arXiv subjects

N. Bucciantini

Publications and source records attributed to N. Bucciantini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to spectral signatures of hadronic PeVatrons with application to Galactic Supernova Remnants

The local Cosmic Ray (CR) energy spectrum exhibits a spectral softening at energies around 3~PeV. Sources which are capable of accelerating hadrons to such energies are called hadronic PeVatrons. However, hadronic PeVatrons have not yet been firmly identified within the Galaxy. Several source classes, including Galactic Supernova Remnants (SNRs), have been proposed as PeVatron candidates. The potential to search for hadronic PeVatrons with the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is assessed. The focus is on the usage of very high energy $γ$-ray spectral signatures for the identification of PeVatrons. Assuming that SNRs can accelerate CRs up to knee energies, the number of Galactic SNRs which can be identified as PeVatrons with CTA is estimated within a model for the evolution of SNRs. Additionally, the potential of a follow-up observation strategy under moonlight conditions for PeVatron searches is investigated. Statistical methods for the identification of PeVatrons are introduced, and realistic Monte--Carlo simulations of the response of the CTA observatory to the emission spectra from hadronic PeVatrons are performed. Based on simulations of a simplified model for the evolution for SNRs, the detection of a $γ$-ray signal from in average 9 Galactic PeVatron SNRs is expected to result from the scan of the Galactic plane with CTA after 10 hours of exposure. CTA is also shown to have excellent potential to confirm these sources as PeVatrons in deep observations with $\mathcal{O}(100)$ hours of exposure per source.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Polarisation Leakage due to Errors in Track Reconstruction in Gas Pixel Detectors

X-ray polarimetry, based on Gas Pixel Detectors (GPDs), have reached a high level of maturity with the Imaging X-ray Polarimeter Explorer (IXPE) leading to the first ever spatially resolved polarimetric measures. However, being this a new technique, a few unexpected effect have emerged during in flight operations. In particular it was almost immediately found that on-board unpolarized calibration sources were showing radially polarized halos. The origin of this features was recognized in a correlation between the error in reconstructing the absorption point of the X-ray photon and the direction of its electric field vector. Here we present and discuss in detail this effect, showing that it is possible to provide a simple and robust mathematical formalism to handle it. We further show its role and relevance for the recent IXPE measures, and for the use of GPD-based techniques in general, and illustrate how to model it in the study of extended sources.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2023

Reverberation of pulsar wind nebulae (II): Anatomy of the "thin-shell'' evolution

During its early evolution, a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) sweeps the inner part of the supernova ejecta and forms a thin massive shell. Later on, when the shell has been reached by the reverse shock of the supernova remnant, the evolution becomes more complex, in most cases reverting the expansion into a compression: this later phase is called "reverberation". Computations done so far to understand this phase have been mostly performed in the thin-shell approximation, where the evolution of the PWN radius is assimilated to that of the swept-up shell under the effect of both the inner pressure from the PWN, and the outer pressure from the supernova remnant. Despite the thin-shell approach seems rather justifiable, its implementations have so far been inaccurate, and its correctness, never tested. The outer pressure was naively assumed to be scaled according to the Sedov solution (or a constant fraction of it) along the entire evolution. The thin-shell assumption itself fails along the process, being the shell no longer thin in comparison with the size of the PWN. Here, through a combination of numerical models, dimensional arguments, and analytic approximations, we present a detailed analysis of the interaction of the PWN with the supernova remnant. We provide a new analytic approximation of the outer pressure, beyond the Sedov solution, and a revised "thin-shell" able to reproduce results from numerical simulations. Finally, we compute the efficiency by which the PWN is compressed during reverberation over a wide population of sources.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Accretion geometry of the neutron star low mass X-ray binary Cyg X-2 from X-ray polarization measurements

We report spectro-polarimetric results of an observational campaign of the bright neutron star low-mass X-ray binary Cyg X-2 simultaneously observed by IXPE, NICER and INTEGRAL. Consistently with previous results, the broad-band spectrum is characterized by a lower-energy component, attributed to the accretion disc with $kT_{\rm in} \approx$ 1 keV, plus unsaturated Comptonization in thermal plasma with temperature $kT_{\rm e} = 3$ keV and optical depth $τ\approx 4$, assuming a slab geometry. We measure the polarization degree in the 2-8 keV band $P=1.8 \pm 0.3$ per cent and polarization angle $ϕ= 140^{\circ} \pm 4^{\circ}$, consistent with the previous X-ray polarimetric measurements by OSO-8 as well as with the direction of the radio jet which was earlier observed from the source. While polarization of the disc spectral component is poorly constrained with the IXPE data, the Comptonized emission has a polarization degree $P =4.0 \pm 0.7$ per cent and a polarization angle aligned with the radio jet. Our results strongly favour a spreading layer at the neutron star surface as the main source of the polarization signal. However, we cannot exclude a significant contribution from reflection off the accretion disc, as indicated by the presence of the iron fluorescence line.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

