arXiv subjects

Tetyana Pitik

Publications and source records attributed to Tetyana Pitik.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Collapse of Magnetized White Dwarfs as site of Heavy Element Formation and Kilonova Signal

We present the first end-to-end calculation connecting the accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of a magnetized, rapidly rotating white dwarf to observable kilonova signatures, combining 2D general-relativistic neutrino-magnetohydrodynamic simulations, followed by radiation hydrodynamics with in-situ nuclear network and 2D Monte Carlo radiative transfer with spatially resolved heating rates. Unlike all previous unmagnetized AIC models - which predicted proton-rich, $^{56}$Ni-dominated ejecta - strong magnetic fields eject ${\sim 0.2 M_\odot}$ of neutron-rich material $(\langle Y_e \rangle \sim 0.24)$ on dynamical timescales, before neutrino irradiation can raise the electron fraction, enabling strong $r$-process nucleosynthesis up to and beyond the third peak. The resulting kilonova is lanthanide-rich $(X_{\rm lan} \approx 8\%)$ and dominated by near-infrared emission. We compute synthetic light curves in the LSST and JWST bands and find striking agreement, without parameter tuning, between the observations of AT 2023vfi/GRB 230307A and our broadband light curves for polar viewing angles. These results establish magnetized AIC as a viable channel for heavy $r$-process element production and a compelling progenitor candidate for long-duration gamma-ray bursts with kilonova signatures.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Gamma-ray Signatures of r-Process Radioactivity from the Collapse of Magnetized White Dwarfs

We predict the gamma-ray line emission from $r$-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta of the accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of a magnetized, rapidly rotating white dwarf. Using ejecta from a two-dimensional general-relativistic neutrino-magnetohydrodynamic simulation, further evolved with a radiation-hydrodynamics code coupled to an in-situ nuclear reaction network, we construct angle-dependent gamma-ray spectra in the $0.01$-$10\,\mathrm{MeV}$ band via composition-dependent ray-tracing through the ejecta. The emission between $\sim$1 and $10\,$d is dominated by $^{132}$I ($t_{1/2} = 2.3\,$h), continuously replenished by the decay of its parent $^{132}$Te ($t_{1/2} = 3.2\,$d), with additional contributions from $^{131}$I, $^{133}$Xe, and $^{132}$Te. At $t\gtrsim 20$ d, $^{56}$Co (from $^{56}$Ni decay) becomes the primary emitter. The simultaneous presence of $r$-process and iron-peak gamma-ray lines is distinctive of AIC ejecta and absent in binary neutron star mergers, where iron-peak nuclei are generally not synthesized. Comparing with the $3σ$ continuum sensitivities of planned MeV gamma-ray telescopes (COSI, AMEGO-X, e-ASTROGAM, GRAMS, GammaTPC), we find the brightest $r$-process lines detectable to $\sim 10\,\mathrm{Mpc}$ by GammaTPC and GRAMS, with the signal approaching their sensitivity threshold at $30\,\mathrm{Mpc}$. The $r$-process spectral features survive time integration over $\sim 30$ d exposures, demonstrating robustness against the long observation times required by gamma-ray detectors.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Supernova production of axion-like particles coupling to electrons, reloaded

We revisit the production of axion-like particles (ALPs) coupled to electrons at tree-level in a relativistic plasma. We explicitly demonstrate the equivalence between pseudoscalar and derivative couplings, incorporate previously neglected processes for the first time-namely, semi-Compton production ($γe^-\rightarrow a e^-$) and pair annihilation ($e^+e^-\rightarrow aγ$)-and derive analytical expressions for the bremsstrahlung ($e^- N\to e^- N a$) production rate, enabling a more computationally efficient evaluation of the ALP flux. Additionally, we assess uncertainties in the production rate arising from electron thermal mass corrections, electron-electron Coulomb interactions, and the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect. The ALP emissivity is made available in a public repository as a function of the ALP mass, the temperature, and the electron chemical potential of the plasma. Finally, we examine the impact of ALP production and subsequent decays on astrophysical observables, deriving the leading bounds on ALPs coupling to electrons. At small couplings, the dominant constraints come from the previously neglected decay $a\to e^+ e^-γ$, except for a region of fireball formation where SN 1987A X-ray observations offer the best probe. At large couplings, bounds are dominated by the energy deposition argument, with a recently developed new prescription for the trapping regime.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Energy transfer by feebly interacting particles in supernovae: the trapping regime

