arXiv subjects

P. Andreani

Publications and source records attributed to P. Andreani.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

"Internal Linear Combination" method for the separation of CMB from Galactic foregrounds in the harmonic domain

Foreground contamination is the fundamental hindrance to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) signals and its separation from it represents a fundamental question in Cosmology. One of the most popular algorithm used to disentangle foregrounds from the CMB signals is the "internal linear combination" method (ILC). In its original version, this technique is applied directly to the observed maps. In recent literature, however, it is suggested that in the harmonic (Fourier) domain it is possible to obtain better results since a separation can be attempted where the various Fourier frequencies are given different weights. This is seen as a useful characteristic in the case of noisy data. Here, we argue that the benefits of using such an approach are overestimated. Better results can be obtained if a classic procedure is adopted where data are filtered before the separation is carried out.

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arXiv2008

A Statistical Analysis of the "Internal Linear Combination" Method in Problems of Signal Separation as in CMB Observations

AIMS: The separation of foreground contamination from cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations is one of the most challenging and important problem of digital signal processing in Cosmology. In literature, various techniques have been presented, but no general consensus about their real performances and properties has been reached. This is due to the characteristics of these techniques that have been studied essentially through numerical simulations based on semi-empirical models of the CMB and the Galactic foregrounds. Such models often have different level of sophistication and/or are based on different physical assumptions (e.g., the number of the Galactic components and the level of the noise). Hence, a reliable comparison is difficult. What actually is missing is a statistical analysis of the properties of the proposed methodologies. Here, we consider the "Internal Linear Combination" method (ILC) which, among the separation techniques, requires the smallest number of "a priori" assumptions. This feature is of particular interest in the context of the CMB polarization measurements at small angular scales where the lack of knowledge of the polarized backgrounds represents a serious limit. METHODS: The statistical characteristics of ILC are examined through an analytical approach and the basic conditions are fixed in a way to work satisfactorily. RESULTS: ILC provides satisfactory results only under rather restrictive conditions. This is a critical fact to take into consideration in planning the future ground-based observations (e.g., with ALMA) where, contrary to the satellite experiments, there is the possibility to have a certain control of the experimental conditions.

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arXiv2008

Star formation in the hosts of high-z QSOs: Evidence from Spitzer PAH detections

We present Spitzer rest-frame mid-infrared spectroscopy of twelve z~2 mm-bright type 1 QSOs, selected from unlensed and lensed QSO samples and covering a range of AGN optical luminosities L_5100=10^45 to 10^47 erg/s. On top of the AGN continuum, we detect PAH emission from luminous star formation in nine objects individually as well as in the composite spectrum for the full sample. PAH luminosity and rest frame far-infrared luminosity correlate and extend the similar correlation for lower luminosity local QSOs. This provides strong evidence for intense star formation in the hosts of these mm-bright QSOs, sometimes exceeding 1000 Msun/yr and dominating their rest frame far-infrared emission. The PAH-based limit on star formation rates is lower for luminous z~2 QSOs that are not preselected for their mm emission. Partly dependent on systematic changes of the AGN dust covering factor and the dust spectral energy distribution of the AGN proper, the spectral energy distributions of mm-faint high-z QSOs may be AGN dominated out to rest frame far-infrared wavelengths. Towards the most luminous high-z QSOs, there is a flattening of the relation between star formation and AGN luminosity that is observed for lower redshift QSOs. No QSO in our sample has a PAH-measured star formation rate in excess of 3000 Msun/yr.

