arXiv subjects

S. Lombardi

Publications and source records attributed to S. Lombardi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Revisiting EBL Constraints from Gamma-Ray Observations: A Critical Assessment and Methodological Improvements

The extragalactic background light (EBL), ranging from the infrared to the ultraviolet bands, is the second most intense photon field in the universe, surpassed only by the cosmic microwave background (CMB). It is primarily generated by starlight in galaxies, either directly or through absorption by dust and re-emission at longer wavelengths. Very high energy (VHE, $E$ > $100\,$GeV) photons can be absorbed via $\gamma \gamma$ interactions with the EBL during their propagation across cosmological distances, providing an indirect method to probe the EBL by studying its impact on the energy spectra of distant VHE sources. This paper examines the robustness of EBL constraints derived from gamma-ray data, critically assessing the assumptions made in previous studies about the intrinsic source spectra, the uncertainties of the observations and the validity of the analysis tools. We find that earlier studies likely underestimated the uncertainties in the EBL intensity constraints, underscoring the need to account for systematic uncertainties comprehensively. By employing a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and a plausible model for unknown systematic errors, we compute more realistic uncertainties. Additionally, we discuss possible alternatives to set EBL constraints, relaxing the assumptions on the intrinsic spectra of gamma-ray sources, with the goal of achieving more robust constraints.

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arXiv2025

To cut or not to cut: Data-quality evaluation for the ASTRI Mini-Array

The ASTRI Mini-Array consists of nine Cherenkov telescopes under construction at the Observatorio del Teide, with one of them already performing observations since November 2024. Given the complexity of the analysis of gamma-ray data acquired with Cherenkov telescopes, a proper evaluation of the quality of these data is important to avoid a negative impact on the high-level scientific products. There are several factors that can contribute to reducing the quality of the observations, such as clouds, high humidity or a high dust concentration in the air, among others. In order to take all these factors into account and evaluate their impact on the data, a quality check pipeline has been developed for ASTRI. This contribution describes the pipeline, from its inputs at different data levels to the production of outputs in the form of good-quality lists and diagnostic plots. We also show how setting preliminary quality cuts on the Crab Nebula data taken with the first ASTRI telescope can significantly improve the source detection.

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arXiv2025

The New Architecture of the Online Observation Quality System for the ASTRI Mini-Array Project

The ASTRI Mini-Array is an international collaboration led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics. The project aims to construct and operate an array of nine Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes to study gamma-ray sources at very high energy (TeV) and perform stellar intensity interferometry observations. We describe the updated Online Observation Quality System (OOQS) software architecture. The OOQS is one of the subsystems of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. It aims to execute real-time data quality checks on the data acquired by the Cherenkov cameras and intensity interferometry instruments and provide feedback to both SCADA and the Operator about abnormal conditions detected. The data quality results are stored in the Quality Archive for further investigation and sent to the Operator Human Machine Interface (HMI) through Kafka.

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arXiv2024

Multi-wavelength study of OT 081: broadband modelling of a transitional blazar

OT 081 is a well-known, luminous blazar that is remarkably variable in many energy bands. We present the first broadband study of the source which includes very-high-energy (VHE, $E>$100\,GeV) $γ$-ray data taken by the MAGIC and H.E.S.S. imaging Cherenkov telescopes. The discovery of VHE $γ$-ray emission happened during a high state of $γ$-ray activity in July 2016, observed by many instruments from radio to VHE $γ$-rays. We identify four states of activity of the source, one of which includes VHE $γ$-ray emission. Variability in the VHE domain is found on daily timescales. The intrinsic VHE spectrum can be described by a power-law with index $3.27\pm0.44_{\rm stat}\pm0.15_{\rm sys}$ (MAGIC) and $3.39\pm0.58_{\rm stat}\pm0.64_{\rm sys}$ (H.E.S.S.) in the energy range of 55--300\,GeV and 120--500\,GeV, respectively. The broadband emission cannot be sucessfully reproduced by a simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model. Instead, an additional external Compton component is required. We test a lepto-hadronic model that reproduces the dataset well and a proton-synchrotron dominated model that requires an extreme proton luminosity. Emission models that are able to successfully represent the data place the emitting region well outside of the Broad Line Region (BLR) to a location at which the radiative environment is dominated by the infrared thermal radiation field of the dusty torus. In the scenario described by this flaring activity, the source appears to be an FSRQ, in contrast with past categorizations. This suggests that the source can be considered to be a transitional blazar, intermediate between BL~Lac and FSRQ objects.