We report on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation of the closest and X-ray brightest Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN), the Circinus galaxy. We find the source to be significantly polarized in the 2--6 keV band. From previous studies, the X-ray spectrum is known to be dominated by reflection components, both neutral (torus) and ionized (ionization cones). Our analysis indicates that the polarization degree is $28 \pm 7$ per cent (at 68 per cent confidence level) for the neutral reflector, with a polarization angle of $18° \pm 5°$, roughly perpendicular to the radio jet. The polarization of the ionized reflection is unconstrained. A comparison with Monte Carlo simulations of the polarization expected from the torus shows that the neutral reflector is consistent with being an equatorial torus with a half-opening angle of 45°-55°. This is the first X-ray polarization detection in a Seyfert galaxy, demonstrating the power of X-ray polarimetry in probing the geometry of the circumnuclear regions of AGNs, and confirming the basic predictions of standard Unification Models.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

ixpeobssim: a Simulation and Analysis Framework for the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

ixpeobssim is a simulation and analysis framework, based on the Python programming language and the associated scientific ecosystem, specifically developed for the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). Given a source model and the response functions of the telescopes, it is designed to produce realistic simulated observations, in the form of event lists in FITS format, containing a strict super-set of the information provided by standard IXPE level-2 files. The core ixpeobssim simulation capabilities are complemented by a full suite of post-processing applications, allowing for the implementation of complex, polarization-aware analysis pipelines, and facilitating the inter-operation with the standard visualization and analysis tools traditionally in use by the X-ray community. We emphasize that, although a significant part of the framework is specific to IXPE, the modular nature of the underlying implementation makes it potentially straightforward to adapt it to different missions with polarization capabilities.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2022

Polarization constraints on the X-ray corona in Seyfert Galaxies: MCG-05-23-16

We report on the first observation of a radio-quiet Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) using polarized X-rays: the Seyfert 1.9 galaxy MCG-05-23-16. This source was pointed with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) starting on May 14, 2022 for a net observing time of 486 ks, simultaneously with XMM-Newton (58 ks) and NuSTAR (83 ks). A polarization degree smaller than $Π<4.7\%$ (at the 99% c.l.) is derived in the 2-8 keV energy range, where emission is dominated by the primary component ascribed to the hot corona. The broad-band spectrum, inferred from a simultaneous fit to the IXPE, NuSTAR, and XMM-Newton data, is well reproduced by a power law with photon index $Γ=1.85\pm0.01$ and a high-energy cutoff $E_{\rm C}=120\pm15$ keV. A comparison with Monte Carlo simulations shows that a lamp-post and a conical geometry of the corona are consistent with the observed upper limit, a slab geometry is allowed only if the inclination angle of the system is less than 50$^{\circ}$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Modeling the γ-ray Pulsar Wind Nebulae population in our Galaxy

Pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) represent the largest class of sources that upcoming γ-ray surveys will detect. Therefore, accurate modelling of their global emission properties is one of the most urgent problems in high-energy astrophysics. Correctly characterizing these dominant objects is a needed step to allow γ-ray surveys to detect fainter sources, investigate the signatures of cosmic-ray propagation and estimate the diffuse emission in the Galaxy. In this paper we present an observationally motivated construction of the Galactic PWNe population. We made use of a modified one-zone model to evolve for a long period of time the entire population. The model provides, for every source, at any age, a simplified description of the dynamical and spectral evolution. The long term effects of the reverberation phase on the spectral evolution are described, for the first time, based on physically motivated prescriptions for the evolution of the nebular radius supported by numerical studies. This effort tries to solve one of the most critical aspects of one-zone modeling, namely the typical overcompression of the nebula during the reverberation phase, resulting in a strong modification of its spectral properties at all frequencies. We compare the emission properties of our synthetic Pulsar Wind Nebulae population with the most updated catalogues of TeV Galactic sources. We find that the firmly identified and candidate PWNe sum up to about 50% of the expected objects in this class above threshold for detection. Finally, we estimate that CTA will increase the number of TeV detected PWNe by a factor$\geq3$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Detectability of continuous gravitational waves from magnetically deformed neutron stars

Extremely powerful magnetic fields are contained inside neutron stars. Their effect is to deform the shape of the star, leading to the emission of continuous gravitational waves. The magnetic deformation of neutron stars depends on the details of their magnetic field, that is its geometry and strength. Moreover, it depends on their composition, described by the equation of state. Unfortunately, both the configuration of the magnetic field and the equation of state of neutron stars are unkown, and assessing the detectability of continuous gravitational waves from neutron stars suffers from these uncertainties. Using our recent results relating the magnetic deformation of a neutron star to its mass and radius, and considering the Galactic pulsar population, we assess the detectability of continuous gravitational waves from pulsars in the Galaxy - described by realistic equations of state currently allowed by observational and nuclear physics constraints - by gravitational waves detectors.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Quasi-universality of the magnetic deformation for neutron stars in general relativity and beyond