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arXiv2007

The radio properties of optically obscured Spitzer sources

This paper analyses the radio properties of a subsample of optically obscured (R>25.5) galaxies observed at 24um by the Spitzer Space Telescope within the First Look Survey. 96 F[24um]>0.35 mJy objects out of 510 are found to have a radio counterpart at 1.4 GHz, 610 MHz or at both frequencies respectively down to ~40uJy and ~200uJy. IRAC photometry sets the majority of them in the redshift interval z [1-3] and allows for a broad distinction between AGN-dominated galaxies (~47% of the radio-identified sample) and systems powered by intense star-formation (~13%), the remaining objects being impossible to classify. The percentage of radio identifications is a strong function of 24um flux. The radio number counts at both radio frequencies suggest that the physical process(es) responsible for radio activity in these objects have a common origin regardless of whether the source shows mid-IR emission compatible with being an obscured AGN or a star-forming galaxy. We also find that both candidate AGN and star-forming systems follow (although with a large scatter) the relationship between 1.4 GHz and 24um fluxes reported by Appleton et al. (2004) which identifies sources undergoing intense star formation activity. On the other hand, the inferred radio spectral indices alpha indicate that a large fraction of objects in our sample (~60% of all galaxies with estimated alpha) may belong to the population of Ultra Steep Spectrum (USS) Sources, typically 'frustrated' radio-loud AGN. We interpret our findings as a strong indication for concurrent AGN and star-forming activity, whereby the 1.4 GHz flux is of thermal origin, while that at 610 GHz mainly stems from the nuclear source.

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arXiv2007

PAH emission and star formation in the host of the z~2.56 Cloverleaf QSO

We report the first detection of the 6.2micron and 7.7micron infrared `PAH' emission features in the spectrum of a high redshift QSO, from the Spitzer-IRS spectrum of the Cloverleaf lensed QSO (H1413+117, z~2.56). The ratio of PAH features and rest frame far-infrared emission is the same as in lower luminosity star forming ultraluminous infrared galaxies and in local PG QSOs, supporting a predominantly starburst nature of the Cloverleaf's huge far-infrared luminosity (5.4E12 Lsun, corrected for lensing). The Cloverleaf's period of dominant QSO activity (Lbol ~ 7E13 Lsun) is coincident with an intense (star formation rate ~1000 Msun/yr) and short (gas exhaustion time ~3E7yr) star forming event.

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arXiv2006

Simulations of Galactic Cosmic Rays Impacts on the Herschel/PACS Photoconductor Arrays with Geant4 Code

We present results of simulations performed with the Geant4 software code of the effects of Galactic Cosmic Ray impacts on the photoconductor arrays of the PACS instrument. This instrument is part of the ESA-Herschel payload, which will be launched in late 2007 and will operate at the Lagrangian L2 point of the Sun-Earth system. Both the Satellite plus the cryostat (the shield) and the detector act as source of secondary events, affecting the detector performance. Secondary event rates originated within the detector and from the shield are of comparable intensity. The impacts deposit energy on each photoconductor pixel but do not affect the behaviour of nearby pixels. These latter are hit with a probability always lower than 7%. The energy deposited produces a spike which can be hundreds times larger than the noise. We then compare our simulations with proton irradiation tests carried out for one of the detector modules and follow the detector behaviour under 'real' conditions.

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arXiv2006

Stochastic modeling of kHz QPO light curves

The Kluzniak & Abramowicz model explains high frequency, double peak, "3:2" QPOs observed in neutron star and black hole sources in terms of a non-linear parametric resonance between radial and vertical epicyclic oscillations of an almost Keplerian accretion disk. The 3:2 ratio of epicyclic frequencies occurs only in strong gravity. Rebusco (2004) and Horak (2004) studied the model analytically: they proved that a small forcing may indeed excite the parametric 3:2 resonance, but they have not explained the physical nature of the forcing. Here we integrate their equations numerically, dropping the ad hoc forcing, and adding instead a stochastic term to mimic the action of the very complex processes that occur in disks as, for example, MRI turbulence. We demonstrate that the presence of the stochastic term triggers the resonance in epicyclic oscillations of nearly Keplerian disks, and influences their pattern.

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arXiv2005

Some further comments on the paper "biparametric scale adaptive filter design" for the detection of compact sources as proposed by M. Lopez-Caniego et. al 2005, MNRAS 359, 993

In this note we re-propose the arguments presented in Vio (2005) examining the superiority of the 'bi-parametric scale adaptive filter' (BSAF) when dealing with source detection as claimed by (Lopez-Caniego 2005a) and confirmed in Lopez-Caniego (2005b). We suggest here that the dispute can be easily solved if these authors provide the community with a detailed derivation of a basic equation.