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arXiv2024

The Online Observation Quality System Implementation for the ASTRI Mini-Array Project

The ASTRI Mini-Array project, led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, aims to construct and operate nine Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes for high-energy gamma-ray source study and stellar intensity interferometry. Located at the Teide Astronomical Observatory in Tenerife, the project's software is essential for remote operation, emphasizing the need for prompt feedback on observations. This contribution introduces the Online Observation Quality System (OOQS) as part of the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) software. OOQS performs real-time data quality checks on data from Cherenkov cameras and Intensity Interferometry instruments. It provides feedback to SCADA and operators, highlighting abnormal conditions and ensuring quick corrective actions for optimal observations. Results are archived for operator visualization and further analysis. The OOQS data quality pipeline prototype utilizes a distributed application with three main components to handle the maximum array data rate of 1.15 Gb/s. The first is a Kafka consumer that manages the data stream from the Array Data Acquisition System through Apache Kafka, handling the data serialization and deserialization involved in the transmission. The data stream is divided into batches of data written in files. The second component monitors new files and conducts analyses using the Slurm workload scheduler, leveraging its parallel processing capabilities and scalability. Finally, the process results are collected by the last component and stored in the Quality Archive.

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arXiv2023

Multi-year characterisation of the broad-band emission from the intermittent extreme BL Lac 1ES~2344+514

The BL Lac 1ES 2344+514 is known for temporary extreme properties (e.g., a shift of the synchrotron SED peak energy $ν_{synch,p}$ above 1keV). While those extreme states were so far observed only during high flux levels, additional multi-year observing campaigns are required to achieve a coherent picture. Here, we report the longest investigation of the source from radio to VHE performed so far, focusing on a systematic characterisation of the intermittent extreme states. While our results confirm that 1ES 2344+514 typically exhibits $ν_{synch,p}>$1keV during elevated flux periods, we also find periods where the extreme state coincides with low flux activity. A strong spectral variability thus happens in the quiescent state, and is likely caused by an increase of the electron acceleration efficiency without a change in the electron injection luminosity. We also report a strong X-ray flare (among the brightest for 1ES 2344+514) without a significant shift of $ν_{synch,p}$. During this particular flare, the X-ray spectrum is among the softest of the campaign. It unveils complexity in the spectral evolution, where the common harder-when-brighter trend observed in BL Lacs is violated. During a low and hard X-ray state, we find an excess of the UV flux with respect to an extrapolation of the X-ray spectrum to lower energies. This UV excess implies that at least two regions contribute significantly to the infrared/optical/ultraviolet/X-ray emission. Using the simultaneous MAGIC, XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, and AstroSat observations, we argue that a region possibly associated with the 10 GHz radio core may explain such an excess. Finally, we investigate a VHE flare, showing an absence of simultaneous variability in the 0.3-2keV band. Using a time-dependent leptonic modelling, we show that this behaviour, in contradiction to single-zone scenarios, can instead be explained by a two-component model.

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arXiv2023

The Online Observation Quality System Software Architecture for the ASTRI Mini-Array Project

The ASTRI Mini-Array is an international collaboration led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics. This project aims to construct and operate an array of nine Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes to study gamma-ray sources at very high energy (TeV) and perform stellar intensity interferometry observations. We describe the software architecture and the technologies used to implement the Online Observation Quality System (OOQS) for the ASTRI Mini-Array project. The OOQS aims to execute data quality checks on the data acquired in real-time by the Cherenkov cameras and intensity interferometry instruments, and provides feedback to both the Central Control System and the Operator about abnormal conditions detected. The OOQS can notify other sub-systems, triggering their reaction to promptly correct anomalies. The results from the data quality analyses (e.g. camera plots, histograms, tables, and more) are stored in the Quality Archive for further investigation and they are summarised in reports available to the Operator. Once the OOQS results are stored, the operator can visualize them using the Human Machine Interface. The OOQS is designed to manage the high data rate generated by the instruments (up to 4.5 GB/s) and received from the Array Data Acquisition System through the Kafka service. The data are serialized and deserialized during the transmission using the Avro framework. The Slurm workload scheduler executes the analyses exploiting key features such as parallel analyses and scalability.

