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Naoki Itoh

Publications and source records attributed to Naoki Itoh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The energy dependence of cluster size and its physical processes in the proton measurement with TimePix3 silicon detector

We investigated the energy dependence of the number of triggered pixels, or cluster size, when charged particles are detected using the TimePix3 detector with a silicon sensor. We measured protons in the range of 1.5~3.3 MeV from a Pelletron accelerator at RIKEN using a TimePix3 detector with a 500 um-thick silicon sensor. We determined from the experimental results a cluster size comprised between 30 and 80 pixels. To understand the physical process that produces large cluster images and its energy dependence, we simulated the charge carrier drifts in the sensor, assuming the incidence of a proton in the detector. The cluster sizes estimated in the simulation were smaller than those observed in the experiment, and remained constant across the entire energy range, when thermal diffusion and charge carriers self-repulsion were considered as the factors of the cluster image formation. In addition, we discovered that the size of the cluster image and its energy dependence observed in the experiment could be well explained when considering that the TimePix3 detector is sensitive to the transient induced charges, allowing even pixels that do not collect the charge carriers to trigger. We conclude that the cluster size measurement is a promising method for evaluating the energy deposited by a charged particle in the TimePix3 detector.

physics.ins-det

Proton radiation damage tolerance of wide dynamic range SOI pixel detectors

We have been developing the SOI pixel detector ``INTPIX'' for space use and general purpose applications such as the residual stress measurement of a rail and high energy physics experiments. INTPIX is a monolithic pixel detector composed of a high-resistivity Si sensor, a SiO2 insulator, and CMOS pixel circuits utilizing Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) technology. We have considered the possibility of using INTPIX to observe X-ray polarization in space. When the semiconductor detector is used in space, it is subject to radiation damage resulting from high-energy protons. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate whether INTPIX has high radiation tolerance for use in space. The INTPIX8 was irradiated with 6 MeV protons up to a total dose of 2 krad at HIMAC, National Institute of Quantum Science in Japan, and evaluated the degradation of the performance, such as energy resolution and non-uniformity of gain and readout noise between pixels. After 500 rad irradiation, which is the typical lifetime of an X-ray astronomy satellite, the degradation of energy resolution at 14.4 keV is less than 10%, and the non-uniformity of readout noise and gain between pixels is constant within 0.1%.

astro-ph.IM

Knee structure in high-energy inverse Compton scattering of CMB photons

We study the inverse Compton scattering of the CMB photons off nonthermal high-energy electrons. In the previous study, assuming the power-law distribution for electrons, we derived the analytic expression for the spectral intensity function $I(ω)$ in the Thomson approximation, which was applicable up to the photon energies of $ω<$ O(GeV). In the present paper, we extend the previous work to higher photon energies of $ω>$ O(GeV) by taking into account the terms dropped in the Thomson approximation, i.e., the Klein-Nishina formula. The analytic expression for $I(ω)$ is derived with the Klein-Nishina formula. It is shown that $I(ω)$ has a "knee" structure at $ω=$ O(PeV). The knee, if exists, should be accessible with gamma-ray observatories such as Fermi-LAT. We propose simple analytical formulae for $I(ω)$ which are applicable to wide photon energies from Thomson region to extreme Klein-Nishina region.

astro-ph.CO

Analytical Study on the Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect for Clusters of Galaxies. II. comparison of covariant formalisms

We study a covariant formalism for the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects developed in the previous papers by the present authors, and derive analytic expressions for the redistribution functions in the Thomson approximation. We also explore another covariant formalism recently developed by Poutanen and Vurm. We show that the two formalisms are mathematically equivalent in the Thomson approximation which is fully valid for the cosmic microwave background photon energies. The present finding will establish a theoretical foundation for the analysis of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects for the clusters of galaxies.

astro-ph.CO

Scaling Laws in High-Energy Inverse Compton Scattering. II. Effect of Bulk Motions

