replaced with SiPMs, with minimal further hardware intervention. This would mean that other systems of the telescope responsible for the light collection, in particular the optics, would remain the same, and only the electronic to steer the different photodetectors would be modified. We find an increase of sensitivity up to a factor of 2 for energies below 200~GeV. Interestingly, we also find that the stronger sensitivity of SiPMs in the red part of the spectrum, a source of background for IACTs, does not affect this conclusion.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2023

Dark matter searches in dwarf spheroidal galaxies with the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Dark matter (DM) is one of the major components in the Universe. However, at present its existence is still only inferred through indirect astronomical observations. DM particles can annihilate or decay, producing final-state Standard Model pairs that subsequently annihilate into high-energy $γ$-rays. The dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) in the Milky Way DM halo have long been considered optimal targets to search for annihilating DM signatures in GeV-to-TeV $γ$-ray spectra due to their high DM densities (hence high astrophysical factors), as well as the expected absence of intrinsic $γ$-ray emission of astrophysical origin. For such targets, it is important to compute the amount of DM in their halos in a consistent way to optimize the $γ$-ray data analysis. Such estimates directly affect the observability of DM signals in dSphs, as well as the DM constraints that can be derived in case of null detection. In this contribution, we present the results on the sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) for DM annihilation and decay searches using planned observations of the Milky Way dSphs. We select the most promising targets among all presently known dwarf satellites, providing new determinations of their expected DM signal. This study shows an improvement of approximately an order of magnitude in sensitivity compared to current searches in similar targets. We also discuss the results in terms of cuspy and cored DM models, and investigate the sensitivity obtained by the combination of observations from different dSphs. Finally, we explore the optimal strategies for CTA observations of dSphs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

A prototype tank for the SWGO detector

The Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory (SWGO) is an international collaboration working on realizing a next-generation observatory located in the Southern hemisphere, which offers a privileged view of our galactic center. We are working on the construction of a prototype water Cherenkov detector at Politecnico di Milano using a flexible testing facility for several candidate light sensors and configurations. A structure able to hold different types of detectors in multiple configurations has been designed, built and tested in Politecnico's labs. Furthermore, an analytical study of muons and electrons showers has been carried out using the SWGO observatory simulation software to examine the correlation between the detection capabilities of the prototype tank and its water level.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

eXtreme19: when art and science make the front page

Back in mid 2018, we were organizing eXtreme19, a conference on astro-particle physics held in Padova on the topic of extremely energetic emission from galaxies. For the preparation of the graphical material in support of the conference we seeked for a collaboration with talented art students. To this purpose, we joined the Italian programme PCTO (Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e per l Orientamento) of high school student stages in job centers. Emily, Beatrice, and Chiara from the high school Liceo Artistico Statale Amedeo Modigliani in Padova accepted our invitation and started a 6-month stage at the Padova University in close contact with us. The challenge was to interbreed our scientific description of a relativistic jet of a powerful galaxy and their artistic assimilation and subsequent representation of it. During this period, they elaborated outstanding and innovative graphical material used for the webpage as well as the conference poster. The quality of the graphics was indeed excellent: one of their drawings became the cover of the February 2020 issue of the prestigious Nature Astronomy journal.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2021

Trinity: An Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescope to Search for Ultra-High-Energy Neutrinos

Earth-skimming neutrinos are those which travel through the Earth's crust at a shallow angle. For Ultra-High-Energy (E > 1 PeV; UHE) earth-skimming tau neutrinos, there is a high-probability that the tau lepton created by a neutrino-Earth interaction will emerge from the ground before it decays. When this happens, the decaying tau particle initiates an air shower of relativistic sub-atomic particles which emit Cherenkov radiation. To observe this Cherenkov radiation, we propose the Trinity Observatory. Using a novel optical structure design, pointing at the horizon, Trinity will observe the Cherenkov radiation from upward-going neutrino-induced air showers. Being sensitive to neutrinos in the 1-10,000 PeV energy range, Trinity's expected sensitivity will have a unique role to play filling the gap between the observed astrophysical neutrinos observed by IceCube and the expected sensitivity of radio UHE neutrino detectors.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Trinity's Sensitivity to Isotropic and Point-Source Neutrinos

The neutrino band above 10 PeV remains one of the last multi-messenger windows to be opened, a challenge that several groups tackle. One of the proposed instruments is Trinity, a system of air-shower imaging telescopes to detect Earth-skimming neutrinos with energies from $10^6$ GeV to $10^{10}$ GeV. We present updated sensitivity calculations demonstrating Trinity's capability of not only detecting the IceCube measured diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux but doing so in an energy band that overlaps with IceCube's. Trinity will distinguish between different cutoff scenarios of the astrophysical neutrino flux, which will help identify their sources. We also discuss Trinity's sensitivity to transient sources on timescales from hours to years.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Axion-Like Particle Searches with IACTs