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arXiv2022

Proton acceleration in thermonuclear nova explosions revealed by gamma rays

Classical novae are cataclysmic binary star systems in which the matter of a companion star is accreted on a white dwarf (WD). Accumulation of hydrogen in a layer eventually causes a thermonuclear explosion on the surface of the WD, brightening the WD to ~10^5 solar luminosities and triggering ejection of the accumulated matter.They provide extreme conditions required to accelerate particles, electrons or protons, to high energies. Here we present the detection of gamma rays by the MAGIC telescopes from the 2021 outburst of RS Ophiuchi (RS Oph), a recurrent nova with a red giant (RG) companion, that allowed us, for the first time, to accurately characterize the emission from a nova in the 60 GeV to 250 GeV energy range. The theoretical interpretation of the combined Fermi-LAT and MAGIC data suggests that protons are accelerated to hundreds of GeV in the nova shock. Such protons should create bubbles of enhanced Cosmic Ray density, on the order of 10 pc, from the recurrent novae.

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arXiv2022

ASTRI Mini-Array Core Science at the Observatorio del Teide

The ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana) Project led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) is developing and will deploy at the Observatorio del Teide a mini-array (ASTRI Mini-Array) composed of nine telescopes similar to the small-size dual-mirror Schwarzschild-Couder telescope (ASTRI-Horn) currently operating on the slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily. The ASTRI Mini-Array will surpass the current Cherenkov telescope array differential sensitivity above a few tera-electronvolt (TeV), extending the energy band well above hundreds of TeV. This will allow us to explore a new window of the electromagnetic spectrum, by convolving the sensitivity performance with excellent angular and energy resolution figures. In this paper we describe the Core Science that we will address during the first four years of operation, providing examples of the breakthrough results that we will obtain when dealing with current open questions, such as the acceleration of cosmic rays, cosmology and fundamental physics and the new window, for the TeV energy band, of the time-domain astrophysics.

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arXiv2022

Extragalactic Observatory Science with the ASTRI Mini-Array at the Observatorio del Teide

The ASTRI Mini-Array is a next-generation system of nine imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes that is going to be built at the Observatorio del Teide site. After a first phase, in which the instrument will be operated as an experiment prioritizing a schedule of primary science cases, an observatory phase is foreseen in which other significant targets will be pointed. We focus on the observational feasibility of extragalactic sources and on astrophysical processes that best complement and expand the ASTRI Mini-Array core science, presenting the most relevant examples that are at reach of detection over long-term time scales and whose observation can provide breakthrough achievements in the very-high energy extragalactic science. Such examples cover a wide range of $γ$-ray emitters, including the study of AGN low states in the multi-TeV energy range, the possible detection of Seyfert galaxies with long exposures and the searches of dark matter lines above 10 TeV. Simulations of the presented objects show that the instrument performance will be competitive at multi-TeV energies with respect to current arrays of Cherenkov telescopes.

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arXiv2022

Galactic Observatory Science with the ASTRI Mini-Array at the Observatorio del Teide

The ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana) Mini-Array will be composed of nine imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes at the Observatorio del Teide site. The array will be best suited for astrophysical observations in the 0.3-200 TeV range with an angular resolution of few arc-minutes and an energy resolution of 10-15\%. A core-science programme in the first four years will be devoted to a limited number of key targets, addressing the most important open scientific questions in the very-high energy domain. At the same time, thanks to a wide field of view of about 10 degrees, ASTRI Mini-Array will observe many additional field sources, which will constitute the basis for the long-term observatory programme that will eventually cover all the accessible sky. In this paper, we review different astrophysical Galactic environments, e.g. pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, and gamma-ray binaries, and show the results from a set of ASTRI Mini-Array simulations of some of these field sources made to highlight the expected performance of the array (even at large offset angles) and the important additional observatory science that will complement the core-science program.