We study the inverse Compton scattering of the CMB photons off high-energy nonthermal electrons. We extend the formalism obtained by the previous paper to the case where the electrons have non-zero bulk motions with respect to the CMB frame. Assuming the power-law electron distribution, we find the same scaling law for the probability distribution function P_{1,K}(s) as P_{1}(s) which corresponds to the zero bulk motions, where the peak height and peak position depend only on the power-index parameter. We solved the rate equation analytically. It is found that the spectral intensity function also has the same scaling law. The effect of the bulk motions to the spectral intensity function is found to be small. The present study will be applicable to the analysis of the X-ray and gamma-ray emission models from various astrophysical objects with non-zero bulk motions such as radio galaxies and astrophysical jets.

astro-ph.CO

Scaling Laws in High-Energy Inverse Compton Scattering

Based upon the rate equations for the photon distribution function obtained in the previous paper, we study the inverse Compton scattering process for high-energy nonthermal electrons. Assuming the power-law electron distribution, we find a scaling law in the probability distribution function P_1(s), where the peak height and peak position depend only on the power index parameter. We solved the rate equation analytically. It is found that the spectral intensity function also has the scaling law, where the peak height and peak position depend only on the power index parameter. The present study will be particularly important to the analysis of the X-ray and gamma-ray emission models from various astrophysical objects such as radio galaxies and supernova remnants.

astro-ph.CO

Study on the Solutions of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect for Clusters of Galaxies

Based upon the rate equations for the photon distribution function obtained in the previous paper, we study the formal solutions in three different representation forms for the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. By expanding the formal solution in the operator representation in powers of both the derivative operator and electron velocity, we derive a formal solution that is equivalent to the Fokker-Planck expansion approximation. We extend the present formalism to the kinematical Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. The properties of the frequency redistribution functions are studied. We find that the kinematical Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect is described by the redistribution function related to the electron pressure. We also solve the rate equations numerically. We obtain the exact numerical solutions, which include the full-order terms in powers of the optical depth.

astro-ph.CO

The Second Born Corrections to the Electrical and Thermal Conductivities of Dense Matter in the Liquid Metal Phase

The second Born corrections to the electrical and thermal conductivities are calculated for the dense matter in the liquid metal phase for various elemental compositions of astrophysical importance. Inclusion up to the second Born corrections is sufficiently accurate for the Coulomb scattering of the electrons by the atomic nuclei with Z < 26. Our approach is semi-analytical, and is in contrast to that of the previous authors who have used fully numerical values of the cross section for the Coulomb scattering of the electron by the atomic nucleus. The merit of the present semi-analytical approach is that this approach affords us to obtain the results with reliable Z-dependence and ρ-dependence. The previous fully numerical approach has made use of the numerical values of the cross section for the scattering of the electron off the atomic nucleus for a limited number of Z-values, Z=6, 13, 29, 50, 82, and 92, and for a limited number of electron energies, 0.05MeV, 0.1MeV, 0.2MeV, 0.4MeV, 0.7MeV, 1MeV, 2MeV, 4MeV, and 10MeV. Our study, however, has confirmed that the previous results are sufficiently accurate. They are recovered, if the terms higher than the second Born terms are taken into account. We make a detailed comparison of the present results with those of the previous authors. The numerical results are parameterized in a form of analytic formulae that would facilitate practical uses of the results. We also extend our calculations to the case of mixtures of nuclear species. The corresponding subroutine can be retrieved from http://www.ph.sophia.ac.jp/~itoh-ken/subroutine/subroutine.htm

astro-ph

Screening Corrections to the Electron Capture Rates in Dense Stars by the Relativistically Degenerate Electron Liquid