Feebly interacting particles, such as sterile neutrinos, dark photons, and axions, can be abundantly produced in the proto-neutron star (PNS) formed in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). These particles can decay into photons or charged leptons, depositing energy outside the PNS. Strong bounds on new particles can thus be derived from the observed luminosity of CCSNe, with even tighter bounds obtained from low-energy SNe observations. For the first time we highlight that, at sufficiently large couplings, particle production \textit{outside} the PNS must also be considered. Using the prototypical case of axions coupling to two photons, we show that at large couplings the energy transfer from PNS to its surroundings is diffusive rather than ballistic, substantially reducing the deposited energy. Our findings have implications for the parameter space of particles probed in beam dump experiments and for dark matter models involving a sub-GeV mediator.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Gamma-ray bursts and kilonovae from the accretion-induced collapse of white dwarfs

We present the first seconds-long 2D general relativistic neutrino magnetohydrodynamic simulations of accretion-induced collapse (AIC) in rapidly rotating, strongly magnetized white dwarfs (WDs), which might originate as remnants of double-WD mergers. This study examines extreme combinations of magnetic fields and rotation rates, motivated both by the need to address the limitations of 2D axisymmetric simulations and to explore the physics of AIC under rare conditions that, while yet to be observationally confirmed, may be consistent with current theoretical models and account for unusual events. Under these assumptions, our results demonstrate that, if realizable, such systems can generate relativistic jets and neutron-rich outflows with properties consistent with long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) accompanied by kilonovae, such as GRB 211211A and GRB 230307A. These findings highlight the potential role of AIC in heavy $r$-process element production and offer a framework for understanding rare LGRBs associated with kilonova emission. Longer-duration 3D simulations are needed to fully capture magnetic field amplification, resolve instabilities, and determine the fate of the energy retained by the magnetar at the end of the simulations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Optically Informed Searches of High-Energy Neutrinos from Interaction-Powered Supernovae

The interaction between the ejecta of supernovae (SNe) of Type IIn and a dense circumstellar medium (CSM) can efficiently generate thermal UV/optical radiation and lead to the emission of neutrinos in the $1$-$10^{3}$~TeV range. We investigate the connection between the neutrino signal detectable at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the electromagnetic signal observable by optical wide-field, high-cadence surveys to outline the best strategy for upcoming follow-up searches. We outline a semi-analytical model that connects the optical lightcurve properties to the SN parameters and find that a large peak luminosity (${L_{\rm{peak}}\gtrsim 10^{43}-10^{44}\,\mathrm{erg \,s^{-1}}}$) and an average rise time ($t_{\rm{rise}}\gtrsim 10-40$~days) are necessary for copious neutrino emission. Nevertheless, the most promising $ L_{\rm{peak}}$ and $t_{\rm{rise}}$ can be obtained for SN configurations that are not optimal for neutrino emission. Such ambiguous correspondence between the optical lightcurve properties and the number of IceCube neutrino events implies that relying on optical observations only, a range of expected neutrino events should be considered (e.g.~the expected number of neutrino events can vary up to two orders of magnitude for some among the brightest SNe IIn observed by the Zwicky Transient Facility up to now, SN 2020usa and SN 2020in). In addition, the peak in the high-energy neutrino curve should be expected a few $t_{\rm{rise}}$ after the peak in the optical lightcurve. Our findings highlight that it is crucial to infer the SN properties from multi-wavelength observations rather than focusing on the optical band only to enhance upcoming neutrino searches.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Exploiting stellar explosion induced by the QCD phase transition in large-scale neutrino detectors