Neutron stars harbour extremely powerful magnetic fields, leading to their shape being deformed. Their magnetic deformation depends both on the geometry - and strength - of their internal magnetic field and on their composition, encoded by the equation of state. However, both the details of the internal magnetic structure and the equation of state of the innermost part of neutron stars are mostly unkown. We performed a study of numerical models of magnetised, static, axisymmetric neutron stars in general relativity and in one of its most promising extensions, scalar-tensor theories. We did so by using several realistic equations of state currently allowed by observational and nuclear physics constraints, considering also those for strange quark stars. We show that it is possible to find simple relations among the magnetic deformation of a neutron star, its Komar mass, and its circumferential radius in the case of purely poloidal and purely toroidal magnetic configurations satisfying the equilibrium criterion in the Bernoulli formalism. These relations are quasi-universal, in the sense that they mostly do not depend on the equation of state. Our results, being formulated in terms of potentially observable quantities, could help to understand the magnetic properties of neutron stars interiors and the detectability of continuous gravitational waves by isolated neutron stars, independently of their equation of state. In the case of scalar-tensor theories, these relations depend also on the scalar charge of the neutron stars, thus potentially providing a new way to set constraints on the theory of gravitation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Quasi-universality of the magnetic deformation of neutron stars in general relativity and beyond

Neutron stars are known to host extremely powerful magnetic fields. Among other effects, one of the consequences of harbouring such fields is the deformation of the neutron star structure, leading, together with rotation, to the emission of continuous gravitational waves. On the one hand, the details of their internal magnetic fields are mostly unknown. Likewise, their internal structure, encoded by the equation of state, is highly uncertain. Here we present a study of axisymmetric models of isolated magnetised neutron stars, for various realistic equations of state considered viable by observations and nuclear physics constraints. We show that it is possible to find simple relations between the magnetic deformation of a neutron star, its Komar mass and its circumferential radius. Such relations are quasi-universal, meaning that they are mostly independent on the equation of state of the neutron star and only slightly dependent on the magnetic field configuration. Being formulated in terms of potentially observable quantities, as we discuss, our results could help to constrain the magnetic properties of the neutron star interior and to better assess the detectability of continuous gravitational waves by isolated neutron stars, without knowing their equation of state. Our results are derived both in general relativity and in scalar-tensor theories - one of the most promising extensions of general relativity - in this case by considering also the scalar charge. We show that even in this case general relations hold that account for deviations from general relativity, that could potentially be used to set constraints on the gravitational theory.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Revisiting the evolution of nonradiative supernova remnants: A hydrodynamical-informed parameterization of the shock positions

Understanding the evolution of a supernova remnant shell in time is fundamental. Such understanding is critical to build reliable models of the dynamics of the supernova remnant shell interaction with any pulsar wind nebula it might contain. Here, we perform a large study of the parameter space for the one-dimensional spherically symmetric evolution of a supernova remnant, accompanying it by analytical analysis. Assuming, as is usual, an ejecta density profile with a power-law core and an envelope, and a uniform ambient medium, we provide a set of highly-accurate approximations for the evolution of the main structural features of supernova remnants, such as the reverse and forward shocks and the contact discontinuity. We compare our results with previously adopted approximations, showing that existing simplified prescriptions can easily lead to large errors. In particular, in the context of pulsar wind nebulae modelling, an accurate description for the supernova remnant reverse shock is required. We also study in depth the self-similar solutions for the initial phase of evolution, when the reverse shock propagates through the envelope of the ejecta. Since these self-similar solutions are exact, but not fully analytical, we here provide highly-accurate approximations as well.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Origin and role of relativistic cosmic particles

This white paper briefly summarizes the importance of the study of relativistic cosmic rays, both as a constituent of our Universe, and through their impact on stellar and galactic evolution. The focus is on what can be learned over the coming decade through ground-based gamma-ray observations over the 20 GeV to 300 TeV range. The majority of the material is drawn directly from "Science with the Cherenkov Telescope Array", which describes the overall science case for CTA. We request that authors wishing to cite results contained in this white paper cite the original work.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Multi-messenger and transient astrophysics with the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The discovery of gravitational waves, high-energy neutrinos or the very-high-energy counterpart of gamma-ray bursts has revolutionized the high-energy and transient astrophysics community. The development of new instruments and analysis techniques will allow the discovery and/or follow-up of new transient sources. We describe the prospects for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the next-generation ground-based gamma-ray observatory, for multi-messenger and transient astrophysics in the decade ahead. CTA will explore the most extreme environments via very-high-energy observations of compact objects, stellar collapse events, mergers and cosmic-ray accelerators.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Magnetic deformation of neutron stars in scalar-tensor theories