We calculate the screening corrections to the electron capture rates in dense stars by the relativistically degenerate electron liquid. In order to calculate the screening corrections we adopt the linear response theory which is widely used in the field of solid state physics and liquid metal physics. In particular, we use the longitudinal dielectric function for the relativistically degenerate electron liquid derived by Jancovici. We calculate the screening potential at the position of the nucleus. By using this screening potential one can calculate the screening corrections to the electron capture rates. We will present accurate analytic fitting formulae which summarize our numerical results. These fitting formulae will facilitate the application of the present results. The screening corrections to the electron capture rates are typically a few percent.

astro-ph

Ion-Ion Correlation Effect on the Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering in Supernova Cores

We calculate the ion-ion correlation effect on the neutrino-nucleus scattering in supernova cores, which is an important opacity source for the neutrinos and plays a vital role in the supernova explosion. In order to calculate the ion-ion correlation effect we use the results of the improved hypernetted-chain method calculations of the classical one-component plasma. As in the preceding studies on this effect, we find a dramatic decrease of the effective neutrino-nucleus scattering cross section for relatively low energy neutrinos with E < 20MeV. As a matter of fact, our calculation shows a much more dramatic reduction of the effective neutrino-nucleus scattering cross section for the low energy neutrinos with E < 10MeV than the results of Horowitz. Therefore, the ion-ion correlation effect will be more important than has hitherto been recognized. We present an accurate analytic fitting formula that summarizes our numerical results. This fitting formula will facilitate the application of the present results to the supernova explosion simulations.

astro-ph

Relativistic Thermal Bremsstrahlung Gaunt Factor for the Intracluster Plasma. III. Frequency Integrated Emissivity

We present accurate analytic fitting formulae for the frequency integrated Gaunt factors for the relativistic as well as nonrelativistic thermal bremsstrahlung which is relevant to the intracluster plasma. The fitting is carried out for 1 =< Zj =< 28, 6.0 < log T < 8.5, where Zj is the charge number of the ion, and T is the electron temperature in kelvins. The present analytic fitting formulae will be useful for the analysis of the X-ray emission which comes from the intracluster plasma as well as the other X-ray sources.

astro-ph

Nonrelativistic Electron-Electron Thermal Bremsstrahlung Gaunt Factor

With the launch of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and XMM-Newton, X-ray astronomy has entered an era of precision science. The precision observational data taken by these satellites require precision basic physics data for their analysis. The present authors have recently published a series of papers in which they have reported the results of the accurate calculations of the electron-ion thermal bremsstrahlung which are particularly suited for the analysis of the high-temperature galaxy clusters. In this paper we will present accurate analytic fitting formulae for the nonrelativistic electron-electron thermal bremsstrahlung Gaunt factor which will be useful for the analysis of the X-ray observational data taken by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and XMM-Newton. With the publication of the present paper X-ray astronomers will be provided with an accurate thermal bremsstrahlung Gaunt factor which has an overall accuracy better than 1% for the temperature range 6.0 <log T[K] < 8.5.

astro-ph

Relativistic Thermal Bremsstrahlung Gaunt Factor for the Intracluster Plasma. III. Analytic Fitting Formula for the Nonrelativistic Exact Gaunt Factor

We present an accurate analytic fitting formula for the thermal bremsstrahlung Gaunt factor in the nonrelativistic limit. The fitting formula excellently reproduces the numerical results of the calculation carried out by the present authors using the method of Karzas and Latter. The present analytic fitting formula will be useful for the analysis of the X-ray emission which comes from the intracluster plasmas with relatively low temperatures as well as the other X-ray sources.

astro-ph

Relativistic Thermal Bremsstrahlung Gaunt Factor for the Intracluster Plasma. II. Analytic Fitting Formulae

We present accurate analytic fitting formulae which summarize the results of the recent calculation by Nozawa, Itoh and Kohyama on the relativistic thermal bremsstrahlung Gaunt factor for the intracluster plasma. The fitting is carried out for Z = 1 to 28, 6.0 < log T < 8.5, -4.0 < log (omega/kT) < 1.0, where Z is the charge number of the ion, T is the temperature, and omega is the angular frequency of the emitted photon. The present analytic fitting formulae will be useful for the analysis of the X-ray emission which comes from the intracluster plasma as well as the other X-ray sources.