The centers of the core-collapse supernovae are one of the densest environments in the Universe. Under such conditions, it is conceivable that a first-order phase transition from ordinary nuclear matter to the quark-gluon plasma occurs. This transition releases a large amount of latent heat that can drive a supernova explosion and may imprint a sharp signature in the neutrino signal. We show how this snap feature, if observed at large-scale neutrino detectors, can set competitive limits on the neutrino masses and assist the localization of the supernova via triangulation. The 95\%C.L. limit on the neutrino mass can reach 0.16~eV in Ice-Cube, 0.22~eV in Hyper-Kamiokande, and 0.58~eV in DUNE, for a supernova at a distance of 10 kpc. For the same distance and in the most optimistic neutrino conversion case, the triangulation method can constrain the $1σ$ angular uncertainty of the supernova localization within $\sim 0.3^{\circ}-9.0^{\circ}$ in the considered pairs of the detectors, leading to an improvement up to an order of magnitude with respect to the often considered in the literature rise time of the neutronization burst.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Multi-messenger detection prospects of gamma-ray burst afterglows with optical jumps

Some afterglow light curves of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) exhibit very complex temporal and spectral features, such as a sudden intensity jump about one hour after the prompt emission in the optical band. We assume that this feature is due to the late collision of two relativistic shells and investigate the corresponding high-energy neutrino emission within a multi-messenger framework, while contrasting our findings with the ones from the classic afterglow model. For a constant density circumburst medium, the total number of emitted neutrinos can increase by about an order of magnitude when an optical jump occurs with respect to the self-similar afterglow scenario. By exploring the detection prospects with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and future radio arrays such as IceCube-Gen2 radio, RNO-G and GRAND200k, as well as the POEMMA spacecraft, we conclude that the detection of neutrinos with IceCube-Gen2 radio could enable us to constrain the fraction of GRB afterglows with a jump as well as the properties of the circumburst medium. We also investigate the neutrino signal expected for the afterglows of GRB 100621A and a GRB 130427A-like burst with an optical jump. The detection of neutrinos from GRB afterglows could be crucial to explore the yet-to-be unveiled mechanism powering the optical jumps.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Is the high-energy neutrino event IceCube-200530A associated with a hydrogen-rich superluminous supernova?

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) follow-up campaign of alerts released by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory has led to the likely identification of the transient AT2019fdr as the source of the neutrino event IC200530A. AT2019fdr was initially suggested to be a tidal disruption event in a Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy. However, the combination of its spectral properties, color evolution, and feature-rich light curve suggests that AT2019fdr may be a Type IIn superluminous supernova. In the latter scenario, IC200530A may have been produced via inelastic proton-proton collisions between the relativistic protons accelerated at the forward shock and the cold protons of the circumstellar medium. Here, we investigate this possibility and find that at most $4.6\times 10^{-2}$ muon neutrino and antineutrino events are expected to be detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory within $394$ days of discovery in the case of excellent discrimination of the atmospheric background. After correcting for the Eddington bias, which occurs when a single cosmic neutrino event is adopted to infer the neutrino emission at the source, we conclude that IC200530A may originate from the hydrogen-rich superluminous supernova AT2019fdr.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Neutrino signal dependence on gamma-ray burst emission mechanism

Long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the least understood astrophysical transients powering the high-energy universe. To date, various mechanisms have been proposed to explain the observed electromagnetic GRB emission. In this work, we show that, although different jet models may be equally successful in fitting the observed electromagnetic spectral energy distributions, the neutrino production strongly depends on the adopted emission and dissipation model. To this purpose, we compute the neutrino production for a benchmark high-luminosity GRB in the internal shock model, including a dissipative photosphere as well as three emission components, in the jet model invoking internal-collision-induced magnetic reconnection and turbulence (ICMART), in the case of a magnetic jet with gradual dissipation, and in a jet with dominant proton synchrotron radiation. We find that the expected neutrino fluence can vary up to three orders of magnitude in amplitude and peak at energies ranging from $10^4$ to $10^8$ GeV. For our benchmark input parameters, none of the explored GRB models is excluded by the targeted searches carried out by the IceCube and ANTARES Collaborations. However, our work highlights the potential of high-energy neutrinos of pinpointing the underlying GRB emission mechanism and the importance of relying on different jet models for unbiased stacking searches.

astro-ph.HE↗