The growing interest in axion-like particles (ALPs) stems from the fact that they provide successful theoretical explanations of physics phenomena, from the anomaly of the CP-symmetry conservation in strong interactions to the observation of an unexpectedly large TeV photon flux from astrophysical sources, at distances where the strong absorption by the intergalactic medium should make the signal very dim. In this latter condition, which is the focus of this review, a possible explanation is that TeV photons convert to ALPs in the presence of strong and/or extended magnetic fields, such as those in the core of galaxy clusters or around compact objects, or even those in the intergalactic space. This mixing affects the observed $γ$-ray spectrum of distant sources, either by signal recovery or the production of irregularities in the spectrum, called "wiggles", according to the specific microscopic realization of the ALP and the ambient magnetic field at the source, and in the Milky Way, where ALPs may be converted back to $γ$ rays. ALPs are also proposed as candidate particles for the Dark Matter. Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) have the potential to detect the imprint of ALPs in the TeV spectrum from several classes of sources. In this contribution, we present the ALP case and review the past decade of searches for ALPs with this class of instruments.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to dark subhalos

In this work, we study the potential of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) for the detection of Galactic dark matter (DM) subhalos. We focus on low-mass subhalos that do not host any baryonic content and therefore lack any multiwavelength counterpart. If the DM is made of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), these dark subhalos may thus appear in the gamma-ray sky as unidentified sources. A detailed characterization of the instrumental response of CTA to dark subhalos is performed, for which we use the {\it ctools} analysis software and simulate CTA observations under different array configurations and pointing strategies, such as the scheduled extragalactic survey. This, together with information on the subhalo population as inferred from N-body cosmological simulations, allows us to predict the CTA detectability of dark subhalos, i.e., the expected number of subhalos in each of the considered observational scenarios. In the absence of detection, for each observation strategy we set competitive limits to the annihilation cross section as a function of the DM particle mass, that are at the level of $\langleσv\rangle\sim4\times10^{-24}$ ($7\times10^{-25}$) $\mathrm{cm^3s^{-1}}$ for the $b\bar{b}$ ($τ^+τ^-$) annihilation channel in the best case scenario. Interestingly, we find the latter to be reached with no dedicated observations, as we obtain the best limits by just accumulating exposure time from all scheduled CTA programs and pointings over the first 10 years of operation. This way CTA will offer the most constraining limits from subhalo searches in the intermediate range between $\sim 1-3$ TeV, complementing previous results with \textit{Fermi}-LAT and HAWC at lower and higher energies, respectively.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Signal estimation in On/Off measurements including event-by-event variables

Signal estimation in the presence of background noise is a common problem in several scientific disciplines. An 'On/Off' measurement is performed when the background itself is not known, being estimated from a background control sample. The 'frequentist' and Bayesian approaches for signal estimation in On/Off measurements are reviewed and compared, focusing on the weakness of the former and on the advantages of the latter in correctly addressing the Poissonian nature of the problem. In this work, we devise a novel reconstruction method, dubbed BASiL (Bayesian Analysis including Single-event Likelihoods), for estimating the signal rate based on the Bayesian formalism. It uses information on event-by-event individual parameters and their distribution for the signal and background population. Events are thereby weighted according to their likelihood of being a signal or a background event and background suppression can be achieved without performing fixed fiducial cuts. Throughout the work, we maintain a general notation, that allows to apply the method generically, and provide a performance test using real data and simulations of observations with the MAGIC telescopes, as demonstration of the performance for Cherenkov telescopes. BASiL allows to estimate the signal more precisely, avoiding loss of exposure due to signal extraction cuts. We expect its applicability to be straightforward in similar cases.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2020

Overlay of the Special Issue 'The Role of Halo Substructure in Gamma-Ray Dark Matter Searches'

