arXiv subjects

S. K. Pandey

Publications and source records attributed to S. K. Pandey.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

A multiwavelength view of the ISM in the merger remnant Fornax A galaxy

We present multi-wavelength imagery of the merger remnant galaxy NGC 1316 with an objective to study the content of dust and its association with the other phases of the ISM. Color-index maps as well as extinction maps derived for this galaxy reveal an intricate and complex dust morphology in NGC 1316, i.e., in the inner part it exists in the form of a prominent lane while at about 6--7\,kpc it apparently takes an arc-like pattern extended along the North-East direction. In addition to this, several other dust clumps and knots are also evident in this galaxy. Dust emission mapped using \textit{Spitzer} data at 8 $μ$m indicates even more complex morphological structures of the dust in NGC1316. The extinction curve derived over the optical to near-IR bands closely follows the standard Galactic curve suggesting similar properties of the dust grains. The dust content of NGC 1316 estimated from optical extinction is $\sim$ 2.13$\times\, 10^5$ \Msun. This is a lower limit compared to that estimated using the IRAS flux densities $\sim$ 5.17$\times\, 10^6$ \Msun\, and flux densities at 24$μ$m, 70$μ$m and 160 $μ$m from MIPS $\sim$ 3.2$\times\, 10^7$ \Msun. High resolution \textit{Chandra} observations of this merger remnant system have provided with an unprecedented view of the complex nature of hot gas distribution in NGC 1316 which closely matches the morphology of ionized gas and to some extent with the dust also. X-ray color-color plot for the resolved sources within optical D$_{25}$ extent of NGC 1316 has enabled us to separate them in different classes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Evidence of two unique variability classes from IGR J17091-3624

IGR J17091-3624 is the second black hole X-ray binary after GRS 1915+105, which showed large and distinct variabilities. The study of these variability classes can be useful to understand the accretion-ejection mechanisms of accreting black holes, and hence to probe the strong gravity regime. We report the discovery of two new variability classes (C1 and C2) from IGR J17091-3624 from the 2011 outburst Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer data. These unique classes will be useful to have complete details about the source, and to learn new aspects about variabilities. For examples, the C1 class shows that the intensity and period of oscillations, energy spectrum and power spectrum can clearly evolve in tens of seconds. Moreover, in such a small time scale, soft-lag becomes hard-lag. The C2 class shows that the variability and the nonvariability can occur at similar energy spectrum, and a soft state is not required for variability to happen.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Dust extinction and X-ray emission from the star burst galaxy NGC 1482

We present the results based on multiwavelength imaging observations of the prominent dust lane starburst galaxy NGC 1482 aimed to investigate the extinction properties of dust existing in the extreme environment. (B-V) colour-index map derived for the starburst galaxy NGC 1482 confirms two prominent dust lanes running along its optical major axis and are found to extend up to \sim 11 kpc. In addition to the main lanes, several filamentary structures of dust originating from the central starburst are also evident. Though, the dust is surrounded by exotic environment, the average extinction curve derived for this target galaxy is compatible with the Galactic curve, with RV =3.05, and imply that the dust grains responsible for the optical extinction in the target galaxy are not really different than the canonical grains in the Milky Way. Our estimate of total dust content of NGC 1482 assuming screening effect of dust is \sim 2.7 \times 10^5 Msun, and provide lower limit due to the fact that our method is not sensitive to the intermix component of dust. Comparison of the observed dust in the galaxy with that supplied by the SNe to the ISM, imply that this supply is not sufficient to account for the observed dust and hence point towards the origin of dust in this galaxy through a merger like event. Our multiband imaging analysis reveals a qualitative physical correspondence between the morphologies of the dust and Hα emission lines as well as diffuse X-ray emission in this galaxy. continue.... for more detail please see in pdf file.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Intrinsic Shapes of Very Flat Elliptical Galaxies