Scalar-tensor theories are among the most promising alternatives to general relativity that have been developed to account for some long standing issues in our understanding of gravity. Some of these theories predict the existence of a non-linear phenomenon, spontaneous scalarisation, which can lead to the appearance of sizeable modifications to general relativity in the presence of compact matter distributions, namely neutron stars. On the one hand, one of the effects of the scalar field is to modify the emission of gravitational waves, both due to variations in the quadrupolar deformation of the star and to the presence of additional modes of emission. On the other hand, neutron stars are known to harbour extremely powerful magnetic fields which can affect their structure and shape, leading in turn to the emission of gravitational waves, this time due to a magnetic quadrupolar deformation. We investigate here how the presence of spontaneous scalarisation can affect the magnetic deformation of neutron stars and their emission of quadrupolar gravitational waves, both of tensor and scalar nature. We will show that it is possible to provide simple parameterisations of the magnetic deformation and gravitational wave power of neutron stars in terms of their baryonic mass, circumferential radius and scalar charge, and that a universal scaling exists independently of the magnetic field geometry and of the parameters of the scalar-tensor theory. Finally, we comment on the observability of the deviations of the gravitational waves strain from general relativity by current and future observatories.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Reverberation of pulsar wind nebulae (I): Impact of the medium properties and other parameters upon the extent of the compression

The standard approach to the long term evolution of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) is based on one-zone models treating the nebula as a uniform system. In particular for the late phase of evolved systems, many of the generally used prescriptions are based on educated guesses for which a proper assessment lacks. Using an advanced radiative code we evaluate the systematic impact of various parameters, like the properties of the supernova ejecta, of the inner pulsar, as well of the ambient medium, upon the extent of the reverberation phase of PWNe. We investigate how different prescriptions shift the starting time of the reverberation phase, how this affects the amount of the compression, and how much of this can be ascribable to the radiation processes. Some critical aspects are the description of the reverse shock evolution, the efficiency by which at later times material from the ejecta accretes onto the swept-up shell around the PWN, and finally the density, velocity and pressure profiles in the surrounding supernova remnant. We have explicitly treated the cases of the Crab Nebula, and of J1834.9--0846, taken to be representatives of the more and the less energetic pulsars, respectively. Especially for the latter object the prediction of large compression factors is confirmed, even larger in the presence of radiative losses, also confirming our former prediction of periods of super-efficiency during the reverberation phase of some PWNe.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Axisymmetric equilibrium models for magnetised neutron stars in Scalar-Tensor Theories

Among the possible extensions of General Relativity that have been put forward in order to address some long standing issues in our understanding of the Universe, Scalar-Tensor Theories have received a lot of attention for their simplicity. Interestingly, some of these predict a potentially observable non-linear phenomenon, known as \textit{spontaneous scalarisation}, in the presence of highly compact matter distributions, like the case of neutron stars. Neutron stars are ideal laboratories to investigate the properties of matter under extreme conditions, and in particular they are known to harbour the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe. Here, for the first time, we present a detailed study of magnetised neutron stars in Scalar-Tensor Theories. First, we show that the formalism developed for the study of magnetised neutron stars in General Relativity, based on the \textit{eXtended Conformally Flat Condition}, can easily be extended in the presence of a non-minimally coupled scalar field, retaining many of its numerical advantages. We then carry out a study of the parameter space considering the two extreme geometries of purely toroidal and purely poloidal magnetic fields, varying both the strength of the magnetic field and the intensity of scalarisation. We compare our results with magnetised general-relativistic solutions and un-magnetised scalarised solutions, showing how the mutual interplay between magnetic and scalar fields affect the magnetic and the scalarisation properties of neutron stars. In particular, we focus our discussion on magnetic deformability, maximum mass and range of scalarisation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

3D Relativistic MHD Simulations of Pulsar Bow Shock Nebulae

Pulsars out of their parent SNR directly interact with the ISM producing so called Bow-Shock Pulsar Wind Nebulae, the relativistic equivalents of the heliosphere/heliotail system. These have been directly observed from Radio to X-ray, and are found also associated to TeV halos, with a large variety of morphologies. They offer a unique environment where the pulsar wind can be studied by modelling its interaction with the surrounding ambient medium, in a fashion that is different/complementary from the canonical Plerions. These systems have also been suggested as the possible origin of the positron excess detected by AMS and PAMELA, in contrast to dark matter. I will present results from 3D Relativistic MHD simulations of such nebulae. On top of these simulations we computed the expected emission signatures, the properties of high energy particle escape, the role of current sheets in channeling cosmic rays, the level of turbulence and magnetic amplification, and how they depend on the wind structure and magnetisation.

astro-ph.HE↗