An important open question today is the understanding of the relevance that dark matter (DM) halo substructure may have for DM searches. In the standard cosmological framework, subhalos are predicted to be largely abundant inside larger halos, i.e., galaxies like ours, and are thought to form first and later merge to form larger structures. Dwarf satellite galaxies -- the most massive exponents of halo substructure in our own galaxy -- are already known to be excellent targets and, indeed, they are constantly scrutinized by current gamma-ray experiments in their search for DM annihilation signals. Lighter subhalos not massive enough to have a visible baryonic counterpart may be good targets as well given their typical number densities and distances. In addition, the clumpy distribution of subhalos residing in larger halos may boost the DM signals considerably. In an era in which gamma-ray experiments possess, for the first time, the exciting potential of reaching the most relevant regions of the DM parameter space, a profound knowledge of the DM targets and scenarios being tested at present is mandatory if we aim for accurate predictions of DM-induced fluxes, for investing significant telescope observing time to selected targets, and for deriving robust conclusions from our DM search efforts. In this regard, a precise characterization of the statistical and structural properties of subhalos becomes critical. With the Special Issue "The Role of Halo Substructure in Gamma-Ray Dark Matter Searches" [https://www.mdpi.com/journal/galaxies/special_issues/Gamma-RayDMS], we aimed to summarize where we stand today on our knowledge of the different aspects of the DM halo substructure; to identify what are the remaining big questions, how we could address these and, by doing so, to find new avenues for research.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory: Exploring the Extreme Multimessenger Universe

The All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory (AMEGO) is a probe class mission concept that will provide essential contributions to multimessenger astrophysics in the late 2020s and beyond. AMEGO combines high sensitivity in the 200 keV to 10 GeV energy range with a wide field of view, good spectral resolution, and polarization sensitivity. Therefore, AMEGO is key in the study of multimessenger astrophysical objects that have unique signatures in the gamma-ray regime, such as neutron star mergers, supernovae, and flaring active galactic nuclei. The order-of-magnitude improvement compared to previous MeV missions also enables discoveries of a wide range of phenomena whose energy output peaks in the relatively unexplored medium-energy gamma-ray band.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Raman LIDARs for the atmospheric calibration along the line-of-sight of CTA

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation ground based observatory for gamma ray astronomy at very high energies. Employing more than 100 Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes in the northern and southern hemispheres, it was designed to reach unprecedented sensitivity and energy resolution. Understanding and correcting for systematic biases on the absolute energy scale and instrument response functions will be a crucial issue for the performance of CTA. The LUPM group and the Spanish/Italian/Slovenian collaboration are currently building two Raman LIDAR prototypes for the online atmospheric calibration along the line of sight of the CTA. Requirements for such a solution include the ability to characterize aerosol extinction at two wavelengths to distances of 30 km with an accuracy better than 5%, within time scales of about a minute, steering capabilities and close interaction with the CTA array control and data acquisition system as well as other auxiliary instruments. Our Raman LIDARs have design features that make them different from those used in atmospheric science and are characterized by large collecting mirrors (2.5 m2), liquid light guides that collect the light at the focal plane and transport it to the readout system, reduced acquisition time and highly precise Raman spectrometers. The Raman LIDARs will participate in a cross calibration and characterization campaign of the atmosphere at the CTA North site at La Palma, together with other site characterization instruments. After a one year test period there, an in depth evaluation of the solutions adopted by the two projects will lead to a final Raman LIDAR design proposal for both CTA sites.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Toward a Public MAGIC Gamma-Ray Telescope Legacy Data Portal

The MAGIC telescopes are one of the three major IACTs (Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes) for observation of gamma rays in the TeV regime currently operative. MAGIC functions since 2003, and has published data from more than 60 sources, mostly blazars. MAGIC already provides astronomical \texttt{.fits} files with basic final scientific products such as spectral energy distributions, light curves and skymaps from published results. In future, the format of the files can be complemented with further relevant information to the community: a) by including the full multi-wavelength dataset enclosed in a publication, b) providing data in alternative easy-to-use formats such as ASCII or ECSV, which are accessible with other commonly used packages such as \texttt{astropy} or \texttt{gammapy}. Finally, besides high level products, activities have started to provide photon event lists and instrument response functions in a format such that scientists within and outside the community are allowed to perform higher level analysis. A second aim is to provide a full legacy of MAGIC data. This contribution will illustrate the achievements and plans of this activity.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Search for Dark Matter decay signals in the Galactic Halo with the MAGIC telescopes