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arXiv2022

Investigating the blazar TXS 0506+056 through sharp multi-wavelength eyes during 2017-2019

The blazar TXS 0506+056 got into the spotlight of the astrophysical community in September 2017, when a high-energy neutrino detected by IceCube (IceCube-170922A) was associated at the 3 $σ$ level to a $γ$-ray flare from this source. This multi-messenger photon-neutrino association remains, as per today, the most significant one ever observed. TXS 0506+056 was a poorly studied object before the IceCube-170922A event. To better characterize its broad-band emission, we organized a multi-wavelength campaign lasting 16 months (November 2017 to February 2019), covering the radio-band (Metsähovi, OVRO), the optical/UV (ASAS-SN, KVA, REM, Swift/UVOT), the X-rays (Swift/XRT, NuSTAR), the high-energy $γ$ rays (Fermi/LAT) and the very-high-energy (VHE) $γ$ rays (MAGIC). In $γ$ rays, the behaviour of the source was significantly different from the 2017 one: MAGIC observations show the presence of flaring activity during December 2018, while the source only shows an excess at the 4$σ$ level during the rest of the campaign (74 hours of accumulated exposure); Fermi/LAT observations show several short (days-to-week timescale) flares, different from the long-term brightening of 2017. No significant flares are detected at lower energies. The radio light curve shows an increasing flux trend, not seen in other wavelengths. We model the multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions in a lepto-hadronic scenario, in which the hadronic emission emerges as Bethe-Heitler and pion-decay cascade in the X-rays and VHE $γ$ rays. According to the model presented here, the December 2018 $γ$-ray flare was connected to a neutrino emission that was too brief and not bright enough to be detected by current neutrino instruments.

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arXiv2021

Combined searches for dark matter in dwarf spheroidal galaxies observed with the MAGIC telescopes, including new data from Coma Berenices and Draco

Milky Way dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) are among the best candidates to search for signals of dark matter annihilation with Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes, given their high mass-to-light ratios and the fact that they are free of astrophysical gamma-ray emitting sources. Since 2011, MAGIC has performed a multi-year observation program in search for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) in dSphs. Results on the observations of Segue 1 and Ursa Major II dSphs have already been published and include some of the most stringent upper limits (ULs) on the velocity-averaged cross-section $\langle σ_{\mathrm{ann}} v \rangle$ of WIMP annihilation from observations of dSphs. In this work, we report on the analyses of 52.1 h of data of Draco dSph and 49.5 h of Coma Berenices dSph observed with the MAGIC telescopes in 2018 and in 2019 respectively. No hint of a signal has been detected from either of these targets and new constraints on the $\langle σ_{\mathrm{ann}} v \rangle$ of WIMP candidates have been derived. In order to improve the sensitivity of the search and reduce the effect of the systematic uncertainties due to the $J$-factor estimates, we have combined the data of all dSphs observed with the MAGIC telescopes. Using 354.3 h of dSphs good quality data, 95 % CL ULs on $\langle σ_{\mathrm{ann}} v \rangle$ have been obtained for 9 annihilation channels. For most of the channels, these results reach values of the order of $10^{-24} $cm$^3$/s at ${\sim}1$ TeV and are the most stringent limits obtained with the MAGIC telescopes so far.

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arXiv2021

Multiwavelength study of the gravitationally lensed blazar QSO B0218+357 between 2016 and 2020

We report multiwavelength observations of the gravitationally lensed blazar QSO B0218+357 in 2016-2020. Optical, X-ray and GeV flares were detected. The contemporaneous MAGIC observations do not show significant very-high-energy (VHE, >= 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission. The lack of enhancement in radio emission measured by OVRO indicates the multi-zone nature of the emission from this object. We constrain the VHE duty cycle of the source to be < 16 2014-like flares per year (95% confidence). For the first time for this source, a broadband low-state SED is constructed with a deep exposure up to the VHE range. A flux upper limit on the low-state VHE gamma-ray emission of an order of magnitude below that of the 2014 flare is determined. The X-ray data are used to fit the column density of (8.10 +- 0.93 stat ) x 10^21 cm^-2 of the dust in the lensing galaxy. VLBI observations show a clear radio core and jet components in both lensed images, yet no significant movement of the components is seen. The radio measurements are used to model the source-lens-observer geometry and determine the magnifications and time delays for both components. The quiescent emission is modeled with the high-energy bump explained as a combination of synchrotron-self-Compton and external Compton emission from a region located outside of the broad line region. The bulk of the low-energy emission is explained as originating from a tens-of-parsecs scale jet.