astro-ph

An improved formula for the relativistic corrections to the kinematical Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect for clusters of galaxies

We improve the calculation of Nozawa, Itoh, and Kohyama (1998) to provide a formula for relativistic corrections to the thermal and kinematical Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects that is accurate to fourth order in theta_e = kT_e/m_ec^2, T_e and m_e being the electron temperature and electron mass, respectively. We also carry out a direct numerical integration of the Boltzmann collision term and confirm the excellent accuracy of the analytic formula. This formula will be useful for the analysis of the observational data of the forthcoming experiments of the kinematical Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect for clusters of galaxies.

astro-ph

Evolution of Low-Mass Population III Stars

We present the evolutionary models of metal-free stars in the mass range from 0.8 to 1.2 Msun with up-to-date input physics. The evolution is followed to the onset of hydrogen mixing into a convection, driven by the helium flash at red giant or asymptotic giant branch phase. The models of mass M >= 0.9 Msun undergo the central hydrogen flash, triggered by the carbon production due to the 3-alpha reactions. We find that the border of the off-center and central ignition of helium core flash falls between 1.1 and 1.2 Msun; the models of mass M <= 1.1 Msun experience the hydrogen mixing at the tip of red giant branch while the models of M = 1.2 Msun during the helium shell flashes on the asymptotic giant branch. The equation of state for the Coulomb liquid region, where electron conduction and radiation compete, is shown to be important since it affects the thermal state in the helium core and influences the red giant branch evolution. It is also found that the non-resonant term of 3-alpha reactios plays an important role, although it has negligible effect in the evolution of stars of younger populations. We compare our models with the computations by several other sets of authors, to confirm the good agreement except for one study which finds the helium ignition much closer to the center with consequences important for subsequent evolution.

astro-ph

Relativistic Corrections to the Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect for Clusters of Galaxies. V. Effect of the Motion of the Observer

We extend the formalism of the relativistic thermal and kinematical Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects to the observer's system (the Solar System) moving with a velocity $β_{S}$ with respect to the cosmic microwave background radiation. We confirm the results recently obtained by Chluba, Huetsi, and Sunyaev in the lowest order of the observer's velocity $β_{S}. We give a more general analytic expression for the thermal and kinematical Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects corresponding to the observer's system with the power series expansion approximation in terms of $θ_{e}$. It is found that the effect of the motion of the observer on the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect will become important in the future high precision observation projects of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect.

astro-ph

The r-Process in Supernovae: Impact of New Microscopic Mass Formulas

The astrophysical origin of $r$-process nuclei remains a long-standing mystery. Although some astrophysical scenarios show some promise, many uncertainties involved in both the astrophysical conditions and in the nuclear properties far from the $β$-stability have inhibited us from understanding the nature of the $r$-process. The purpose of the present paper is to examine the effects of the newly-derived microscopic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) mass formulas on the $r$-process nucleosynthesis and analyse to what extent a solar-like $r$-abundance distribution can be obtained. The $r$-process calculations with the HFB-2 mass formula are performed, adopting the parametrized model of the prompt explosion from a collapsing O-Ne-Mg core for the physical conditions and compared with the results obtained with the HFB-7 and droplet-type mass formulas. Due to its weak shell effect at the neutron magic numbers in the neutron-rich region, the microscopic mass formulas (HFB-2 and HFB-7) give rise to a spread of the abundance distribution in the vicinity of the $r$-process peaks ($A = 130$ and 195). While this effect resolves the large underproduction at $A \approx 115$ and 140 obtained with droplet-type mass formulas, large deviations compared to the solar pattern are found near the third $r$-process peak. It is shown that a solar-like $r$-process pattern can be obtained if the dynamical timescales of the outgoing mass trajectories are increased by a factor of about 2-3, or if the $β$-decay rates are systematically increased by the same factor.

astro-ph