Photometric data from the literature is combined with triaxial mass models to derive variation in the intrinsic shapes of the light distribution of elliptical galaxies NGC 720, 2768 and 3605. The inferred shape variation in given by a Bayesian probability distribution, assuming a uniform prior. The likelihood of obtaining the data is calculated by using ensemble of triaxial models. We apply the method to infer the shape variation of a galaxy, using the ellipticities and the difference in the position angles at two suitably chosen points from the profiles of the photometric data. Best constrained shape parameters are found to be the short to long axial ratios at small and large radii, and the absolute values of the triaxiallity difference between these radii.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Software Security Rules, SDLC Perspective

Software has become an integral part of everyday life. Everyday, millions of people perform transaction through internet, ATM, mobile phone, they send email and Egreetings, and use word processing and spreadsheet for various purpose. People use software bearing in mind that it is reliable and can be trust upon and the operation they perform is secured. Now, if these software have exploitable security hole then how can they be safe for use. Security brings value to software in terms of peoples trust. The value provided by secure software is of vital importance because many critical functions are entirely dependent on the software. That is why security is a serious topic which should be given proper attention during the entire SDLC, right from the beginning. For the proper implementation of security in the software, twenty one security rules are proposed in this paper along with validation results. It is found that by applying these rules as per given implementation mechanism, most of the vulnerabilities are eliminated in the software and a more secure software can be built.

cs.SE↗

arXiv2009

Morphology and spectroscopy of hot gas in some early type galaxies

We present results of morphological and spectroscopic study of hot gas in some early-type galaxies based on the analysis of high resolution X-ray images acquired from the archive of Chandra space mission. Distribution of the hot gas in target galaxies after eliminating contribution from the discrete sources (LMXBs) displays varied morphologies, ranging from very compact nuclear emission to very extensive emission, larger than even optical images of the host galaxies. The surface brightness profile of the hot gas in program galaxies is well described by a single beta model, while spectrum of the diffuse emission is best fitted by a combined soft MEKAL model and a hard power law model. We use these results to derive temperature and abundance profiles of the hot gas in host galaxies. The deprojection of the diffuse emission shows a temperature gradient in some of the galaxies. We also report on the 2-D distribution of the discrete sources (LMXBs) in host galaxies and compare it with their optical morphologies. The X-ray spectrum of the resolved sources is well-fit by a hard power law model with X-ray luminosities (0.3 to 10 keV) in the range from 5$\times$ 10$^{37}$ to 2.5$\times$ 10$^{39}$ erg s$^{-1}$. X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of the LMXBs shows a break near the luminosity comparable to the Eddington luminosity for a 1.4 M$_\odot$ neutron star.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Multiband imaging observations of a prominent dust lane galaxy NGC 4370

In this paper we present extinction properties of interstellar dust in a prominent dust lane galaxy NGC 4370 based on the optical broad band (BVRI) imaging observations taken from the Himalaya Chandra Telescope (HCT), Hanle and the near-IR (J,H,K$_s$) images taken from the 2MASS archive. NGC 4370 belongs to the Virgo cluster (VCC 0758) and form a non-interactive pair with NGC 4365 at 10$\arcmin$. NGC 4370 hosts a prominent dust lane running parallel to its optical major axis and is extended almost up to 1\arcmin. The extinction curve derived for NGC 4370 is found to run parallel to Galactic extinction curve, implying that the properties of dust in NGC 4370 are identical to those of the canonical grains in the Milky Way. The $R_V$ value is found to be equal to 2.85$\pm$0.05 and is consitent with the values reported for the dust lane galaxies. The total dust content of NGC 4370 estimated using optical extinction and IRAS flux densities are found to be equal to $4.4\times 10^4$ \msol and $2.0\times 10^5$ \msol, respectively. As regard to the origin of dust and ISM in this galaxy, the accumulated dust by this galaxy over its life-time is insufficient to account for the detected mass by optical means, which in turn imply that the ISM might have been acquired by the NGC 4370 through a merger like event. An attempt is also made to study the apparent spatial correspondence between the multiple phases of ISM, i.e., hot gas, warm gas and dust in this galaxy by obtaining optical emission maps from narrow band imaging and diffuse X-ray emission map obtained from the analysis of \emph{Chandra} archival data. This analysis implies a physical connection between the dust and warm gas in terms of their physical co-existence and common origin too.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2008