MAGIC is a system of two Cherenkov telescopes located in the Canary island of La Palma. A key part of MAGIC Fundamental Physics program is the search for indirect signals of Dark Matter (DM) from different sources. In the Milky Way, DM forms an almost spherically symmetric halo, with a density peaked towards the center of the Galaxy and decreasing toward the outer region. We search for DM decay signals from the Galactic Halo, with a special methodology developed for this work. Our strategy is to compare pairs of observations performed at different angular distances from the Galactic Center, selected in such a way that all the diffuse components cancel out, except for those coming from the DM. In order to keep the systematic uncertainty of this novel background estimation method down to a minimum, the observation pairs have been acquired during the same nights and follow exactly the same azimuth and zenith paths. We collected 20 hours of data during 2018. Using half of them to determine the systematic uncertainty in the background estimation of our analysis, we obtain a value of 4.8\% with no dependence on energy. Accounting for this systematic uncertainty in the likelihood analysis based on the 10 remaining hours of data collected so far, we present the limit to TeV DM particle with a lifetime of $10^{26}$ s in the $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ decay channel.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Trinity: An Air-Shower Imaging Instrument to detect Ultrahigh Energy Neutrinos

Trinity is a proposed air-shower imaging system optimized for the detection of earth-skimming ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos with energies between $10^7$ GeV and $10^{10}$ GeV. Trinity will pursue three major scientific objectives. 1) It will narrow in on possible source classes responsible for the astrophysical neutrino flux measured by IceCube. 2) It will help find the sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR) and understand the composition of UHECR. 3) It will test fundamental neutrino physics at the highest energies. Trinity uses the imaging technique, which is well established and successfully used by the very high-energy gamma-ray community (CTA, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS) and the UHECR community (Telescope Array, Pierre Auger)

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Supermassive black holes at high redshifts

MeV blazars are the most luminous persistent sources in the Universe and emit most of their energy in the MeV band. These objects display very large jet powers and accretion luminosities and are known to host black holes with a mass often exceeding $10^9 M_{\odot}$. An MeV survey, performed by a new generation MeV telescope which will bridge the entire energy and sensitivity gap between the current generation of hard X-ray and gamma-ray instruments, will detect $>$1000 MeV blazars up to a redshift of $z=5-6$. Here we show that this would allow us: 1) to probe the formation and growth mechanisms of supermassive black holes at high redshifts, 2) to pinpoint the location of the emission region in powerful blazars, 3) to determine how accretion and black hole spin interplay to power the jet.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Impact of Laser Guide Star facilities on neighbouring telescopes: The case of GTC, TMT, VLT and ELT lasers and the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Powerful Laser Guide Star (LGS) systems are standard for the next-generation of extremely large telescopes. However, modern earth-based astronomy has gone through a process of concentration on few sites with exceptional sky quality, resulting in those becoming more and more crowded. The future LGS systems encounter hence an environment of surrounding astronomical installations, some of which observing with large fields-of-view. We derive formulae to calculate the impact of LGS light on the camera of a neighbouring telescope and the probabilities for a laser crossing the camera field-of-view to occur, and apply these to the specific case of the next very-high-energy gamma-ray observatory "Cherenkov Telescope Array" (CTA). Its southern part shall be constructed in a valley of the Cerro Armazones, Chile, close to the "Very Large Telescope" (VLT) and the "European Extremely Large Telescope" (ELT), while its northern part will be located at the "Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos", on the Canary Island of La Palma, which also hosts the "Gran Telescopio de Canarias" (GTC) and serves as an optional site for the "Thirty Meter Telescope" (TMT), both employing LGS systems. Although finding the artificial star in the field-of-view of a CTA telescope will not disturb observations considerably, the laser beam crossing the field-of-view of a CTA telescope may be critical. We find no conflict expected for the ELT lasers, however, 1% (3%) of extra-galactic and 1% (5%) of galactic observations with the CTA may be affected by the GTC (TMT) LGS lasers, unless an enhanced version of a laser tracking control system gets implemented.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2017

Gamma-ray, Particle and Exotic Physics at TeV energies with the MAGIC telescopes

MAGIC is an instrument composed of a pair of telescopes for gamma- ray and cosmic-ray astrophysics in the TeV range. It is operating for more than a decade now, and is one of the current best performing instruments in this field, specifically at low energies, where it achieves the largest sensitivity. MAGIC pursues a strong program in galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray science. Its catalog of blazars, radiogalaxies and galaxy clusters observations as well as supernovae, novae, pulsar wind nebulae, pulsars and binary systems has now increased to several tens of detected targets. In addition, MAGIC is suited for cosmic ray searches, being sensitive to the signatures of earth-skimming tau-neutrinos, cosmic antiprotons, and others. Furthermore, MAGIC has a strong fundamental physics program, with searches for particle dark matter, Lorentz Invariance violations, axion-like particles and primordial black hole evaporation, providing important recent constraints in some relevant cases. Finally, MAGIC has a follow-up program of Gravitational Waves events. Few highlights topics will be discussed in this contribution.

astro-ph.HE↗