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arXiv2005

Some comments on the paper "Filter design for the detection of compact sources based on the Neyman-Pearson detector" by M. Lopez-Caniego et. al (2005, MNRAS 359, 993)

In this note we stress the necessity of a careful check of both the theoretical arguments and the numerical experiments used by Lopez-Caniego et al. (2005) to support the superior performances of the biparametric scale adaptive filter (BSAF) with respect to the classic matched filter (MF) in the detection of sources on a random Gaussian background.

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arXiv2003

Digital Deblurring of CMB Maps II: Asymmetric Point Spread Function

In this second paper in a series dedicated to developing efficient numerical techniques for the deblurring Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) maps, we consider the case of asymmetric point spread functions (PSF). Although conceptually this problem is not different from the symmetric case, there are important differences from the computational point of view because it is no longer possible to use some of the efficient numerical techniques that work with symmetric PSFs. We present procedures that permit the use of efficient techniques even when this condition is not met. In particular, two methods are considered: a procedure based on a Kronecker approximation technique that can be implemented with the numerical methods used with symmetric PSFs but that has the limitation of requiring only mildly asymmetric PSFs. The second is a variant of the classic Tikhonov technique that works even with very asymmetric PSFs but that requires discarding the edges of the maps. We provide details for efficient implementations of the algorithms. Their performance is tested on simulated CMB maps.

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arXiv2003

Digital Deblurring of CMB Maps: Performance and Efficient Implementation

Digital deblurring of images is an important problem that arises in multifrequency observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) where, because of the width of the point spread functions (PSF), maps at different frequencies suffer a different loss of spatial resolution. Deblurring is useful for various reasons: first, it helps to restore high frequency components lost through the smoothing effect of the instrument's PSF; second, emissions at various frequencies observed with different resolutions can be better studied on a comparable resolution; third, some map-based component separation algorithms require maps with similar level of degradation. Because of computational efficiency, deblurring is usually done in the frequency domain. But this approach has some limitations as it requires spatial invariance of the PSF, stationarity of the noise, and is not flexible in the selection of more appropriate boundary conditions. Deblurring in real space is more flexible but usually not used because of its high computational cost. In this paper (the first in a series on the subject) we present new algorithms that allow the use of real space deblurring techniques even for very large images. In particular, we consider the use of Tikhonov deblurring of noisy maps with applications to {\it PLANCK}. We provide details for efficient implementations of the algorithms. Their performance is tested on Gaussian and non-Gaussian simulated CMB maps, and PSFs with both circular and elliptical symmetry. Matlab code is made available.

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arXiv2002

Numerical Simulation of Non-Gaussian Random Fields with Prescribed Marginal Distributions and Cross-Correlation Structure II: Multivariate Random Fields

We provide theoretical procedures and practical recipes to simulate non-Gaussian correlated, homogeneous random fields with prescribed marginal distributions and cross-correlation structure, either in a N-dimensional Cartesian space or on the celestial sphere. We illustrate our methods using far-infrared maps obtained with the Infrared Space Observatory. However, the methodology presented here can be used in other astrophysical applications that require modeling correlated features in sky maps, for example, the simulation of multifrequency sky maps where backgrounds, sources and noise are correlated and can be modeled by random fields.

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arXiv2001

Search for sub-mm, mm and radio continuum emission from Extremely Red Objects

We present the results of sub-mm, mm (850 um, 450 um and 1250 um) and radio (1.4 and 4.8 GHz) continuum observations of a sample of 27 K-selected Extremely Red Objects, or EROs, (14 of which form a complete sample with K < 20 and I-K > 5) aimed at detecting dusty starbursts, deriving the fraction of UltraLuminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIGs) in ERO samples, and constraining their redshifts using the radio-FIR correlation. One ERO was tentatively detected at 1250 um and two were detected at 1.4 GHz, one of which has a less secure identification as an ERO counterpart. Limits on their redshifts and their star forming properties are derived and discussed. We stacked the observations of the undetected objects at 850 um, 1250 um and 4.8 GHz in order to search for possible statistical emission from the ERO population as a whole, but no significant detections were derived either for the whole sample or as a function of the average NIR colours. These results strongly suggest that the dominant population of EROs with K < 20 is not comprised of ULIGs like HR 10, but is probably made of radio-quiet ellipticals and weaker starburst galaxies with L < 10^{12} L_sun and SFR < 100 M_sun/yr.