Electronic and magnetic properties of a quasi-one-dimensional spin chain system, Sr$_{3}$NiRhO$_{6}$

We investigate the electronic structure of Sr$_3$NiRhO$_6$, a quasi-one-dimensional spin chain system using \emph{ab initio} band structure calculations. Spin polarized calculations within GGA reveal that Ni and Rh have finite moments and they are antiferromagnetically coupled along the chain axis in the ground state. While these results obtained within the local spin density approximations provide remarkable representation of the magnetic phase, the experimentally observed insulating behavior could not be captured within this method. GGA+$U$ calculations show that opening up of an insulating gap requires on-site Coulomb interaction among the Rh 4$d$ electrons, $U_{dd}^{Rh}$ $\approx$ 2.5 eV and the correlation among Ni 3$d$ electrons, $U_{dd}^{Ni}$ $\approx$ 4.5 eV suggesting this system to be a Mott insulator. Electron correlation among $d$ electrons leads to significant enhancement of the O 2$p$ character in the energy bands in the vicinity of the Fermi level and the $d$ bands appear at lower energies. Energy gap in the up spin density of states appears to be significantly small ($\sim$ 0.12 eV) while it is $>$ 2 eV in the down spin density of states suggesting possibility of spin polarized conduction in the semiconducting phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Investigation of unoccupied electronic states of LaCoO$_3$ and PrCoO$_3$ using inverse photoemission spectroscopy and GGA + $U$ calculations

The unoccupied electronic states of LaCoO$_3$ and PrCoO$_3$ are studied using room temperature inverse photoemission spectroscopy and \emph{ab initio} GGA+$\emph{U}$ band structure calculations. A fairly good agreement between experiment and theory is obtained. The intensity of the peak just above the Fermi-level is found to be very much sensitive to the hybridization of Co 3$d$ and O 2$p$ orbitals. Moreover, the band just above the Fermi-level is of Co 3$d$ character with little contribution from O 2$p$ states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Electronic structure of PrCoO_3 and its temperature evolution

We investigate the detailed electronic structure of PrCoO$_3$ and its temperature evolution using state-of-the-art photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio band structure calculations. We observe that in addition to the correlation effect, spin-orbit interaction plays an important role in determining the electronic properties of this system. Pr 4$f$ states are found to be strongly hybridized with the O 2$p$ and Co 3$d$ valence electronic states, and thus influences the electronic properties significantly. The calculated results corresponding to the intermediate spin state of Co provide a good description of the experimental spectra at 300 K. The decrease in temperature from 300 K leads to a gradual enhancement of the low spin state contributions in the electronic structure. The temperature evolution of the band gap is found to be consistent with the transport data.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Doping and bond length contributions to Mn K-edge shift in La$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$MnO$_{3}$ and their correlation with electrical transport properties

The experimental Mn K-edge x-ray absorption spectra of La$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$MnO$_{3}$, $x$ = 0 - 0.7 are compared with the band structure calculations using spin polarized density functional theory. It is explicitly shown that there is a correspondence between the inflection point on the absorption edge and the centre of gravity of the unoccupied Mn 4$p$-band. This correspondence has been used to separate the doping and size contributions to edge shift due to variation in number of electrons in valence band and Mn-O bond lengths, respectively when Sr is doped into LaMnO$_3$. Such separation is helpful to find the localization behaviour of charge carriers and to understand the observed transport properties of these compounds.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Investigation of the spin state of Co in LaCoO3 at room temperature

We investigate the spin state of LaCoO3 using state-of-the-art photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio band structure calculations. The GGA+U calculations provide a good description of the ground state for the experimentally estimated value of electron correlation strength, U. In addition to the correlation effect, spin-orbit interaction is observed to play a significant role in the case of intermediate spin and high spin configurations. The comparison of the calculated Co 3d and O 2p partial density of states with the experimental valence band spectra indicates that at room temperature, Co has dominant intermediate spin state configuration and that the high spin configuration may not be significant at this temperature. The lineshape of the La 5p and O 2s core level spectra could be reproduced well within these ab initio calculations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