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arXiv2021

Search for Very High-Energy Emission from the millisecond pulsar PSR J0218+4232

PSR J0218+4232 is one of the most energetic millisecond pulsars known and has long been considered as one of the best candidates for very high-energy (VHE; >100 GeV) gamma-ray emission. Using 11.5 years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data between 100 MeV and 870 GeV, and ~90 hours of MAGIC observations in the 20 GeV to 20 TeV range, we have searched for the highest energy gamma-ray emission from PSR J0218+4232. Based on the analysis of the LAT data, we find evidence for pulsed emission above 25 GeV, but see no evidence for emission above 100 GeV (VHE) with MAGIC. We present the results of searches for gamma-ray emission, along with theoretical modeling, to interpret the lack of VHE emission. We conclude that, based on the experimental observations and theoretical modeling, it will remain extremely challenging to detect VHE emission from PSR J0218+4232 with the current generation of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs), and maybe even with future ones, such as the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).

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arXiv2021

First detection of VHE gamma-ray emission from TXS~1515--273, study of its X-ray variability and spectral energy distribution

We report here on the first multi-wavelength (MWL) campaign on the blazar TXS 1515-273, undertaken in 2019 and extending from radio to very-high-energy gamma rays (VHE). Up until now, this blazar had not been the subject of any detailed MWL observations. It has a rather hard photon index at GeV energies and was considered a candidate extreme high-synchrotronpeaked source. MAGIC observations resulted in the first-time detection of the source in VHE with a statistical significance of 7.6$σ$. The average integral VHE flux of the source is 6 $\pm$ 1% of the Crab nebula flux above 400 GeV. X-ray coverage was provided by Swift-XRT, XMMNewton, and NuSTAR. The long continuous X-ray observations were separated by $\sim$ 9 h, both showing clear hour scale flares. In the XMM-Newton data, both the rise and decay timescales are longer in the soft X-ray than in the hard X-ray band, indicating the presence of a particle cooling regime. The X-ray variability timescales were used to constrain the size of the emission region and the strength of the magnetic field. The data allowed us to determine the synchrotron peak frequency and classify the source as a flaring high, but not extreme, synchrotron peaked object. Considering the constraints and variability patterns from the X-ray data, we model the broad-band spectral energy distribution. We applied a simple one-zone model, which could not reproduce the radio emission and the shape of the optical emission, and a two-component leptonic model with two interacting components, enabling us to reproduce the emission from radio to VHE band.

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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.

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arXiv2021

Investigation of the correlation patterns and the Compton dominance variability of Mrk 421 in 2017

We present a detailed characterisation and theoretical interpretation of the broadband emission of the paradigmatic TeV blazar Mrk 421, with special focus on the multi-band flux correlations. The dataset has been collected through an extensive multiwavelength campaign organised between 2016 December and 2017 June. The instruments involved are MAGIC, FACT, Fermi-LAT, Swift, GASP-WEBT, OVRO, Medicina and Metsähovi. Additionally, four deep exposures (several hours long) with simultaneous MAGIC and NuSTAR observations allowed a precise measurement of the falling segments of the two spectral components. The very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma rays and X-rays are positively correlated at zero time lag, but the strength and characteristics of the correlation change substantially across the various energy bands probed. The VHE versus X-ray fluxes follow different patterns, partly due to substantial changes in the Compton dominance during a few days without a simultaneous increase in the X-ray flux (i.e. orphan gamma-ray activity). Studying the broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) during the days including NuSTAR observations, we show that these changes can be explained within a one-zone leptonic model with a blob that increases its size over time. Our multi-band correlation study also hints at an anti-correlation between UV/optical and X-ray at a significance higher than 3 sigmas. A VHE flare observed on 2017 February 4 shows gamma-ray variability on multi-hour timescales, with a factor 10 increase in the TeV flux but only a moderate increase in the keV flux. The related broadband SED is better described by a two-zone leptonic scenario rather than by a one-zone scenario. We find that the flare can be produced by the appearance of a compact second blob populated by high energetic electrons spanning a narrow range of Lorentz factors.

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