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arXiv2001

The extended counterpart of submm source Lockman850.1

The IRAM Plateau de Bure mm interferometer and deep K-band imaging have been used to identify the brightest submm source detected in the Lockman field of the UK 8mJy SCUBA survey. The near infrared counterpart is an extended (20-30kpc), clumpy, and extremely red object. The spectral energy distribution suggests it to be a dusty star forming object at a redshift of about 3 (2-4). Its star formation rate and near-infrared properties are consistent with Lockman850.1 being a massive elliptical in formation.

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arXiv2000

A Powerful Radio Halo in the Hottest Known Cluster of Galaxies 1E0657-56

We report the detection of a diffuse radio halo source in the hottest known cluster of galaxies 1E0657-56 (RXJ0658-5557). The radio halo has a morphology similar to the X-ray emission from the hot intracluster medium. The presence of a luminous radio halo in such a hot cluster is further evidence for a steep correlation between the radio halo power and the X-ray temperature. We favour models for the origin of radio halo sources involving a direct connection between the X-ray emitting thermal particles and the radio emitting relativistic particles.

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arXiv1999

New Clues on the Nature of Extremely Red Galaxies

We present near-infrared VLT-UT1+ISAAC spectroscopy of a sample of 9 extremely red galaxies (ERGs) with R-K>5 and K<19.0. Neither strong emission lines (F_lim<1-5 10^{-16} erg s^{-1}cm^{-2}) nor continuum breaks are detected. From near-infrared spectrophotometry, complemented with broad-band optical and near-IR photometry, we estimate ``spectro-photometric'' redshifts to be in the range of 0.8 0.8. We discuss the general implications of our findings in relation with the problem of the formation of early type galaxies.

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arXiv1999

Proposed identification of Hubble Deep Field submillimeter source HDF 850.1

The IRAM interferometer has been used to detect the submm source HDF 850.1 found by Hughes et al. (1998) in the Hubble Deep Field. The flux density measured at 1.3mm is 2.2 mJy, in agreement with the flux density measured at the JCMT. The flux densities and upper limits measured at 3.4, 2.8, 1.3, 0.85, and 0.45 mm show that the emission is from dust. We suggest that the 1.3mm dust source is associated with the optical arc-like feature, 3-593.0, that has a photometric redshift of about 1.7. If HDF 850.1 is at this redshift and unlensed, its spectral energy distribution, combined with that of 3-593.0, matches closely that of the ultraluminous galaxy VII Zw 31. Another possibility is that the dust source may be gravitationally lensed by the elliptical galaxy 3-586.0 at a redshift of 1.

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arXiv1998

The enhancement and decrement of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect towards the ROSAT Cluster RXJ0658-5557

We report simultaneous observations at 1.2 and 2 mm, with a double channel photometer on the SEST Telescope, of the X-ray cluster RXJ0658-5557 in search for the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (S-Z). The S-Z data were analyzed using the relativistically correct expression for the Comptonization parameter and we find from the detected decrement (2.60 +/- 0.79) ~ 10^{-4}, which is consistent with that computed using the X-ray (ROSAT and ASCA) observations. The uncertainty includes contributions due to statistical uncertainty in the detection and systematics and calibration. The 1.2 {mm} channel data alone gives rise to a larger Comptonization parameter and this result is discussed in terms of contamination from foreground sources and/or dust in the cluster or from a possible systematic effect. We then make use of the combined analysis of the ROSAT and ASCA X-ray satellite observations to determine an isothermal model for the S-Z surface brightness. Since the cluster is asymmetrical and probably in a merging process, models are only approximate. The associated uncertainty can, however, be estimated by exploring a set of alternative models. We then find as the global uncertainty on the Comptonization parameter a factor of 1.3. Combining the S-Z and the X-ray measurements, we determine a value for the Hubble constant. The 2 mm data are consistent with H_0(q_0 = 1/2)= 53^{+38}_{-28} km/s Mpc^{-1}, where the uncertainty is dominated by the uncertainty in models of the X-ray plasma halo.

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