A study of transition metal K-edge x-ray absorption spectra of LaBO3 (B=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), La2CuO4 and SrMnO3 using partial density of states

The transition metal K-edge x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) studies have been carried on LaBO3 (B=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), La2CuO4 and SrMnO3 compounds. The theoretical spectra have been calculated using transition metal (TM) 4p density of states (DOS) obtained from full-potential LMTO density functional theory. The exchange-correlation functional used in this calculation is taken under local density approximation (LDA). The comparison of experimental spectra with the calculated ones indicates that single-particle transitions under LDA are sufficient to generate all the observed XANES including those which have earlier been attributed to many-body shake-up transitions and core-hole potentials. The present study reveals that all the experimentally observed features are mainly due to distribution in TM 4p DOS influenced by hybridization with other orbitals. Specifically, for LaMnO3, the feature earlier attributed to shake-up process is seen to arise from hybridization of Mn 4p with La 6p and O 2p orbitals; in La2CuO4 the features attributed to core hole potential correspond to hybridization of Cu 4p with La 6p, La 5d and O 2p orbitals. To see the effect of inhomogeneous electronic charge distribution and on-site Coulomb and exchange interaction (U) on the XANES of these compounds generalized-gradient approximation and U corrections are incorporated in the calculations. These corrections do not generate any new features in the spectra but affect the detailed intensity and positions of some of the features.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Properties of dust in early-type galaxies

We report optical extinction properties of dust for a sample of 26 early-type galaxies based on the analysis of their multicolour CCD observations. The wavelength dependence of dust extinction for these galaxies is determined and the extinction curves are found to run parallel to the Galactic extinction curve, which implies that the properties of dust in the extragalactic environment are quite similar to those of the Milky Way. For the sample galaxies, value of the parameter $R_V$, the ratio of total extinction in $V$ band to selective extinction in $B$ & $V$ bands, lies in the range 2.03 - 3.46 with an average of 3.02, compared to its canonical value of 3.1 for the Milky Way. A dependence of $R_V$ on dust morphology of the host galaxy is also noticed in the sense that galaxies with a well defined dust lane show tendency to have smaller $R_V$ values compared to the galaxies with disturbed dust morphology. The dust content of these galaxies estimated using total optical extinction is found to lie in the range $10^4$ to $10^6 \rm M_{\sun}$, an order of magnitude smaller than those derived from IRAS flux densities, indicating that a significant fraction of dust intermixed with stars remains undetected by the optical method. We examine the relationship between dust mass derived from IRAS flux and the X-ray luminosity of the host galaxies.The issue of the origin of dust in early-type galaxies is also discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Local distortion in LaCoO3 and PrCoO3: EXAFS, XRD and XANES studies

Room temperature Co K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) including pre-edge and x-ray diffraction (XRD) studies are carried out on LaCoO3 and PrCoO3. The Co-O, Co-La/Pr and Co-Co bond lengths are obtained from EXAFS analysis and compared with those obtained from XRD. The EXAFS analysis of data indicates that CoO6 octahedron is distorted in both LaCoO3 and PrCoO3. Such distortion is expected in orthorhombic PrCoO3 but not in rhombohedral LaCoO3. This distortion in CoO6 octahedron is attributed to Jahn-Teller active Co3+ ion in intermediate spin state in these compounds. Higher shell studies reveal that Debye-Waller (DW) factors of Co-Pr and Co-Co bonds in PrCoO3 are more in comparison to Co-La and Co-Co bonds in LaCoO3 indicating that these bonds are structurally more disordered in PrCoO3. The comparison of Co-Co bond lengths and corresponding DW factors indicates that the structural disorder plays an important role in deciding the insulating properties of these compounds. XANES studies have shown changes in the intensities and positions of different near edge features.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Electronic states of LaCoO$_3$: Co K-edge and La L-edge X-ray absorption studies

Room temperature Co K- and La L-edges X-ray absorption studies have been carried out on LaCoO$_3$. Experimental near edge structures have been analysed by theoretical LDA+U density of states (DOS) and multiple scattering (MS) calculations. Use of both MS and DOS calculations yield additional information about hybridization of the states of central atom with neighbouring atoms responsible for producing the near edge structures. Absorption processes at Co K-, La L1-, L2-, and L3-edges have been attributed to electronic transitions from Co 1s to Co 4p, La 2s to La 6p, La 2p$_{1/2}$ to La 5d, and La 2p$_{3/2}$ to La 5d, respectively. All the pre-edge and post-edge features including the shape of the main absorption edge have been generated by taking the convolution of the calculated DOS, indicating that single particle approximation is sufficient to express all experimentally observed major structures. Two pre-edge structures observed in Co K-edge spectrum are attributed to Co 1s to e$_g^{\uparrow}$ and e$_g^$\downarrow}$ quadrupole transitions in contrast to earlier identification of the same to Co 1s to t$_{2g}$ and e$_g$ transitions. The influence of La 6p states on the Co 4p states is such that the inclusion of La atoms in the MS calculations is necessary to generate post-edge structures in Co K-edge spectrum. The importance of the hybridization of O 2p state with La 6p and 5d in the L-edge absorption processes has also been discussed. 10% contribution of quadrupole channel has been estimated in La L-edges.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Local distortion of MnO$_6$ octahedron in La$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$MnO$_{3+δ}$ (x = 0.1 to 0.9): an EXAFS study

Room temperature Mn K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies were carried out on La$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$MnO$_{3+δ}$ (x = 0.1 to 0.9) compounds. It is found from the detailed EXAFS analysis that the local structure around Mn sites is different from the global structure inferred from x-ray diffraction, especially for x <= 0.4, indicating presence of local distortions in MnO$_6$ octahedra. For the rhombohedral compounds, x = 0.1 to 0.3 the distortion is maximum for x = 0.1 and two bond lengths are seen- short one in basal plane and long one in apical plane. For compounds with x = 0.4 to 0.8 two short bonds in basal plane and four long bonds- two in the basal plane and remaining two in the apical plane are seen. For the compounds up to x = 0.3 compositions long bond length decreases and short bond length increases with increase in x whereas for the compounds 0.4 <= x <= 0.8 both types of bond lengths decrease. Such behaviour of bond lengths is an indication of the changed nature of distortion from Jahn-Teller type to breathing type at x = 0.4 composition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Electronic states of PrCoO$_3$: X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and LDA+U density of states studies

Electronic states of PrCoO$_3$ are studied using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Pr 3d$_{5/2}$ core level and valence band (VB) were recorded using Mg K$_β$ source. The core level spectrum shows that the 3d$_{5/2}$ level is split into two components of multiplicity 4 and 2, respectively due to coupling of the spin states of the hole in 3d$_{5/2}$ with Pr 4f holes spin state. The observed splitting is 4.5 eV. The VB spectrum is interpreted using density of states (DOS) calculations under LDA and LDA+U. It is noted that LDA is not sufficient to explain the observed VB spectrum. Inclusion of on-site Coulomb correlation for Co 3d electrons in LDA+U calculations gives DOS which is useful in qualitative explanation of the ground state. However, it is necessary to include interactions between Pr 4f electrons to get better agreement with experimental VB spectrum. It is seen that the VB consists of Pr 4f, Co 3d and O 2p states. Pr 4f, Co 3d and O 2p bands are highly mixed indicating strong hybridization of these three states. The band near the Fermi level has about equal contributions from Pr 4f and O 2p states with somewhat smaller contribution from Co 3d states. Thus in the Zaanen, Sawatzky, and Allen scheme PrCoO$_3$ can be considered as charge transfer insulator. The charge transfer energy $Δ$ can be obtained using LDA DOS calculations and the Coulomb-exchange energy U' from LDA+U. The explicit values for PrCoO$_3$ are $Δ$ = 3.9 eV and U' = 5.5 eV; the crystal field splitting and 3d bandwidth of Co ions are also found to be 2.8 and 1.8 eV, respectively.

cond-mat.str-el↗